How to: Pine Mountain Trail
Laguna Day Dream
Exams done and semester grades posted, I turned off the computer and the brain and headed to Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in east county San Diego, not wanting to be around for a while (and not wanting to be tempted to check emails perhaps coming in from students). I parked at Penny Pines and made my way down Sunrise to Pioneer Mail, crossing over the hard road and turning onto Pine Mountain Trail.
If there’s a better stretch of ridgetop trail with 360 views anywhere else in these parts, I don’t know about it. Pine Mountain Trail is quintessential mountain biking single track and terrain. The cobbles add to the majesty of the entire experience. At Champagne Pass, I turned left onto Indian Creek, another backcountry beauty-of-a-trail. This area up there around the Cuyamacas and Lagunas is “where it’s at” for me. I didn’t see another human being the entire time.
Down I went, into the mountain lilacs and being watchful for rattlesnakes. A few years back, I happened upon two of ‘em tangled up and intertwined along this stretch.
At the stream crossing, I stopped and listened to the sound of water coursing through the mountains. On up, I went from there, spinning out on a turn and having to dismount. Dammit!
Back on and pedaling, I worked my way up to Noble and turned left. At the short cut/connector trail that goes to the meadows, I took it. Across the top of the meadows and down the west side, was my route. Still, at this point, not another human to be seen.
Past the big laguna and down near the little one, right about where Steve-O shattered his leg on the boulder drop, a guy was taking his mountain bike for a walk. A quick check and the long story short is/was: he lost his keys somewhere along the way. I got his number in case I saw them on the rest of my ride.
Up in the direction of the kiosk, but no, I turned left up top at the first Y intersection and went back down through the boulders. I love doing that! So darn pretty in through there. The bends, twists, turns and flows are such a hoot.
Over the cattle guard and to the right, I went. At the tiny dam/breast of the dam, it was sloppy wet and muddy. I picked up my bike and walked on the dam/cement wall and then followed a line to the far left, slopping like a pig. (Rest assured, mountain biker righteous police, this is a cattle grazing area, so no real “damage” is done by going “off-trail.” )
Why not go up Chico, I thought, and so I did. More low-lying wildflowers led the way. At this point, the wildflowers I saw (so far) included: purple lupine, red Indian paintbrush, wild pea, white “mountain snow,” chuparosa, and an assortment of others I cannot name.
(Substack popped up a screen alert that says I can’t add more photos, so … Part 2 coming in the next post. WTF Substack?)
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So great. Cuyamaca was glorious yesterday as well! Team will be up trimming some stuff this weekend!