San Diego's 3-in-1 Day Winter Adventure Challenge

Snowshoeing--Desert Fat Biking--Bodysurfing

San Diego’s 3-in-1 Day Adventure Challenge: Snowy Mountain—Desert—Ocean

Somewhere around ten years ago, I heard about the San Diego winter adventure challenge that includes completing the following in one day: a winter activity in our local mountains; a desert hike/bike/run; and you have to get in the ocean, e.g. surf. Over the years, timing of the snowfall, along with a check of work calendars and home schedules, never permitted me to do it. Until Saturday, 8 March 2025, that is.

I pushed coffee through the Aero Press at 4:21 a.m. Before the hour struck 5 o’clock, I was out the door with a second cup of coffee in hand, snowshoes in the car and my fat bike in the rack on back. On the drive up the Sunrise Highway, I was wondering if I’d be the first one out on the trail. I was not. Two people were heading out on snowshoes as I pulled up to the kiosk at the Sunset Trailhead.

Time: 5:54 a.m.

Air temp: 25 degrees F

I strapped my snowshoes on my booted feet and headed in the direction of the Old County Road. Up the road, I ‘shoed, then I turned left on Chico Ravine trail under an hour later. Surrounded by winter wonderland, some 10-12 inches of snow on the ground and icy trees all around, I reveled in the day still ahead of me.

Down Chico and across the meadows and back up the hill to the car, four miles of a San Diego winter activity completed. The road was nearly parked full by then and kids were sledding, lots of cheer in the air.

Text message to my wife: Off trail. Headed to desert.

Time: 7:25 a.m.

Mortero Canyon Road leads to Dos Cebezas junction of the old railroad that never really was. Out there in the desert wilderness is also Blue Sun Cave. I found it last winter and wanted to revisit the area, a winter fat bike ride being the desert activity to complete the challenge, totaling some 15+ miles.

The weather was a glorious 65 degrees with sunny, blue skies. I stopped at the junction and noticed the disco ball was gone from beneath the water tower. Continuing on, I pedaled the desert two-track feeling super energized and when I arrived at the turn off to the cave, I felt very confident that I’d find it again. I did. I offered “thank yous” to those who came before and like the last time I was there, a cactus wren sang a song.

Text to wife: On way. All good.

Time: 10:56 a.m.

At home, I changed into board shorts. I already had my bodysurfing needs ready to go in the shed. In Ocean Beach, I wiggled and pulled myself into my winter wetsuit, hood and booties on, for sure. The waves were not good but I had to get in and give it a go.

Air temp: 65 degrees F

Water temp: 57 degrees F

Sloppy conditions, like being sloshed in a big bowl of soup with an occasional wave that took form, I didn’t care. I kicked like hell with my finned feet and was able to catch a broncin’ buck ride. Then I stayed inside and rode the shore break a little, smiling in the sunshine as I slid around on 2-footers. Two board surfers were out in the muck, too. Thirty-five minutes later I walked out of the ocean. Fifteen minutes later, I was walking to Pizza Port for a beer to celebrate.

With that, I completed the San Diego 3-in-1 Day Adventure Challenge. To my knowledge, this is a bit of an underground San Diego thing that only counts if you do the winter activity in the mountains. Snow is the point of it, basically, along with having to get in the ocean in winter. It does not matter which order you do them, as long as you do all three in one day. Hikes count, as does xc skiing. A desert trail run will work. Snorkeling counts, I think, as does paddling in the ocean. I don’t think a bay activity works to pull off the challenge.

Well, maybe we should make it a 4-in-1 Day challenge: snowy mountain—desert—ocean—bay. Whattya say?!

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