As the fires raged on across the West, we sat at home and suffocated under the layers and layers of smoke, unsure of when the rains would come and extinguish the flames. Unable to get out of the house or go anywhere without the threat of inhaling an unhealthy amount of smoke, we decided to fly down to San Diego where conditions were significantly better.
We took the opportunity to stay in Ramona, California, just 40 minutes north west of San Diego in the high desert where wineries and trails dominated the tourist scene.
I stayed at the San Diego Country Suites with my parents and their friends, a couple that also enjoys travel and the outdoors. The resort had 15 tennis courts, a swimming pool, and 4 pickleball courts, leaving us plenty of ways to play and relax around the area. Near the resort, there were plenty of trails that gave me the opportunity for some relaxing trail runs.
Desert
The most famous trail in this area is called “Potato Chip Rock”. A long hike on the west side begins at Mount Woodson Trailhead and weaves adjacent to Lake Poway - a beautiful lake formed by a dam on the north side. My mom and I were up for a bit of a challenge, so we opted for the more challenging trail on the west face of the mountain.
As the sun beat down on our faces and sweat dripped down our faces, we worked our way up to the infamous rock. I made my way up to the thin sliver of stone, slightly nervous as I looked down at the cliff below at what could be my ultimate downfall. My mom carefully crawled over to where I was sitting on the edge so we could snap a quick photo so she could prove to her friends that she was brave enough to climb onto the infamous potato chip rock. I made sure to scare her by swinging my feet over the edge to pose for the photo.
Mountain
Coast
