Pioneer Mail to Indian Creek and back

Last Friday Dan suggested we ride from the southern Laguna Meadow to Pioneer Mail, a trail we usually avoid because it is too hot in the northern end. We came back yesterday (4/2) to try to get to the top of Pine Mountain and do a loop back to Pioneer Mail. Dan came up with the plan for both great rides. Dan was a Marine squad leader with two tours in Vietnam. Jerry, my other mountain bike buddy for 15 years, is an ex CHP moto guy.




Dan's plan for yesterday was to go from the Pioneer rest area up to Pine Mountain then plunging down to Indian Creek and back to the cars.
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Unlike most Laguna and Cuyamaca rides, the trail was wide open with views not seen before. This is looking to the south, across the Indian Creek drainage.
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Cuyamaca Peak looks so close that one would be tempted to go for it. My ski club in SD had a rope tow on this flank until about 1955. Here is a link to the history: http://san-diego-ski-club.org/history.htm

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This shows Oakzanita Peak, one that we ride to from highway 79. It is on East Mesa, just south and east of Cuyamaca Peak.
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Happy riders heading east up Indian Creek toward Pioneer Mail and the cars.
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Juanito

[Edited on 4-5-2013 by JohnMcfrog]

Quote:

Originally posted by JohnMcfrog Last Friday Dan suggested we ride from the southern Laguna Meadow to Pioneer Mail, a trail we usually avoid because it is too hot in the northern end. We came back yesterday (4/2) to try to get to the top of Pine Mountain and do a loop back to Pioneer Mail. Dan came up with the plan for both great rides. Dan was a Marine squad leader with two tours in Vietnam. Jerry, my other mountain bike buddy for 15 years, is an ex CHP moto guy. Dan's plan for yesterday was to go from the Pioneer rest area up to Pine Mountain then plunging down to Indian Creek and back to the cars. Tag PhotoAdd LocationEdit Unlike most Laguna and Cuyamaca rides, the trail was wide open with views not seen before. This is looking to the south, across the Indian Creek drainage. Tag PhotoAdd LocationEdit Cuyamaca Peak looks so close that one would be tempted to go for it. Tag PhotoAdd LocationEdit This shows Oakzanita Peak, one that we ride to from highway 79. It is on East Mesa, just south and east of Cuyamaca Peak. Tag PhotoAdd LocationEdit Happy riders heading east up Indian Creek toward Pioneer Mail and the cars. Tag PhotoAdd LocationEdit Juanito

Nice, wife and I ran up Noble Canyon to Champagne Pass a few weeks back. I love the view up there. On Saturday I'm doing a 50k run that starts near Pioneer Mail, heads down Mason Valley Truck Trail, Oriflamme, up Box Canyon, and then returns via the same route. I can't get enough of that area

Here are some pics from a trail marathon I did in November





[Edited on 4-5-2013 by Bajaboy]