Author Archives: Erika Lawson

About Erika Lawson

Blogging from El Cajon, CA, just east of San Diego. I mostly blog about hiking, but also traveling and family life as a working mom. I also have blogged about my experience dealing with (curable) breast cancer with as much humor and disdain as possible.

North Van DAM DAM DAM

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Erika Lawson

North Van Dam PeakMiles: 1.46Elevation: 369ftGaia Track100 Peaks Challenge 2021 Peak #9 Today was calendar Tetris day! Every six months I visit my oncologist (ahem). Since Covid, I’ve been mostly going to the clinic in Rancho Bernardo – it’s either … Continue reading →

Weekdays at the Casinos

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Erika Lawson

Viejas MountainMiles: 2.9Elevation Gain: 1402ftGaia Track100 Peaks Challenge 2021 peak #8Afoot & Afield #109 Last week’s weekday hike was Sycuan Peak. This week’s was Viejas Mountain. Seems I have a thing for casino hikes – if only they ended with … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountains Are Calling | Tagged 100 Peaks Challenge, Afoot & Afield, Viejas Mountain | 1 Comment

I have the BEST hiking buddies ever!

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Erika Lawson

Grapevine Mountain & Bitter CreekMiles: 6.6Elevation Gain: 2,081 ft Gaia Track100 Peaks Challenge 2021 peak #5Afoot & Afield #235 Sentenac MountainMiles: 2.2Elevation Gain: 804 ftGaia Track100 Peaks Challenge 2021 peak #6 Eagle PeakMiles: 4.85 (including bushwhack)Elevation Gain: 1,007 ftGaia Track … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountains Are Calling | Tagged 100 Peaks Challenge, Afoot & Afield, Eagle Peak, Grapevine Mountain, Sentenac Mountain | 3 Comments

Lunch Break at Sycuan Peak

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Erika Lawson

Miles: 2.1Elevation Gain: 764ftGaia Track100 Peaks Challenge 2021 peak #4Afoot & Afield #113 There are several hikes on the 100 Peaks list that are low-hanging fruit, that I can do on weekdays throughout the year. Hikes that are not too … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountains Are Calling | Tagged 100 Peaks Challenge, Afoot & Afield, Sycuan Peak | 2 Comments

Guatay Mountain

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Erika Lawson

Miles: 5.8Elevation Gain: 1394ftGaia Track100 Peaks Challenge 2021 peak #3 Yesterday was a long day, but today is still a weekend, and I wanted to get in a decent hike that I was comfortable doing solo but not one that … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountains Are Calling | Tagged 100 Peaks Challenge, Guatay Mountain | Leave a comment

Granite Mountain South Approach

Posted on January 2, 2021 by Erika Lawson

Granite MountainMiles: 7.8Elevation Gain: 2941ftGaia Track (thanks Tara!) Today Tara & I hiked Granite Mountain via the south approach. En route to the trailhead we stopped at the Blair Valley bathrooms. I mentioned in yesterday’s post that my original plan … Continue reading →

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Happy 2021! Kicking off the 100 Peak Challenge

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Erika Lawson

False GowerMiles: 5.6Elevation Gain: 1561ftGaia Track Ramona BenchmarkMiles: 3.55Elevation Gain: 672ftGaia Track It’s been a while since I logged a hike and I figured today would be a good day to re-start. I find hiking blogs the most useful when … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountains Are Calling | Tagged 100 Peaks Challenge, Mount Gower, Ramona Benchmark | 3 Comments

Shepherd Canyon Loop, #92

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Erika Lawson

With today’s trail run I have completed all of chapter 12 of Afoot & Afield – well, except for hike number 91, a 15-mile suffer-fest climbing all of the Five Peaks Challenge in one day. That’s scheduled for next spring. … Continue reading →

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Stelzer County Park – #103

Posted on October 12, 2020 by Erika Lawson

My second trail run (sort of – lots of walking!) today, after the Lakeside Linkage Trail, was at the Louis A. Stelzer County Park. I had been to this park a couple of times when the kids were younger – … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountains Are Calling | 1 Comment

Lakeside Linkage Trail – #105

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Erika Lawson

My current routine has me doing a long run and/or a trail run one weekend morning, and going hiking with my group on the other weekend morning. Today was run day, and I selected two short-ish nearby trails described in … Continue reading →