05/25/10 Both peaks in the saddle of the Saddleback Mountains in one day. Almost 21 miles, 5600' of total elevation gain, another great trail running trip. This time, my Dad joined me to hike Santiago Peak as I ran Santiago & Modjeska. We were only about an hour apart from syncing up at the bottom.
1 A picture that Dad took of me as I passed him on the way up Lower Holy Jim.
2 A message to Dad in case he missed the start of the Upper Holy Jim trail. Turns out he didn't even see the message.
3 The trail leading from Santiago off to Modjeska peak. It was easier to find than I thought it would be, though I had passed it on all my previous trips without noticing there was a trail there.
4 The trail between Santiago and Modjeska is gorgeous. Almost completely unused, and mostly overgrown. The trees and shrubs are growing low enough that you have to constantly duck to get under them.
5 Running while ducking can be tough, but it was great trail.
6 I'm not quite sure how this truck got there, but it looks like it's been there for a while. I'm guessing the trail must have been wider at some point.
7 Bottom of the saddle looking back at Santiago Peak.
8 Looking down the saddle.
9 The single-track trail picks back up again on the hill here. I almost missed it.
10 Just what I was afraid of, I got rattled at. You can't quite see the rattlesnake here, it's in the shadow of the bush. But you sure can hear it, this thing was loud! It definitely had me on edge when I passed back this way.
11 Grassy plants almost completely covered the trail in several places. Having just been rattled at, I was really nervous about running through the grass and not being able to see where my feet were landing.
12 Made it to Modjeska Peak. Here looking back at Santiago.
13 I believe that's Lake Elsinore with Mt. San Gorgonio in the background.
14 Lake Matthews in the distance.
15 The obligatory 360 degree view from Modjeska Peak. The black things swirling around are a dense swarm of gnats. You can't stand in one place for too long without getting them in your eyes and mouth.
16 Giant dandelions.
17 Some cool purple wildflowers.
18 It must be Laker season, perfect Laker colored wildflowers.
19 A great picture of Dad as I passed him on the way down. He's looking pretty hard core sporting his early Father's Day present, an Osprey Talon 22 trekking pack with 3.0L Platypus bladder.