Summits: 1380

July 20, 2010

Bernardo (SDC #46, 1150′) • mapdirections

 

Bernardo Mountain is close enough and easy enough to where Anna and I were able to hit its summit as part of an after work hike. We arrived at the trailhead on the side of the 15 freeway at about 5:30pm, plenty of time to get up and down without having to use our headlamps. Almost immediately the trail crossed under the 15 and followed the north shore of Lake Hodges.

 

 

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Looking back at the 15

The reservoir was pretty nice despite the freeway being in such close proximity, a few white egrets didn’t seem to mind too much either.

 

 

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Egrets

The trail eventually turned north, crossing a stream near a lush pocket filled with sycamores and palms, then began to gain some elevation, a welcomed change from the flat walking we’d been doing up to this point.

 

 

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An unexpected lush area

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Looking east towards Battle Mountain

 

The trail contoured around the north ridge of Bernardo, flattening out for a while before heading up to the obvious water towers and switchbacking its way to the summit. The view from Bernardo was impressive for a local peak.

 

 

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The view south from Bernardo Mountain

Scouting for another after work hike, I tried to pick out Mt. Israel to the west but it just looked like a cluster of round hills so I couldn’t be sure. I downed a granola bar and Anna and I made good time heading back down the same trail, taking a few minutes to walk out onto the bridge that crosses the reservoir.

 

 

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I’d seen the bridge a hundred times driving south on the 15 and always thought it looked interesting. We took a minute or two in the center of the bridge, then turned back to the parking lot and were home in time for dinner…

 

 

Bernardo_map

Bernardo stats: 6.0 miles roundtrip, 1100 feet gain/loss