Jeff and I hiked down to Cottam Camp for a quick overnight in early January. The last time I was down there, we hadn’t had any rain for a long while and every water source was bone dry.

This time though the hike included some small snow patches leftover from some cold-weather storms which were enough to get Escondido Creek adjacent to Cottam Camp flowing again.

Hiking downhill is one of the nice things about starting from Camino Cielo so we were able to move fast and get to the campsite in no time at all. Once camp was set up we headed out to explore Blue Canyon Trail and got as far as the Romero Canyon Trail Junction.

The weather was perfect for the hike down and back out again. The night though – ugh – that was unexpectedly cold and it was great to have a fire with the restrictions recently lifted. My bag was rated for the weather but should have done sit-ups or something so my body was warm before getting in. Cold feet suck.

snowy patches near the trailhead

junction for blue canyon trail

switchbacks

Camp!

natures refrigerator

blue canyon camp

as far as we went

an icy morning

the meadow at dusk