Lost
A few days ago we started from the trail south from trail 14 at Del Pointe Road which trail is unmarked on the Poway Trail map and is likely either Avocado Trail (trail 14) or Tierra Bonita Trail (trail 19). We wanted to pick up the Twin Peaks Trail and follow it west to the creek near Midland Road and return. We walked south a while and then took what we thought was Twin Peaks Trail to the west. The trail went west but then bent around slowly to the north. We thought it might change back to the west so we kept going. However, it brought us back to a street just south of Del Pointe Road.
So, intent on determining where we had gone wrong, yesterday, we thought we would approach that unmarked (on the map) trail from the southern end at Twin Peaks trail. We took Tierra Bonita Trail south from Del Pointe near Espola Road to Twin Peaks Trail, then west across the creek near Midland Road and then north a short distance. We returned to Twin Peaks Trail and then turned on what we thought was the south end of the trail we had taken a few days before. We went due north, looking for any trail that might have led to the west but found none. The trail crossed a street and then became much narrower and continued due north above a creek to the west.
We went within a few of a large building that we thought was a house but weren’t sure because all we could see was one wall that had a couple of windows and no window treatment. As we passed the building we then saw the wall was the back of a very large house with an elaborate front yard. We were suddenly amongst very expensive homes but were unfamiliar with the neighborhood. The narrow trail came to a street and we looked to pick up the trail on the other side of the street but the trail apparently ended.
Rather than return from were we had come, we thought we would look for an intersection and find a sign with the street names. Well, we did that at the “T” street but that didn’t help much at this time. We could go either left or right so we chose to go right which would take us south. After about five minutes, Amber stopped and looked back at me as if to say, “Do you know where you’re going?” I told her, “Let’s go” so we continued on. She soon paused again, grabbed the leash in her mouth and started pulling to go back. I again convinced her to continue. We shortly came to the end of the street and I could see that Amber was right.
So, we went back to the “T” intersection and, as we walked back, I called Shirley for directions. Shirley thought it was quite funny for us to be lost in a neighborhood so close to home, got a map and gave me directions. As it turned out, we were about a couple of minutes south of Del Pointe Road and a very short distance to the car. The trail we had wanted was some distance to the west on Del Pointe Road. If we had not had the cell phone, we would have had another hour’s walk as we backtracked to the car.
Today, we’ll use Google Earth or Live Search Maps (aerial view) to attempt to see where we hiked. Many times it’s difficult to see the trails from the aerial views because the trees obscure the trails.
Next time we hike there, we’ll take a city map, trail map, paper, pen and camera in order to document our hike. However, we like that the trails are poorly marked and that there are many unmarked cross trails and trail spurs as that adds to the adventure. And, I’ve learned to listen to Amber!