Approximately thirty people convened at the Paso Picacho Campground near Cuyamaca Peak to honor our mutual friend, Adam. The event was organized by his San Diego-area friends, but attendees came in from as far as Washington and Colorado, plus me and Scott Peavy from Arizona.

I had driven to California two days earlier and had hiked three peaks, Tecate Peak, Potrero Peak and Stonewall Peak. I had planned to camp here at the Paso Picacho Campground, but it was filled as of yesterday morning, so I camped a few miles north at Lake Cuyamaca.

We all met at the day-use parking area of Paso Picacho, all arriving between 8 and 9 a.m.. I met many people for the first time after years of "knowing" them through various online groups such as Adam's www.cohp.org website. I also saw others that I had not seen in over ten years in some cases. It was nice to meet (or re-meet) everyone. Even though the circumstances were sad, this was a positive way to honor our friend.

Our plan was to hike Cuyamaca Peak. I had hiked the peak with Adam back in 2008. For some people, this would be their first climb of this peak. The route is the narrow paved road that leads to the top. We strung out on the hike up, but all of us were on top within two hours after starting. The paved "trail" makes the hike easy, but it's still a 2.5-mile grind with 1,600 vertical feet to gain. The day was sunny and slightly warm.

Once at the top, we milled around for over an hour. We took photos and rested. Then we had an impromptu memorial, with Adam's long-time climbing partner Gail Hanna reading two passages from the Old Testament. A few of us then gave short speeches, including me. This was a moving, emotional experience. Personally, it helped me to come to terms that my friend Adam isn't coming back. I am still deeply saddened by his death and will always be. I was appreciative of the entire group. Adam sure had a lot of friends from all over the world.

We then hiked down and spent a couple hours eating and drinking underneath the shade trees nearby the campground. By 3 p.m., the event started to break up. I left not long after, and got as far as Yuma before hunger and tiredness suggested I spend the night in the area, rather than push on home. I stayed in Wellton, Arizona.

Those in attendance were: Dave Covill (from Colorado), Bob Bolton and Don Nelson (who had driven from Washington to attend), Scott Peavy, Greg Slayden, Jim Retemeyer and his wife Oleta & son Seth, Mihai Giurgiulescu, Coby King, Edward Earl, Gail Hanna, Jay Dolan, Mark Adrian, Terry Flood, Phil Rogul, John Strauch, James Graham and his daughter (age two, wore her tutu for the hike), Richard Carey, and many from the San Diego area hiking club(s), whose names I regrettably cannot recall.

I cannot thank the organizers enough and everyone for sharing in the spirit. I cannot think of a better way to honor Adam. I hope he was watching us from above, making sure we all actually tagged the summit rock to make it "count"!

(Bob Bolton's photos posted on Facebook)