STRAWBERRY PEAK MOUNTAINEERS ROUTE

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:08 pm

I hiked with a few members of my crazy Wednesday group to Strawberry Peak via the mountaineer's route. We met at Red Box, left a few cars there, and shuttled to Colby Canyon. Trailhead. The trail was in good shape. I have a friend who is currently doing maintenance work so it was looking very nice.

The last time I hiked this route was in 2016. I remembered the Poodle Dog bush was overwhelming along the ridge just before the start of the class 3 climb. Also, the ridge was mostly clear and easy to walk through. However, this time there was a large section along the ridge that was overgrown with thorny bushes. Not hard to navigate but a bit challenging to avoid and getting impaled by the yuccas. Ouch!

We took our first break at Josephine Saddle. Then we headed up the mountaineer's route. As I mentioned earlier the terrain was not quite the same as before. However, no more Poodle Dog except for a very tiny bush yay!!!!!

Ascending the class 3 rock scrambling was just as fun as I remembered. It was a clear day and the views were amazing! I took my time to soak in the views. I did manage to find one lonely purple flower hidden in between the rocks.

At the summit, we ate lunch and took the obligatory summit photos. Of course, someone brought Strawberries to share. I signed the register and noticed an old Eispiraten sticker which was cool.
We descended the trail going back to Red Box. The route was clear and not as slippery as I remembered it.

It was a perfect day.

Stats: 8 miles, 2300' gain

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:10 pm

a few more pics

Post by **dima** » Mon Sep 26, 2022 11:02 pm

Neat! I was there a few months ago. We dropped down the other side on the return, and looped back via the Strawberry Potrero. It's wonderful. Go there.

AW~ · Post by **AW~** » Tue Sep 27, 2022 12:59 pm

dima wrote: ↑Neat! I was there a few months ago. We dropped down the other side on the return, and looped back via the Strawberry Potrero. It's wonderful. Go there.

Yeah, and there is this ...the best swimming hole in the whole state..wow!
https://sportssd.iheart.com/featured/er ... alifornia/

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Tue Sep 27, 2022 1:33 pm

Yeah, and there is this ...the best swimming hole in the whole state..wow!
https://sportssd.iheart.com/featured/er ... alifornia/

OMG!!! my hiking crew would definitely be interested. We are always in search of swimming holes. We are not afraid to go off trail. How hard is it to access? I've noticed the waterfalls from the trail above but what's the easiest way to get into the canyon below?

Post by **tekewin** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 2:10 am

Strawberry is awesome! Nice trip and looks like perfect weather.

Post by **Sean** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 8:06 am

Thanks for the report. Good job.

Post by **dima** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 3:07 pm

AW~ wrote: ↑Yeah, and there is this ...the best swimming hole in the whole state..wow!
https://sportssd.iheart.com/featured/er ... alifornia/

Heh? Is there actually something noteworthy there (Colby Canyon, Daisy Canyon junction)? I don't remember ever seeing anything.

Post by **tekewin** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 3:28 pm

dima wrote: ↑
AW~ wrote: ↑Yeah, and there is this ...the best swimming hole in the whole state..wow!
https://sportssd.iheart.com/featured/er ... alifornia/
Heh? Is there actually something noteworthy there (Colby Canyon, Daisy Canyon junction)? I don't remember ever seeing anything.

I took a quick look at Caltopo and it looks like the trail goes right near the junction. Maybe it's up Daisy a ways?

AW~ · Post by **AW~** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 5:18 pm

Its a joke....I mean it was written by millennials. Love the pic.
This one.....sounds like a GPSer. "Daisy canyon". That 1st descent feel.

although its a good beginner canyon that has been on the forgotten side.