Sarah Simon - Mar 25, 2008 10:22 pm Date Climbed: Mar 25, 2008
Via Golfcrest Drive
After sitting on an airplane most of the day to fly to San Diego for business, I drove directly to the Golfcrest trailhead to summit Cowles Mountain. I was pleasantly surprised by the stiff elevation gain. The trail atmosphere is very reminiscent of Piestewa Peak in Phoenix, with a lot of after-work walkers getting hitting the trail for daily exercise. On the downside, the smog was just atrocious. I could hardly see the surrounding mountains and my lungs were on fire - not from the elevation gain but from the "suspended particulates" in the air. Still, a great way to burn off some business-trip stress/fatigue.
GroundControl - Jan 17, 2008 1:59 am Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2008
A nice training hill if you're in the San Diego area. It seems humorous to call it a "mountain" since it takes little more than 20 minutes for a brisk round trip. Nevertheless, its long enough to keep the heart rate up for training.
I have been up this thing so many times to keep in shape. You may have seen me. Big red backpack with 4 gallons of water in it wearing my bright yellow double plastic mountaineering boots.
Yeah, good times.
This mountain is a five minute drive for me so I do it often. Usually several times a week when I'm training for a bigger climb in the Sierras or the desert. The views are great and it has several different routes that can keep you interested over and over. My favorite route: Barker way, up the east face. It meets with the main Golfcrest Trail half way up the mountain.
Day Hiker - Sep 24, 2006 10:19 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2006
Golfcrest Drive
20080608: Carried DayHikerJr and hiked with his Mommy.
20061015: Great morning workout and lots of friendly people on the trail. Up in 19:25.
20060923: Summited this fifteener (1591 feet) without oxygen. The Sherpas had to turn back at the Mesa Road junction, but I pushed on to the summit.
Route Climbed: Golfcrest Drive Date Climbed: November 1, 2005
Hiked to the top of Cowels Mountain while I was in San Diego for a couple days. I found out that it was only a 20 minute drive from the hotel I was staying at. Nice little mountain that is popular with the locals. Good view in all directions but a little smoggy that day.
Route Climbed: Barker Way Date Climbed: August 27, 2005
This is my training hike, since it's very close to my house. I trained for Mt Whitney by lugging up my backpack a few times a week and it really helped build up my legs. This is a fairly easy hike and has great views of the city of San Diego. Barker way is a nice way to go up because you miss the hordes on the Golfcrest route and this way does not mess around with switchbacks. From the top of Cowles, I like to head over to Pyles Peak for a little extra mileage and elevation gain/loss. I should start keeping track of how many times I've climbed this peak, it's probably around 200.
not much of a climb really, more like a walk in the dirt. I like doing this one on weeknights after the sun goes down so as not to get all the trail traffic.
Route Climbed: Fire road from Barker Way Date Climbed: All the time
This is a great training hike as long as you avoid the mall/conveyor belt trails (from Golfcrest Dr.). Take the time to head over to Pyles peak when finished with Cowles. It is well worth it.
Sarah Simon - Mar 25, 2008 10:22 pm Date Climbed: Mar 25, 2008
Via Golfcrest DriveAfter sitting on an airplane most of the day to fly to San Diego for business, I drove directly to the Golfcrest trailhead to summit Cowles Mountain. I was pleasantly surprised by the stiff elevation gain. The trail atmosphere is very reminiscent of Piestewa Peak in Phoenix, with a lot of after-work walkers getting hitting the trail for daily exercise. On the downside, the smog was just atrocious. I could hardly see the surrounding mountains and my lungs were on fire - not from the elevation gain but from the "suspended particulates" in the air. Still, a great way to burn off some business-trip stress/fatigue.
GroundControl - Jan 17, 2008 1:59 am Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2008
Nice AfternoonNice little hike with my wife.
fraz1697 - Sep 12, 2007 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2007
Big Rock TrailThe "difficult" on the NE side is good for a quick afternoon get away from the city.
skotty - Jul 8, 2007 3:46 pm
Nice hillA nice training hill if you're in the San Diego area. It seems humorous to call it a "mountain" since it takes little more than 20 minutes for a brisk round trip. Nevertheless, its long enough to keep the heart rate up for training.
