The Kumeyaay Sky Ride
Part 2: Approximately 3000+ feet of climbing/32 miles
From the trail junction at Champagne Pass, I continued on via Pine Mountain Trail over to Pioneer Mail and the Sunrise Highway.
Pine Creek is so much fun to ride. It’s classic xc ridgetop riding. It rolls and rolls, dips and bends, bumps and rolls some more.
At Pioneer Mail, I hopped on to the Sunrise Highway to Penny Pines, where I connected into Noble Canyon Trail.
Up ahead, I turned onto Indian Creek Trail for the downhill/descent to the little stream. After that, it was the long climb back up to Champagne Pass.
From Champagne, I went back down Indian Creek to Deer Park and climbed that gritty stretch back up to the pines before settling back in, the cross-country meadow riding I was on earlier now being somewhat windy with a bruised sky, meaning the sun was gone.
I was feeling it in my legs at this point, meaning I was getting tired. Back on East Mesa Fire Road, I turned onto the singletrack heading to Oakzanita Peak. I did not go all the way to the peak, choosing to turn right at the trail junction and enjoying the pure big mountain descent that bottoms out back at the fire road. I turned left and ended the ride at the parking area where I started.
(No more photos! I was wanting to finish the ride and didn’t stop!)
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Using Trail Forks, it looks like this is a ride of somewhere around 32 miles with some 3000 feet of elevation gain, a lot of which comes in big/short pushes. I think to do it “right,” you have to climb up Oakzanita Peak, summit, and then go back down, a little out-and-back add on. That’s my plan for next time.
The Kumeyaay Sky Ride, is what I’m calling it. There is something about the sky between the Cuyamaca and Laguna mountains, all part of the Peninsular Range here in east county San Diego, that puts me at ease. Pedaling up into it, climbing my way up the trails and across them, the tiredness that works it’s way into my body, well, it all comes together in a way that makes me feel good.
I’m certain it would for you, too! Also, I’m certain others have done this route before me. No claim on it, other than … this route … my name for it … going forward … this route/ride should only be called:
The Kumeyaay Sky Ride.
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