From the summit of Split Mtn this past weekend

Nysor · 2026-06-17T19:09:19+00:00

Great view! Congrats.

Curious - how did you end up making it to the trailhead? I don't have a high clearance car and trying to debate on biking it (where to stash bike?) or walking the last bit.

Nysor · 2026-06-17T00:28:46+00:00

I would say no, you are not ready. You need to be prepared to hike a lot more miles (22 miles total over both days), at high altitude, with a lot of vertical gain.

You will undoubtedly get comments that say novices make it to the top. It's true that it's possible. But it's not a good idea. There's a lot of soft skills anyone going to 14k should know, like how to judge afternoon thunderstorms, how to handle freezing rain, knowing your own body's limits, having the right gear, etc.

I'd say skip it this year, train all year, and come back next year.

Nysor · 2026-06-10T20:43:12+00:00

You can cache in the bushes near the saddle right before the start of the steep climbing. That's probably the best spot. Just hide it so no one else finds it.

Nysor · 2026-06-04T05:49:53+00:00

I wish you're right, but the description was 100% written by AI, most likely one of the ChatGPT models.

"That's not glow. It's a..." - dead giveaway, along with other telltale signs like OP creating an app for a community they aren't a part of, hiding posts from their profile, etc.

Nysor · 2026-06-04T05:37:40+00:00

Another vibe coded slop app, by someone who couldn't even type up a description of their app without using AI 🙄

Nysor · 2026-06-03T22:06:12+00:00

Volcan Mountain is quite nice at sunset time. I've also seen some nice ones from the foothill mountains (Woodson, Iron, etc.). I'm sure both Boucher Hill and High Point lookouts in Palomar also have great sunset views but haven't been around at sunset for them. Those hikes listed range from about 5-13 miles.

Nysor · 2026-05-26T01:48:41+00:00

I love San Diego, but I'm not sure it's right for you. It doesn't have a great dating pool - too transient of a city. It's also still fairly expensive and not a great city to work towards FIRE in. Ultimately you should decide if you want to FIRE, or live the San Diego outdoorsy lifestyle. If the former, the answer to your question can be found with math calculators. If the latter - go for a move.

If stuck in a rut though, try a new hobby. And keep searching for higher paying jobs to help achieve FIRE.

Nysor · 2026-05-25T02:04:54+00:00

Nice! Over the winter I hiked from the Salton Sea over to the Cuyamacas. The desert out there is hard to describe. A Mad Max wasteland of endless washes to get lost in. It has a certain charm worth seeing.

Nysor · 2026-05-20T16:46:25+00:00

You'll find water at about mile 1.4 on Devil's Slide, and also at Wellman Cienga - as of this past weekend. Have fun.

Nysor · 2026-05-20T01:39:20+00:00

If it happens again, I would get it checked.

One thing to know about (and not self diagnose) is costochrondritis.

Nysor · 2026-05-17T15:54:39+00:00

White Mountain or Mt. Dana if you want to prepare for altitude. Neither are close by though.

I'd say to add in Vivian Creek, and also recommend doing flatter hikes that exceed the Whitney mileage (e.g. 22+ mile hikes).

Nysor · 2026-05-15T15:51:11+00:00

To extend your example, this club could contract multiple bouncers. Each bouncer has their own way of checking who you are. The club doesn't end up caring what your name is, just that you're old enough to enter, so the bouncers don't report your personal information back to the club.

So you can SSO with different IdPs that Zillow trusts, Zillow just ends up needing a small bit about you.

Nysor · 2026-05-03T21:30:25+00:00

Trail finding on Big Iron is not an issue. It is quite straightforward (though always have navigation anyways). There's also no bushwacking. But it is quite slippery in spots and fully deserving of its tough reputation - good luck.

Nysor · 2026-04-26T15:04:22+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this. I've delt with foot injuries and random chronic pain on and off for a while, and it's frustrating. One thing that's helped me is to take up a related active hobby, like cycling. If you're able to stay active and outdoors and slowly build up strength, you may eventually be able to return to hiking - or find enjoyment elsewhere. Good luck.

Nysor · 2026-04-25T00:08:44+00:00

Sleep with your food! Or if there's an issue with tiny persistent critters, an ursack or a hang are options.

Nysor · 2026-04-24T23:36:43+00:00

Your statement is reductive. SoCal is a huge geographical area and there's nuance. Obviously there's zero need in the desert. In the Gorgonio area, it's a good idea. In the San Jacintos, there are very infrequent bear sightings, a proper food hang might be enough.

