This blog will detail 1,000 video hikes in Southern California. By Southern California, I am drawing a line from San Luis Obispo to the Nevada Border. Anything south of that line will be declared "Southern California". In a way, it is a personal challenge to do so many hikes. Mainly, however, it is my way of showcasing how many hiking opportunities there really are right in our own geographic back yard. As a blog, it serves as a companion piece to my Youtube channel "Mike On The Trail". It is also a work in progress, as I don't actually have 1,000 edited videos completed. This will take effort for quite some time before it is declared done. Even then, there will still be more out there. Here's to hiking and all the positive effects it has had on my life...and possibly yours!
Having visited Bailey Canyon more than once over the years, I had developed a yearning to hike the road up to the high peaks. I had hiked it to Monument Peak years ago, and knew that if I were to hike further, the day hike would take me all day.
Peak #1: Monument Peak.
The road is rough, but is also drivable. Though, I was not willing to take my own vehicle up the road. This meant that I would need to be committed to hike nearly 20 miles to cover the ground that I had in mind.
Monument Peak summit plaque.
The historical plaque of Fr. Francisco Garces still sits on the summit like it did on my first visit.
Bailey Peak.
When the day came to carry out the plan, I was ready, willing, and eager. I set out shortly after sunrise and hiked the 5 miles to Monument Peak. It seemed almost unchanged from my visit of two decades previous. Then, as I continued along the road going west, I started covering new territory. I visited the two Bailey Peaks before eventually arriving at Sugarpine Mountain. A short but steep use trail took me to the summit, where I was able to check off my 4th Peak on the day.
Sugarpine Mountain.
With the climbs completed, all I had to do was return down Bailey Canyon. Although mostly downhill, this was no small task, since it was at least another 8 miles (my mileage counter was out of whack and inaccurate, since I was due for an IOS update on my iPhone). With minimal breaks, I managed to finish a few hours before sunset and feeling rather gratified in completing a task that I had plotted out long ago.
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