Seiko

We turned onto the Admiral Baker Golf Course road, knowing we could probably walk around the valley. A sign in the road sternly warned: "If you don't have a tee time, turn around now". 

I diverted us into a parking lot at the driving range as instructed, and after pondering our options, we left the truck.

We set out on a convenient dirt road under a sliver of moon and a streak of vapor trail.



The road took us a few hundred yards, then we diverted to the left at a trail sign. As a Boy Scout in my youth, I walked on trails like this. No wheelchair access, no water faucets. Single file, Indian style, make no noise and leave no trace behind. 

We went on up the hill, and it kept getting colder and colder.



Through the tunnel of brush.

This is native scrub brush; quite different from the trees on the BIltmore trail five miles away and a few weeks ago.



Eventually we decided to turn around. Admiral Baker is a golf course open to civilians now, but it's military land and run by guys who sometimes have little sense of humor. 

I don't like to push the boundaries, because the towing fees are too high.



We had warmed up by now, and it was a very pleasant walk in the cool mist just before the sun came up over the hill.

We did a bit better on the pace back down the hill to the truck.

NOTE: The folks in the giant Kaiser hospital across the way have been good to me on several occasions so I don't mind them lurking in the photo.

It was too soon to go home so we turned right at the next corner rather than left, which took us up the hill above the golf course. Neither of us had been on this little stub road before, which led to the gated entrance of an apartment complex. A trail at the end of the road beckoned to us, and we decided to attempt the hill. 

The truck is at the right edge of this photo, way down below.

Here are the frosty fairways again, from hundreds of feet higher elevation.



That's the San Diego River steaming behind the clubhouse.



If we turned right we would roll down the hill, through some cactus, and hit the fence. If we turned left and hopped the fence, we might get blown up. So we went straight til the trail ended at another fence. We retreated.

A bird was sitting on the fence, apparently unable to make up his mind.



It was a bit warmer on top of the hill and some flowers were blooming in the sage brush.

In addition to protecting us from unexploded bombs, 

the fence is protecting the wilderness from developers, bulldozers, motorcycles and dogs.



A stronger fence; another indecisive bird.



We were able to walk to the base of a tower, 



and Mrs C demonstrates how she would have taken the previous photo... but I ignore her advice because I am happy with it.



We can see across Murphy Canyon, which was a 2-lane road when I was a kid. There's what's left of San Diego Stadium. Back in 1975, when we got hitched, we lived on the bluff you see the distance. We called our neighborhood (Ab)Normal Heights. It's still a bit wacky. Termites ate our converted garage/apartment; the daylight was coming in through the walls, we decided to move west, and bought our first house.



It looks like maybe they are saving the scoreboard but taking down the bleacher section behind it. I used to have season seats up there for the San Diego State Football team.

Looking directly across we can see the palm cluster we found in Stonecrest (go here to view Skyliners in the Canyon).



We found a safe, gradual descent from our alpine viewing ridge, and made our way safely back to the truck. 

This color is Black Forest Green; I think it's very nice in the sunlight but I chose it mainly because it's paired with a light interior rather than Honda's favorite black on black inside.



Thanks for climbing with us today. After we got our coats off and were seated in the truck, I confirmed the elevation changes. That hill WAS steep!

I'm glad we were close to the hospital -- any higher and I might have needed their help again!

Cazalea

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