Hiking for Health

Avid hiker Sarah Wallace has hiked since high school and hits the local trails at least once a week, going on a longer hike about once a month. She has a lot of friends who live in San Diego Country Estates who like to hike, and she has done the following trails in the area: Mt. Gower County Preserve, Simon County Preserve, Cedar Creek Falls and Ramona Oaks Shade Trail. She also hikes Barnett Ranch County Preserve often with friends while her daughter is at dance class, so they both get exercise simultaneously.

Wallace also enjoys backpacking trips and completed the Trans-Catalina Trail last November. The trail runs along the entire Catalina Island and is owned by a conservancy established by Philip K. Wrigley, who transferred all family ownership to it. This hike takes three to five days to complete. She has hiked San Jacinto Peak, the highest peak in Southern California. She took her daughter, who was 12 at the time, on this trip. They rode the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up 6,000 feet, then started the challenging 11-mile hike to the summit of Mount Jacinto.

She has backpacked Half Dome at Yosemite, which is 14 to 16 miles; Big Pine Lakes in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, which is 15.4 miles; and Mt. Whitney, which is 22 miles roundtrip. Wallace says if you take a few days to do some of the longer hikes, you can really take in the scenic views.

When backpacking, Wallace carries a bear box, a big plastic container that she puts food in to keep it safe from wildlife. She also carries a tent, sleeping bag and necessities like food and water. She takes a water purifier and uses it when she gets water from streams.

It is important to wear proper foot gear such as trail runner shoes or hiking boots for a good grip. It’s always wise to wear sunscreen and some sort of hat, and she always carries water and a first aid kit. In fact, Wallace and her husband attended a first aid class through Ramona business Kit Fox Outfitters, LLC.

Wallace hikes with friends, or with her husband Wes and her children Gabrielle, Marcus, Genevieve, and Giselle. She has even taken her grandson Anthony in a hiking baby carrier. She took him to hike Cedar Creek and cautiously walked through waist-deep water while carrying him and hanging onto tree branches.

She is connected to fellow hikers, and any of them can send out a group text to meet up at a hiking spot, so she doesn’t have to hike alone unless she wants to take in the sights on a solo trip. After hikes, her group or family sometimes stops at The Oaks Grille for lunch.

Wallace loves hiking, and she feels free and at peace when she is out in nature. When she is not hiking, she is a part-time 7th-grade math teacher at Olive Peirce Middle School.

Hiking offers many health benefits, including boosting mood, improving sleep, and reducing the risk of heart disease. It also burns calories to help with weight loss, not to mention the endorphins one gets from the exercise. But as temperatures climb into the 90s and above in these summer months, it’s best to go early in the day before it heats up. It’s also a good idea to wear lightweight loose-fitting clothing and to rest in the shade if you need to take breaks. Take plenty of water to stay hydrated and a fully charged cell phone in case of an emergency.

Wallace says that as a hiker, you don't have to be fast; you just put one foot in front of the other. It doesn’t have to be a race. You can start by making it halfway up the hiking trail and build up to making it the entire trip. If you are just starting out, you can challenge yourself to go longer each time. So, lace up those hiking shoes and try out one of our many beautiful trails.

Hike the trails in the Estates with our Trail Map to guide you.

Photos courtesy of Sarah Wallace.