Nomad Traveling – Page 12 – Subaru Vagabond

Big Updates, and Piedras Grandes Mountain

I realize that I have not update my blog in a while! Well, after hanging out with some amazing folks outside of Borrego Springs, I eventually found my way back to the Carrizo Badlands Overlook. It’s an amazing spot that I just can’t get over! Besides, I have more hiking to do here!

Today, I even set out on a 10.5 mile hike in the Jacumba mountains. I had a lot in mind to see and conquer, and I was excited about it. However, as it turns out, I only conquered one mountain today. The rest will have to wait!

Hiking San Diego’s Coyote Mountain

Since coming over to boondocking near Borrego Springs, I have been staring at Coyote Mountain with dreams of hiking it. For me, of course, it doesn’t take long for me to cave to these thoughts, and yesterday, I went on that hike! At 11.65 miles with steep bushwhacking and scrambling, it’s a difficult hike, but I made it to the summit for lunch and back before sunset.

Boondocking near Borrego Springs

After stopping along the San Diego coast for Christmas week with the family, it is time to head back out to some boondocking for a bit. I’ve spent the majority of the last couple of months at one spot. I love that spot, but it was time to try something new, and maybe a little more social.

Hiking San Diego’s Red Hill, Mount Tule, and Carrizo Overlook

Yesterday, I decided to spend the morning and afternoon exploring on some hikes around Southeast San Diego. I returned to the Alverson Lava Flows nearby, with the goal of reaching the summit of Red Hill–the high point of the Volcanic Hills mountain range. Once completed with this, I also drove out to the McCain Valley Recreation Area, where I hiked to the summit of Mount Tule and explored some of the trails around the Carrizo Overlook, overlooking the Carrizo Gorge.

Hiking Mine Peak of the Coyote Mountains

Throughout the time that I have been staying on-and-off at the Carrizo Badlands Overlook in San Diego, I have been staring intently at the Coyote Mountains. After hiking down into Canyon Sin Nombre yesterday, I decided to go ahead and hike to the summit of these mountains at Mine Peak.

Hike in San Diego’s Carrizo Badlands and Canyon Sin Nombre

Such an awesome hike today! I dropped fro Carrizo Badlands Overlook in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, into the Badlands themselves. Traversing a system of washes through the difficult land, I made my way into Canyon Sin Nombre. Dwarfed by canyon walls and ancient Lava flows, I made my way, finding a slot canyon on the opposite side from where I started. I explored the slot canyon and found myself up on the larger canyon rim. All that before turning around and coming back through it all again! 6 miles of pure San Diego awesome! Every step I took on this hike changed the land around me, opening up entirely new views and revealing previously hidden beauties. Absolutely wonderful!

Quitting Smoking and Thanksgiving in Joshua Tree

My time around San Diego has mostly been continuing, leaving me without too much to post about on my blog. Dealing with dentist appointments and the usual of enjoying this location has been the majority of recent times, really. I also had the pleasure of spending Thanksgiving weekend around Joshua Tree with family, before returning to my camping location now. To top all of this off, I’ve also quit smoking, and I’ll discuss that a bit!

San Diego Sunrise and Badlands

Since my last update here, things went briefly downhill. I ended up leaving the wonderful boondocking spot I had in order to take care of some emergency issues. However, I was still determined to get back up there and get back out!

Back to the Boondocking — Mt Laguna

Fall Colors at Laguna Mountain

I spent the last few weeks in San Diego, hanging out with friends and family. Alas, it is time to get back out to the boondocking!

A Farewell to Arches and a Grand Way to San Diego

While staying outside of Moab, I made one more adventure into Arches National Park before heading out towards San Diego again. I didn’t get to see all of Arches or Canyonlands, but that just gives me more reason to return again some day! On the way, I stopped at the Grand Canyon North Rim, and headed home through Arizona and Imperial County, California.