I recently took a day off from work to hit up the local trails. I love the smell of the mountain air and the peaceful solitude of getting out in nature. This day was going to be a solo hike; while it was not my first solo hike, it was my first solo hike on a trail I have never been before…my peak of choice was Cucamonga Peak, a local favorite. The first section of the trail goes up through Icehouse Canyon Trail, along stone ruins and a creek. At the Icehouse Saddle, the trail splits: to the right is Ontario Peak, to the left are the 3 T’s, and straight ahead is Cucamonga Peak. I press on ahead, passing an old mine, heading up the switchbacks, finally to the peak.
At the top is a pile of rocks, popular with locals for their Instagram and Facebook posts. The view from the top really is pretty, and since it is a weekday, not very crowded. The other day hikers and I share trail stories as we eat our snacks and rest from the hike up. I could literally hang out up here all day, enjoying the view and the peace. However, 2 little boys need to be picked up from daycare later so I head down the mountain to ensure I pick them up on time. On the hike down, I took my eyes off the trail for just a second and slipped on some loose ground; suffered a mild sprain but able to hike out, slowly. While it was tough, I am already mentally planning the next solo hike. Happy Trails!
