At The Backroads

San Diego Rocks! I am not referring to “rocks” we usually describe things or places or people if we are in awe of them, rather, the “San Diego Rocks” I am referring to is really about rocks, at Woodson Mountain. The early Indians settlers called it “The Mountain of the Moonlit Rocks”.

Moonrise Over Woodson Mountain from Afar

Maybe, the early Indian settlers named it as “Mountain of Moonlit Rocks” for the rocks and boulders are very visible even at night, over great distances. If hills and small mountains litter San Diego’s backyard, boulders litter on the slopes of Woodson Mountain.

Natural Rock Garden @ Woodson Mountain

Boulder Strewn Slope of Woodson Mountain

I have two previous posts about Woodson Mountain, one is Hiking Woodson Mountain from Lake Poway, with an approximate distance of 7 miles out and back and 2300 ft climb. The other one is Hiking and Geocaching at Woodson Mountain from Highway 67, which is approximately 3.6 miles round trip and 1200 ft climb.

Because of rain last Friday and Saturday, we decided to take the trail that starts at Highway 67 to avoid the all dirt trail that starts from Lake Poway. I was thinking the trail that starts at Lake Poway may get muddy and slippery and I did not want to have heavy mud clinging to my shoes for the entire hike. Also, there was still a possibility of another rain to come because of the dark clouds that seemed to be ready to fall anytime, so a shorter hike was desirable for us.

Dark Clouds Over Rolling Hills

Though I love taking the trail that starts at Lake Poway more, but the hike that starts at Highway 67 also has some features that I love. One of them is at the start of the trail where we pass the seem to be dancing sycamore trees.

Sycamore Trees, Near the trailhead at Highway 67

The trail changes from sycamore lined path to boulder strewn path.

Paved Trail to the Peak of Woodson

Big Boulders Lining the Trail

How big are some of these boulders? For scale, you can compare the man walking on the trail with the boulders lining up on the side. And those boulders are not necessarily the biggest in this boulder strewn mountain.

Big Boulders Lining the Trail

There are a lot of boulders with vertical and almost seamless face, making Woodson Mountain a popular place for the local San Diegans to go rock climbing.

Vertical Flat Face of A Giant Boulder

There were several rock climbers last Sunday but I did not get the chance to take them a picture, for either I was too close to them I hesitated to take them picture for fear I am invading their privacy, or the angle was not very good. But here is one picture of a little girl practising rock climbing already, I think she was just about 11 or 12 years old. I shot this last year’s spring.

Little Girl Rock Climbing

After reaching the peak of Woodson, we usually look for our favorite rock to gaze at San Diego County below us.

Potato Chip Rock

Potato Chip Rock

Looking down at the topography below us, we know that this is not the San Diego most people know. A lot more people associate San Diego with miles of beaches, true! But San Diego just has so much more to offer to its residents. For an outdoor enthusiast, this place is a paradise. From surfing and paragliding in the ocean, to biking, hiking and trail running in its hills and mountains,  to rock climbing in its many boulder strewn small mountains, to dirt biking in the desert, to photography, to snow sledding in its mountains, and whatever that I forgot to mention. For me, I am happy just walking or hiking on its slopes and taking pictures.

When we got back to our car, the rain started falling hard, so Sunday was our lucky day. We had a complete hike, but did not get wet at all. Yet, lucky enough to observe the full moon rising over the “Mountain of Moonlit Rocks” later of the day.

Sundays Full Moon

Moon Rising Over Woodson Mountain, @ Dusk