Peak 79 - False Sombrero Peak - What a perfect waste of time

False Sombrero Peak
Elevation: 3,463’
Mileage: ~2.4
Trailhead: North Fork Indian Valley - End of wash
Agency: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Date Hiked: 01/30/2019
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01/30/2019
Our plan was to do the Sombreros in Anza Borrego. Sombrero Peak and False Sombrero Peak are two peaks near each other with similar approaches.

CG and I met early in North County San Diego and headed out on the usual journey through Ramona and down Banner Grade to get into Ramona. We always have a lot to talk about, since we have similar professional backgrounds and are avid hikers. He was on his quest to finish the San Diego 100 Peaks Challenge, not quite being able to do it in a calendar year.

After this trip, however, he would start over and complete the entire list in 2019, the only one to do so.

We stopped in Ramona to pick up some breakfast. As we turned into the Santa Teresa Valley, the sun peeked up over North Peak and we stopped along the side of the road to take a few photos. That’s when we noticed a large bald eagle perched on a rock outcrop in the middle of the green field. It was an auspicious way to start the day.

We worked our way down Banner Grade and headed south into Anza Borrego. As we entered Carrizo Canyon from the west, we were stopped in our tracks by a large herd of bighorn sheep, crossing the highway in front of us. We watched them cross to the right of us and then paused to take some pictures.

There were at least a dozen of them, but it felt like more. I was so excited. This was the first time I had ever laid eyes on bighorn sheep in San Diego. I’ve seen them in Jackson Hole, and near Zion National Park. After all the tracks and scat I’ve seen over the years, it was amazing to see them from the road.

We moved on and headed toward Indian Valley. It was a beautiful morning. The desert floor was green from the recent rains.

Looking down Indian Valley from False Sombrero Peak Trailhead

It’s always startling, that silence. The silence that arrives when you shut off your engine after a long car ride. You get out and stretch your legs and all you can hear is the crunching of the desert gravel under your feet. The constant rumbling of the car that you’d gotten used to fades away and you’re blanketed by the sound of nothing.

Then you start hearing the birds and the gentle breeze in your ears. And you smell the vegetation around you. It’s wonderful.

Looking up to False Sombrero Peak from the trailhead

We headed up the alluvial portion of the valley and made our way up the wash. Desert washes are interesting. Sometimes you quickly hike through the sandy bottom, making great time upward, and sometimes you are scaling boulders or climbing high on one side or the other, passing a dry waterfall or bush-choked section.

Looking down to the trailhead from midway up to False Sombrero Peak

We continued up, leaving the wash, ascending the steep, sandy hillside with some occasional rests to enjoy the view and catch our breaths. There were some boot prints from other adventurers, but little else to see that anyone had ever been here. The desert was lush and green.

The green shoulder of False Sombrero looking across to Sombrero Peak

At the shoulder of False Sombrero Peak looking north

We emerged onto the sandy flat shoulder of the mountain. It was beautiful. I could see myself coming back here to camp and enjoy the overnight silence. We took some time to soak it all in and headed up to the summit block, which was atop the rocky peak.

The summit rocks of False Sombrero Peak from the western shoulder

We navigated the rocks and soon found ourselves at the top. The clouds were lovely and the views were expansive. We had some snacks and chatted about what we saw and where we’ve been.

The view down into Indian Valley from False Sombrero Peak

It was hard to stop taking pictures. The green Indian Valley and Cranebrake Wash lay out before us, seemingly into the endless distance. We relaxed into the summit.

Red Top, Cranebrake Wash, Cuyapaipe, and Monument Peak from False Sombrero Peak

After a nice long time at the peak, we headed back the way we came, riding the sand back down to the wash and then scrambling over the boulders to the valley floor. We got to the car and took the Indian Valley Road south fork to the trailhead for Sombrero Peak.

However, once we got there, we walked a little bit up the trail, lay on some boulders, and shared some beer. (A great Hazy Double IPA collab from Second Chance Beer Co, for those who are interested.)

We talked about our travels and lives and decided that Sombrero Peak could wait for another day. The sun and the boulders beneath us warmed us as we sat at the edge of the wash, staring up at the peach-colored rocks and the palm trees.

We spent a long time there, lounging on warm rocks on a cloudy winter day. What a perfect waste of time.