Topo and GPS tracks for today's outing. The route from the campground to Junipero Serra was ontrail, from JS onward was bushwhack, though the old road still was in decent shape for much of it. No GPS reception on the heavily wooded decent into Bear Canyon. About 20mi round trip with 5000ft of elevation gain.

Hit the trail a little after 4am. (The times on all the pictures in this album are off by an hour- forgot to adjust the camera for daylight savings) The lower elevations had tons and tons of lupine in bloom and the air was thick with pollen. No moon or wind today and it was very dark and quiet.

Up to the JS saddle a bit before sunrise. The lupines continued until the terrain switched over to chaparral. Someone had done some trailwork since I had last been up here.

First peek at the lookout tower as I climbed above the saddle. (JS is the peak on the right, can't really see the tower in the pic, but its toward the left side of the peak)

Cone Peak caught the first of the sun's rays this morning. No sun for me yet though, as the trail headed around to the shaded backside of the peak.

Lots of fresh signs of trailwork and the encroachement had been noticably reduced along much of the trail. No signs of snow today.

Fallen trees from the winter storms that had been cleared by the recent trail maintenance. Trail was in excellent condition.

Up to the peak a bit past sunrise. Climbed up to the lookout tower to eat breakfast and to take a brief nap.

Looking over at Cone Peak ridge and down to the Memorial Park campground from the lookout tower. Turning out to be a clear morning.