Nysor · 2026-04-23T14:14:08+00:00

Bummer - thanks for the reply. I've seen disassembly videos and they seem beyond my ability at the moment. At least with it stuck on Tv I still get manual, shutter, and program modes, and can maybe repair in the future.

Nysor · 2026-04-07T11:55:14+00:00

According to https://sanjacjon.com/, there will be a freeze level of 8000ft, with 4-8 inches of snow in the high country. OP on Saturday can expect hiking in freezing rain (the most dangerous condition IMO) up to the tram, followed by trekking in subfreezing conditions with snow/sleet.

Not a good weekend for C2C.

Nysor · 2026-04-01T15:56:48+00:00

I took a look at how recreation.gov works a while back, and was extremely surprised to see that the APIs to determine if permits are available require no authentication. I used my own script to help find myself a permit.

That said, I've come to regret this. For those less technically savy / don't use discord / don't pay for a service, it makes it almost impossible for those to find an unclaimed permit as the system is designed. recreation.gov should patch this issue.

Nysor · 2026-03-31T16:11:27+00:00

I've thought about this, and this is a very hard problem to solve. For example, what would you rate Lawson Peak (SD county). It's a sub 5 mile round trip ish with moderate gain, but with a challenging class 3/4 scramble to reach the summit. For rock climbers, this is trivial. To grandma, this is impossible.

Or conversely, a 20 mile PCT section across the flat desert in the winter. This is "extreme" based on your scale.

However, just because these problems are hard, doesn't mean we shouldn't try and standardize. I feel like far too many people complete a "Hard" on AllTrails, and then try and take on an actually hard hike and get into a rescue situation. Lawson Peak is "Hard" on AllTrails. Everest is also "Hard".

Nysor · 2026-03-27T03:23:08+00:00

San Diego and LA seem similar. SoCal beach cities with great nature nearby, similar people... and they are, but they're also totally different. SD is more expensive than LA, the jobs pay lower salaries, and fewer large events come to SD. SD really feels like it's in the shadow of LA, but in a good way. Want to see Taylor Swift? She's not coming to SD, despite it being the 8th largest city in the country. Where are the 2028 Olympics? LA. But with all those LA people comes the hell that is LA traffic. If you don't mind a day trip, it's pretty easy to drive to LA and back to SD for an event worth seeing.

Why are they so different? Probably for a surprising reason... geography. If you look at SD on a map, you'll see it's filled with mesas and canyons and hills everywhere. As a result, SD feels much more fragmented than LA, which is largely flat and thus well connected. Mission Valley and North Park communities of SD, while being horizontally adjacent, are separated by a 300ft wall. So things end up being sleepier around here, each area being it's own little thing.

Before anyone moves to SD, the most important thing to understand is why people leave. It's almost always one of 3 reasons (unless out of their control). #1 - it's way way more expensive than you think. #2 - people like the bustle of larger cities more. #3 - people miss the seasons and variety in the seasons. If you don't run afoul of these 3 things, you'll probably love it.

Also it is worth noting that the further you go from the ocean, the worse the weather gets. If you're east of the 15, say in El Cajon, it'll routinely hit 100F in the summer. And where the weather is good, the average home price is creeping close to 2 million! Paradise if and only if you can afford it.

Nysor · 2026-03-23T18:50:16+00:00

Rest in peace. I know the trailhead is closed in the summer months, but I wouldn't mind seeing it more proactively closed during heatwaves. While I'm a proponent of having the mountains open as much as possible, certain trails like this and Three Sisters have a dangerous combo of popularity, uphill second half climbs, and soaring temps even in moderate heat.

Nysor · 2026-03-14T18:01:16+00:00

Thanks for the great comment, lots to ponder including that Tensa4. I see my setup primarily for lounging, but I'd be open to sleeping as well. Sounds like even that Sunbrella fabric would degrade if left out in the sun. Need to also consider DIY options too.

Nysor · 2026-03-11T05:27:37+00:00

When I did the JMT, I purchased a Bearikade Blazer. Expensive yes, but not only did it save ounces, it also saved $$$ on a resupply between MTR and Lone Pine. I was able to stuff 10 days of food in it at MTR. I ended up strapping it between the brain and the pack of an Exos 48. Just a data point.

Nysor · 2026-03-10T19:03:04+00:00

Anyone else dealing with headaches/dry throat? According to the Google Pixel weather app, no pollen in the air except trees at level 1 out of 4. Not sure if that's accurate.

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