I hadn’t been hiking in at least a year when I pulled to the side of the road in east county San Diego mid-morning in early May. I thought it would be better to get an early start, but when my alarm went off, I remembered that I don’t like getting up early, so I waited.
Parking wasn’t too much of a problem, and even though I’d gotten a late start, in hiking timelines, it wasn’t as hot as I knew it could be. I locked my car, slung my backpack over my shoulder, and set out onto what I thought was the trail.
After walking a few minutes without running into anyone, I realized that the trail guide I’d read online had mentioned that a lot of people get lost straightaway, as the trailhead is a little ambiguous. Nearly one third of hikers end up at a small garden rather than the trail, and I began to wonder if I would add to that number. As I continued walking, the path widened, and I found that I was indeed on the correct trail.
The angle of the path steepened and I found my breath quickening as I climbed the first switchback. I wasn’t sweating yet, but I was glad that I’d brought the recommended full liter of water in case the day ended up hotter than it was at that moment. And who knew? Maybe I would run into a hiker who hadn’t brought enough water and needed some of mine.
As I rounded another bend in the trail, I heard voices, and looked up to see two very sweaty, shirtless men who looked to be in their early twenties jogging towards me. The trail was wide enough for all of us, but I still took a step to the side and nodded as they approached. Oftentimes on the trail, I’ve run into chatty hikers who like to talk about their day, my day, the weather, or the hike. These two just talked with each other as they ran by me, and I didn’t glance back as I kept my pace up the trail.
It didn’t take more than thirty minutes for me to reach what I recognized as the final switchback. This particular trail had a unique rock feature at the top that was a popular spot for photo ops, but I hadn’t gotten my own taken as there was usually a line of people waiting at the top.
I took a deep breath as I rounded the corner, expecting a crowd, but there were just two small groups of four waiting in front of the rock, though no one was on it. I didn’t really want to wait in a line, especially since lines in nature seemed unnatural. On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind a photo on the rock. I prepared myself to wait, ready to be annoyed that no one seemed to actually be taking photos, when one of the young women in the group spotted me.
“Hey, did you want us to take your photo up there?” she asked. She smiled as she tucked her straight black hair behind an ear.
“Oh, I can wait,” I stammered.
“We’re all done, we’re just debating where to eat lunch,” she answered. “Do you have a phone?”
I nodded as I pulled the phone from my pocket and handed it to her.
I climbed up onto the rock and smiled as she held the phone up. I couldn’t imagine it would make a great photo, but I’d never had a knack for posing.
“Turn to the side a little,” she called out, miming what she wanted me to do.
“Um, okay,” I replied, following her instructions.
“Just like that. And put one hand on your hip. Nope, other hand. Okay, now look to your left and up. A little more up, left, left, left. Stop there!”
I froze, looking out into the distance and belatedly wondering if she’d made me look away so she could sprint off with my phone. My heartbeat rose as the seconds ticked on, and just as I was about to turn my head, I heard her shout.
“Perfect! Come see!”
I climbed back down off the rock and headed towards the phone held in the young girl’s outstretched hand.
“What do you think?” she asked.
I was ready to say anything kind, since she’d tried so hard, but when I opened the photos, I was pleasantly surprised.
“These are really great,” I said honestly. “Thanks.”
“Sure thing,” she said. She rejoined her group of friends and I heard them chatting about lunch.
I stepped into the shade of a tree and took a few long sips of water, realizing I probably could have done with just half a liter with how short the hike was. I looked at the photos again and was impressed with how well they turned out, especially with just a camera phone. I looked back at the summit rock, surprised that there was still no photo line, before taking another large sip of water and heading back down the trail.