Jerry S - Jul 5, 2007 5:58 pm
Many routes many timesI have been up this thing so many times to keep in shape. You may have seen me. Big red backpack with 4 gallons of water in it wearing my bright yellow double plastic mountaineering boots.
Yeah, good times.
chudder - Apr 4, 2007 2:18 am
Many routes, many datesAll trails taken, and then a couple of bushwhack approaches too :o\
mnatureson - Jan 23, 2007 4:17 pm
My Backyard MountainThis mountain is a five minute drive for me so I do it often. Usually several times a week when I'm training for a bigger climb in the Sierras or the desert. The views are great and it has several different routes that can keep you interested over and over. My favorite route: Barker way, up the east face. It meets with the main Golfcrest Trail half way up the mountain.
Day Hiker - Sep 24, 2006 10:19 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2006
Golfcrest Drive20080608: Carried DayHikerJr and hiked with his Mommy.
20061015: Great morning workout and lots of friendly people on the trail. Up in 19:25.
20060923: Summited this fifteener (1591 feet) without oxygen. The Sherpas had to turn back at the Mesa Road junction, but I pushed on to the summit.
NavySeabee - Aug 17, 2006 8:46 pm
Route Climbed: Golfcrest DriveHiked this with the wife and kiddies on a nice fall day.
Bob Burd - Nov 22, 2005 1:27 am
Route Climbed: Golfcrest Drive Date Climbed: Dec 23, 2002A fun little hike, extremely popular it would seem judging from the high traffic.
mountaingazelle - Nov 2, 2005 10:59 am
Route Climbed: Golfcrest Drive Date Climbed: November 1, 2005Hiked to the top of Cowels Mountain while I was in San Diego for a couple days. I found out that it was only a 20 minute drive from the hotel I was staying at. Nice little mountain that is popular with the locals. Good view in all directions but a little smoggy that day.
rocketsredglare - Oct 26, 2005 8:08 pm
Route Climbed: All Date Climbed: 10's of times, maybe 100Barker Dam, steeper fire trail, is the way to go. PR is 27 minutes up the regular trail.
tdoughty - Oct 16, 2005 12:43 pm
Route Climbed: various Date Climbed: 1964 to presentalways nice
HSeldon - Aug 31, 2005 12:49 pm
Route Climbed: Barker Way Date Climbed: August 27, 2005This is my training hike, since it's very close to my house. I trained for Mt Whitney by lugging up my backpack a few times a week and it really helped build up my legs. This is a fairly easy hike and has great views of the city of San Diego. Barker way is a nice way to go up because you miss the hordes on the Golfcrest route and this way does not mess around with switchbacks. From the top of Cowles, I like to head over to Pyles Peak for a little extra mileage and elevation gain/loss. I should start keeping track of how many times I've climbed this peak, it's probably around 200.
flotzilla - Dec 31, 2004 7:00 pm
Route Climbed: Santee side Date Climbed: October 2004Good training hike.
Don Nelsen - Nov 10, 2004 11:36 pm
Route Climbed: everything Date Climbed: Feb. 20th, 1999Great little run/hike and the closest good one to SD. Four main trail options. Climbed it about 50 times.
Shano - Oct 28, 2004 3:08 pm
Route Climbed: Golfcrest Date Climbed: lotsnot much of a climb really, more like a walk in the dirt. I like doing this one on weeknights after the sun goes down so as not to get all the trail traffic.
Mgross - Jul 19, 2004 6:49 pm
Route Climbed: Fire road from Barker Way Date Climbed: All the timeThis is a great training hike as long as you avoid the mall/conveyor belt trails (from Golfcrest Dr.). Take the time to head over to Pyles peak when finished with Cowles. It is well worth it.
lidijagrazulis - Feb 19, 2004 1:44 pm
Route Climbed: Fire road Date Climbed: Countless timesMy favorite approach is the steeper fire road, but the normal trail is fun too.
kk6yb - Sep 30, 2003 11:36 am
Route Climbed: south Date Climbed: 1995-2002Numerous hikes to the summit from the south, a couple from the east side.