No real routefinding issues today. This ~17 mile out and back followed a well defined ridgetop forest road for the entire route. Caliente is the highpoint of San Luis Obispo county and 126th on the California Prominence List.

Sunrise at the trailhead. I had arrived at about 2am in the morning and took a nap in my car until sunrise. Was much warmer than I had expected in the morning- about 65 degrees.

Outback at the trailhead. Picked up a bit of dirt on the drive up.

Gate at the trailhead. The first quarter mile followed a foot trail before joining up with the ridgetop road. If one drives past the trailhead for a bit there is a gated junction with the road.

Junction with the ridge road a short distance up the trail. Left turn from here.

Following the ridge road south as it heads into the rising sun. Too much backlighting for good photos today with the sun directly ahead.

Looking downhill to Soda lake and the Carizzo National Plain. This view would remain for almost all of today's outing.

Dip into a valley granted a brief respite from the rising sun. Trail was a bit muddy and I was picking up a fair amount of mud on my shoes as I hiked.

Radio tower about 3 miles from the trailhead was the primary landmark for the early miles of the hike.