week 8 and 1/7 El Monte Park Trail

El Monte Park: this is where we start

One of the purposes of this blog is to bring exposure not only the river, but also places connected to it.  For the last 3 weeks we've been using El Monte park for logistics. In addition to extensive playgrounds and picnic facilities it boasts something known as "The El Monte Park Trail."  This 2.3 mile trail winds up the ridge out the park up to the Blossom Valley Subdivision.  "Why do this out and back trail that just leads to another road" one may ask?
One does it for the views it provides of El Capitan.  This rock face has been captivating us a little more each week.  It is both alluring and elusive.  There is no easy way up it, or even near it really.  There is much that we know to be hidden, more details.  Although this trail is non-trivial, it's nowhere near as hard as the trails of El Cajon Mountain, El Capitan and the upper river.  So we decided it would be a good chance to challenge ourselves and get a sense of what might be ahead.

The trailhead

The weather

The valley view

After a few switchbacks we are already treated to lovely views down the valley, unlike anything we've had previous.  It is nice to get some perspective.  Other hikers are coming down talking of benches and exhaustion.  We seem to climb with ease.  Soon we are looking at hawks and clouds passing by, discussing matters of the spirit and of family.

Many switchbacks

Hawk riding the thermals

Here we are smiling 

A more level stretch of trail

Spring has finally come and we are treated to wildflowers of all colors as we ascend, in particular a purple sage flower had my senses captivated at one point.  About 1/3 of the way up the trail levels out for a bit and then descends into a saddle.  I am told this is all for avoiding private property which is everywhere around here.  Indeed much of this trail follows an easement established a few years back.  This little bit of up and down affords me a chance to get a nice level left-right separation as I photograph El Captian and made for one of my favorite 3-D's to date.

Animation of clouds passing

WIldflowers

Horns on the hill

best 3-D of El Capitan yet

 We took a break a little before noon and let ourselves be present with all around us.  Up here you gain a new perspective on the passage of time and the makeup of the earth.  It helped that we had absolutely magnificent weather, partly cloudy, highs in the 60s and a bit of a breeze.  I have never had weather this nice in this part of the county before.  As we continued climbing we were treated to ever improving views both up and down the river watching the prominent peaks of the basin emerge above nearer topography.  Soon we could see Cuyamaca in the east and all the summits of Mission Trails in the west.  It was a new way to see the river to understand our journey and where we came.  Where we still have to go, however remains elusive.  It seemed fitting that we could not see the reservoir or the gorge upstream of it.  It was a day to bask and wonder.

More 3-D

Anita and the rock face

Up the valley

More 3-d

Down the valley

it looks different from here

Best view of the river from Mission Trails to El Capitan Reservoir

Fuzzy plants

Not sure what this is but it looks cool

We rested again for a spell at Blossom Valley Summit, a lovely bench overlooking it all, before the trail took us between the hills and into the neighborhood.   What to do now?  Back the way we came?  No. We had stashed bicycles at the top and used those to enjoy a absolutely sensational descent through Blossom Valley, Lake Jennings, and back around the foot of the Mountain to El Monte Park.  All and all an exhilarating and rewarding journey that gave us hope for further explorations.

Yucca in bloom

Climbing out of the valley 

Blossom Valley at last!

Lake Jennings as viewed during our descent.