#48 McGinty Mountain

First look at McGinty Mountain.

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Trailhead coordinates: 32.729432°N, -116.87250°W.

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Summary
With a seemingly endless supply of moderate peaks popping up all around San Diego, it was a matter of starting somewhere.  McGinty Mountain seemed like a good place to start. It is a moderate hike with reasonably short mileage.  I wanted something of this type for the day since I started out late and didn't make it there until around noon.

Breaking off the main trail to climb the alternate peak on the left.

The hike begins at a pull out parking area off Hwy 54 in Jamul.  It is a rural / residential area, similar to a small Midwest hill country town.  That's one great thing about visiting rural San Diego County, it feels like I'm in a different state sometimes.  From the signed trailhead, the hike goes uphill near the start.  It is a gradual but nearly constant climb the whole way.  It skirts the edge of a neighborhood of expensive homes on the way to McGinty Mountain.  There is an alternative summit to the left of the trail on the way up.  I went ahead and took a good use trail to its summit before continuing on to McGinty Mountain.

Approaching McGinty Mountain.

From the alternate peak, the trail drops to a saddle where there is then a steep climb toward McGinty Mountain and a third peak to the right.  McGinty was the target this time.  I climbed the wide pathway to a point where the high point sat right off the trail.  I scrambled up the summit boulders and declared victory. 

On the summit.

After taking in the views, I could see there was another clear route over to the third summit on the opposite side of the trail.  I crossed over to it and had a great view of McGinty Mountain from it.  After that, it was downhill all the way back, with still some free time to fit in another hike before the day ended.

View of McGinty from summit #3.

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