This year, the August full moon had the courtesy to not only occur on a Saturday, but at a very convenient time of approximately 7:20 in the evening. Not to be outdone, the sun was scheduled to set just a few minutes earlier. We knew we had to take advantage of this celestial concurrence and settled upon Garnet Peak as our vantage point. Garnet Peak offers beautiful panoramic views under even the most ordinary of circumstances, so we were confident the evening would not disappoint. Continue reading Garnet Peak
Category Archives: Celestial Events
Winter Solstice at Cowle’s Mountain
Winter Solstice is technically the exact moment in time the sun is precisely over the Tropic of Capricorn, however most people generally recognize the entire day on which this occurs as the Solstice. It is also the shortest day of the year, and the first day of winter. In many ancient cultures, the Winter Solstice was an important day that signified rebirth and the transition into winter, and was commonly celebrated with great festivals and feasts.
For us, Solstice, like most other holidays, is a great excuse to go for a hike! We woke up super early this morning to join the San Diego Natural History Museum’s Canyoneers who led a hike up Cowle’s Mountain to observe the Winter Solstice. Continue reading Winter Solstice at Cowle’s Mountain
Monument Peak (via Desert View Picnic Area)
One of the most effective ways to beat the heat while hiking is to get an early start. So when we decided we were going to hike Monument Peak, we figured why not get the earliest start possible, and enjoy a scenic sunrise? It just so happens that there is an awesome view point just a couple miles south of Monument Peak at the Desert View Picnic Grounds, right along the Pacific Crest Trail. Thus, our plan began to emerge: get to the picnic area for sunrise, then pick up the PCT and head north to the unsigned use trail that led to Monument Peak. Continue reading Monument Peak (via Desert View Picnic Area)