San Diego - El cajon mountain access?

Does anyone know if the climbers trail and meteor are accessible on Sunday (Aug 13th)?

It looks like the hiking trail has been closed for the month of August due to heat, but wasn't sure if that included the climbing access trails.

Got gear packed, but now I'm unsure if we'll be able to go.

Haven't been recently, but I've never seen or heard of the climber's trails being closed, just the hiking trail. 

Went out to climb Meteor at the start of August. Not really sure how they'd close the trail besides asking folks to stay off it. Anyways, I had no issues getting to the wall besides the heat! Start early and bring lots of water.

For the uninitiated, how's the approach? Looking at maps and reading around I've read it's about 2 miles and 1800 ft of vert, is that right? 

Alex Oliver wrote:

For the uninitiated, how's the approach? Looking at maps and reading around I've read it's about 2 miles and 1800 ft of vert, is that right? 

The approach is lengthy, hot, and steep closer to the wall. It's worth it. As someone said above, start early and take a lot of water. 

This has SAR written all over it.

It was hot, but we are not inexperienced with hiking and climbing in the heat. Brought a LOT of water. Drank nearly all just as we got back to the car. Worth it at the time, but I'm glad we are starting to get cooler weather again. The hike is brutal. 

Yeah dude, that hike in is freaking miserable. I went about a month ago, had 3L with me, drank all of it. The climbing is enjoyable but idk, it'd have to be 50 degrees out for me to consider doing that hike again.

The key is to hike in at night, cowboy camp at the base, and climb in the morning. 

IMHO, The approach was a bit worse in the 70's without a trail and before it burned off.

I have been to El Cajon once. Not sure why someone would ever opt to do that hike rather than drive to J Tree or Tahquitz. 

H Lue wrote:

I have been to El Cajon once. Not sure why someone would ever opt to do that home rather than drive to J Tree or Tahquitz. 

Because they’re a sport climber.

Try the Corte Madera and Eagles Peak hike next. ;)

Tradiban wrote:

Because they’re a sport climber.

Sounds like a personal problem. 

H Lue wrote:

Sounds like a personal problem. 

I don’t get it.

JTree is a really far drive from SD and doesn’t have much sport climbing, Tah is a reasonable drive but no sport climbing. Ergo, those willing to do the hike to EC are desperate sport climbers that usually wouldn't wonder fall from the car but are forced to risk their lives to clip bolts. Watch out for the wild packs of dogs!

The hike is bad, but its not THAT bad. People underestimate how the heat will affect them coupled with carrying heavy loads of water, that's usually what makes the hike seem much worse than it is. For the budding sport climber, the climbing is worth the hike. Either hike at night and camp, or start early in the morning. 

EC and JT/Tahquitz shouldn't be in the same discussion.

Tradiban wrote:

I don’t get it.

JTree is a really far drive from SD and doesn’t have much sport climbing, Tah is a reasonable drive but no sport climbing. Ergo, those willing to do the hike to EC are desperate sport climbers that usually wouldn't wonder fall from the car but are forced to risk their lives to clip bolts. Watch out for the wild packs of dogs!

Was a joke, admittedly a bad one. 

Lol.

Yeah, it's no Tahquitz, but backyard multipitch is an excellent reason to make the hike. The climbing is really fun too. 

I'm getting my wife into trad and wanted to show her an easy multi that would give her the opportunity to lead without having to think to much about gear placement. Currently she's only been following. 

How's the approach/climbing at Corte Madera? It's been on my list for a while, but haven't had a willing partner until recently. 

This is what I remember form going there about 7 years ago.

 If you have 4x4 or a dirt motor cross bike you can get to about 2 miles from the wall.

If not, you are hiking up hill another 2 miles or so for a total of about a 4mile hike.

Some pitches on Sunset Streaks are a good climb for beginners I think, 1st pitches are 5.8 and 5.9.

We rapped down from the top to start climbing, Not sure what hike is like to get to base of wall, or if there is one from the top of the mountain. 

The wall is nicer and cleaner then EC I believe, and the scenery is better, but the hike is a biiiiiiiiiitch.

Beautiful out there and worth going and camping out I think, it is wide open country with tall Manzanita though and I would be careful for mountain lions, hard for me to believe they would not be out there.

claudio ricardez wrote:

"How's the approach/climbing at Corte Madera?"

This is what I remember form going there about 7 years ago.

 If you have 4x4 or a dirt motor cross bike you can get to about 2 miles from the wall.

If not, you are hiking up hill another 2 miles or so for a total of about a 4mile hike.

Some pitches on Sunset Streaks are a good climb for beginners I think, 1st pitches are 5.8 and 5.9.

We rapped down from the top to start climbing, Not sure what hike is like to get to base of wall, or if there is one from the top of the mountain. 

The wall is nicer and cleaner then EC I believe, and the scenery is better, but the hike is a biiiiiiiiiitch.

Beautiful out there and worth going and camping out I think, it is wide open country with tall Manzanita though and I would be careful for mountain lions, hard for me to believe they would not be out there.

Hiking to the base or Corte (as opposed to rapping from the top) made the search to find Missing Link seem easy, direct, and well maintained. 

claudio ricardez wrote:

"How's the approach/climbing at Corte Madera?"

This is what I remember form going there about 7 years ago.

 If you have 4x4 or a dirt motor cross bike you can get to about 2 miles from the wall.

If not, you are hiking up hill another 2 miles or so for a total of about a 4mile hike.

Some pitches on Sunset Streaks are a good climb for beginners I think, 1st pitches are 5.8 and 5.9.

We rapped down from the top to start climbing, Not sure what hike is like to get to base of wall, or if there is one from the top of the mountain. 

The wall is nicer and cleaner then EC I believe, and the scenery is better, but the hike is a biiiiiiiiiitch.

Beautiful out there and worth going and camping out I think, it is wide open country with tall Manzanita though and I would be careful for mountain lions, hard for me to believe they would not be out there.

CM is a much different experience - would recommend checking it out.

Personally, I think the hike into CM was moderate difficulty compared to ECM. Maybe similar time wise, but it's not 2k' in two miles. Honestly, it's the drive that would get to me. The Buckman Springs exit on the I-8 is a good ways out there past climbing areas in Lakeside and Descanso.

Also, one time while hiking out following an incredible sunset out there we spotted two eyes glowing back at us and our headlamps at about waist height from behind some brush. It was hard to tell, but I believe we saw a mountain lion. Not sure what else it would have been.

90% of parties out there are climbing Sunset Streaks. If you venture away from that area (El Nino, Video Dome etc), you'll be unlike to encounter any climbers or hikers all day.