Fourteen hikers met for brunch on Saturday morning at Maggie's Place, formerly
known as Dodge Valley Restaurant, twenty-seven miles southeast of Temecula on
Highway 79. After feasting on Maggie's delicious fixin's the group caravanned up
the Chihuahua Valley Road, then turned onto the dirt road leading toward Combs
Peak. The gate referred to in the peak guide was open and we were able to
proceed to the Pacific Crest Trail crossing. The hike progressed without event
as we followed the PCT to a saddle north of Combs, then ascended the fairly open
ridge to the summit. After a brief stay on top we retraced our steps,
encountering Frank Goodykoontz en route. Frank had just that morning picked up a
brand new camper-van and this weekend's outing was its maiden voyage. The hike
took about 2-1/2 hours round trip.
After returning to Maggie's we headed over to Oak Grove campground and selected
sites, then returned to Maggie's for dinner. Many tried the Hungarian goulash
(Maggie is Hungarian). Maggie treated us to cherry pie (courtesy of Geri
Marsden) on the occasion of my imminent birthday. Despite having only herself
and one other assistant, Maggie successfully provided excellent service and well
prepared food in reasonable time. After a fun evening we all headed back to Oak
Grove and camped. Temperatures that night were in the twenties.
Sunday morning we left the campground by 6:45, after enjoying a spectacular
sunrise, and waited at the Hwy 371/Hwy 79 intersection for any additional
arrivals. There were none. Following the standard peak guide directions we
caravanned to Joe Powers Ranch and parked. We had lost three hikers but added
one from the Combs hike, so the dozen of us started hiking at 8:05am. My
scouting trip the previous weekend was helpful as I had found a reasonable
approach (not too brushy) into the mountains. Following the standard guide we
arrived at the earthen dam at 9:20, resting for ten minutes before leaving for
Beauty. We arrived on the summit of Beauty at 10:25. Our descent over the fairly
open ridge and short stretch of road took as long as the ascent and we were back
at the dam at 11:35.
After another brief rest we struck out for Iron Springs at 11:45. We were able to
find previously clipped openings through the brush, and a couple of us did some
extensive clipping ourselves. However, there were few ducks and we did find
ourselves occasionally thrashing through the brush. The group stayed together
and we all arrived on the summit at about 1:15pm. We enjoyed a half hour on the
cool summit and at 1:45 began our descent, reclipping as required. At 2:45 we
arrived back at the dam, and at 3:00 left the dam for the last stretch of the
descent to the cars, arriving at 4:00pm, with plenty of daylight remaining.
This was a very enjoyable weekend of hiking, fellowship, and merriment. The
weather had cooperated nicely, with fair skies and moderately cool temperatures
with little wind. Iron Springs lived up to its reputation, and Patty described
the outing as "Combs, Beauty and the beast."
