Santiago Peak (known also as the “talking peak”) is the highest point in the Santa Ana Mountains. It’s one of the two peaks of the region we call Saddleback Mountains, named after the two peaks that form a “saddleback” up there. We can see it from miles and miles away. When I moved out here more than twenty years ago, I never dreamt that I would “run” up to it. I would have thought someone who did was a little bit insane.
I have never run to Santiago Peak as a trail runner. I have never been to Santiago Peak. But I needed to get up there, because a friend has asked that I pace him for the last twenty miles of a 50 mile race (the 50 miles has 17,000 of elevation gain!). He will go to this peak twice; I will accompany him on the second time. Honored to be asked to pace, I gladly accepted. So, I figure it’s my JOB to get to know that peak well. Time is fleeting.
I was very lucky to have three others accompany me: (from left to right – Me, Tom, Michael, Jeremy).
I didn’t feel my strongest this morning. I plugged away up Holy Jim which was nice and dark from shade at first. The gnats came on strong at first too. As soon as we got out of the shade and the climb began to increase, I fortunately lost those annoying gnats. They focus on the face, fly into your mouth, up your nose, into your ears. I spit out several. And at one point, I felt something on my front tooth and upon investigating found a smashed gnat.
Fun.
The run up Holy Jim was fun too. I felt confident that the heat would not attack us as everyone feared.
Running Holy Jim before the climb steepens
Notice the gnats on my face – just wait.
Digging deep to finish running Holy Jim
Jeremy was waiting for me at Bear Springs (on the Main Divide). The gnats were out in extreme abundance, which is why Tom and Michael just kept on going. As soon as I hit the Main Divide, I continued on up with Jeremy. We stopped in the shade a ways up (when the gnats left) so that I could pack an empty water bottle, put on a bandana. Then all of a sudden, as we took off, a terrible, severe pain hit my calf. I couldn’t figure out what happened. If I had been alone, I would have turned back then and there because I really didn’t think I could take the pain all the way to the top. I told Jeremy to go ahead, that I’d either catch up or text him if I turned back.
I stretched, but could barely hold it. I took some salt pills, and I moved onward. Hiking. I had come this far, I decided that I was going TO THE TOP. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, when suddenly I realized something I read recently – that pain doesn’t exist in the present. I know that sounds extremely odd. Without going into pages on this concept, I’ll just say that I focused on staying in the very moment I was in. Surprise, surprise! When I was able to do that, my pain completely disappeared! Not for long though. I couldn’t keep it up – staying in the moment that is. The heat was growing and the climb grew steeper.
The Main Divide going up to Santiago Peak
Tom meets me on his way down from peak in hopes to beat the heat. 
Sweating it out while the gnats attack full force (they don’t bite – they’re just annoying as heck!) If you click pic for a larger view & look very closely you should see gnats EVERYWHERE, look to chin, shoulder, bandana – you can even see their shadows.
Finally, we reached the peak. All 3 of us meandered around the towers, took photos, readjusted, basically taking our sweet time before taking off. I was WORN OUT. The pain in my calf continued to bother me, but to a lesser extent. The gnats were not at the top thankfully. There were workers installing new generators. There were motocross riders, motorcycle riders, mountain bikers. No other runners, or even hikers.
Why it’s known as “Talking Peak.”
Posing at the top
The view from Santiago Peak
Locating landmarks, our neighborhoods, etc.
Then it was time for the run down. It had to be 100 F. We took upper Holy Jim down to the Main Divide. Spreading apart quickly, I ran that single track alone. It grew quite technical at the end with boulders and lots of twists and turns, not to mention steepness. With that heat bearing down, I wanted nothing more than to reach Lower Holy Jim. That’s when I would finally get some shade.
I didn’t see either of the guys at Lower Holy Jim, so I focused on running quickly, careful not to trip. I imagined the two were already down at the truck waiting for me. I do not think that I can adequately describe just how hot that run was going down Holy Jim. It felt like blow torches were scorching my legs. My bandana had completely dried. I guzzled down so many fluids (with Nuun tablets dissolved in it) that I feared that I would run out. I brought with me 100 fl. ounces. And I had one handheld left tied to the back of my pack.
After about a mile down this five mile trail I came across Michael in a shady part as he wetted down his shirt in the tiny creek that ran across the trail. I was so hot I was a little confused and had just drank the last of my fluids in my pack. Michael stood up and said, “I’m out of water.” I told him that I’d split my remaining handheld with him. Then I said, “Where’s Tom?”
Michael looked at me with a funny look. “Tom?” he said. Then, he seemed to me that he was confused at my comment. “Ah, he left . . . Tom?”
I had forgotten that “Tom” (the one who had already run down). I was confusing Jeremy’s name with the other Tom I knew. Finally, it dawned on me. “Jeremy! Where’s Jeremy?” I don’t know if you realize my surprise that I even found Michael and then learned that Jeremy was behind me. I was imagining they were way, way ahead of me.
So, there Michael and I were, stooped down in the shade, splitting up hot water when Jeremy came running up. “I’m out of water,” he said.
Yikes. Now it was time to split up my water 3 ways, when Jeremy noticed that the source of the creek was coming from a spring in a small cutout in the mountain wall. “This water’s filtered,” Jeremy said, “It’s coming from the ground.” He filled up his handhelds, saw that it was clear and drank up. Michael and I were reluctant. Then I finally gave in, filled my handhelds and guzzled down delicious ice cold water. I really couldn’t have cared less if I was going to be vomiting for it later. Michael gave in too, and we were off running again, refilled for the remaining 4 miles.
Those four miles downhill were the longest, most difficult four miles I can remember in a long, long time. Though I was able to keep heat exhaustion at bay, I fell once (more like slipped) and my ice-cold water turned downright hot. No kidding!
As I ran down Holy Jim, I got a view of the trail like I never had running up it. I thought to myself, “I run up this thing. I. AM. CRAZY.” I felt like I never, ever wanted to run again.
I came in right behind Jeremy to the truck. And we both looked at each other as if to say “O. M. G.”
We found Michael laying down in the creek. He had found a nice pool down stream that we couldn’t even think of walking to. So we simply sat in the stream where we were to cool down.
When I finally got back to my truck (parked about 5 miles away), my limp was strong. Only after a cold bath at home and some stretching has the pain subsided a great deal. I can now walk around without a limp. And I’m pretty sure it’s a cramp not an injury. I’ve just never had a cramp like this.
One more thing, my little delusional moment when I thought I might never run again is gone. I just probably won’t run tomorrow. In all, I’m glad I made the trip to Santiago Peak. And I plan to again. The views were breathtaking. The company was great. I did feel a little badly being that I planned today’s run and it ended up so dang hot. Hopefully today’s experience will make us all stronger.
Approaching Holy Jim end
At creek, assessing leg for wounds due to fall earlier (nothing major, just two tiny cuts)
16.61 miles logged
+4,704 / -4,749 feet
