Cucamunga Peak
Six Pack of Peaks: Cucamunga Peak
5/30/21
Loop
Miles Hiked: 12 miles
Elevation gain: 4,100 ft
Total elevation: 8,862 ft
Pairs well with: Mexican Lager
Ridgeline trail [noun]: a type of trail cut into the side of a mountain with the mountain face creating a wall on one side and the sheer drop-off creating the other border requiring twister-game-esque maneuvers to pass opposing traffic.
Oh, Icehouse Canyon, we meet again…
Let’s just skip over that part, yes? So we took the split to Cucamonga Peak from the trail junction and are immediately hit with epic views on the most harrowing of ridgeline trails to date. Focus on the Dr. Seuss sideways trees (see reference pic) and not the precarious drop of impending doom. And up and up we go. Almost took a detour off trail, cuz I’m good at what I do (clearly missing the little rocks highlighting the border of the switchback) and still up and up we go.
We left the trailhead in the early afternoon since we were camping at the summit and it took me until early evening to summit. It was a heavy pack, ok? I’m not out of shape, just not in thru hiking shape yet…
Camping at the top is worth every hype and I can’t recommend it enough. I almost said I would hike it again just to camp there, if that says anything about the views. On the trek down we decided on the Chapman Trail detour, which was a mistake. Completely exposed summer ridgeline trail with no water sources until two-thirds down. Thankfully it wasn’t too busy, because there was absolutely no room to pass people. What can I say, we like challenges…or poor decisions.
See the sideways trees?!
Sexy Leinie butt
