Battle Mountain got its name from a battle that was held at a mountain nearby called Mule Hill in 1846. Mule Hill/Starvation Mountain got its name after the battle when the soldiers ran out of food and had to kill some of the mules in order to eat. In 1966, a group of local churchgoers put the cross on the mountain. In the 80's the cross fell down and was replaced by a man named Jack Templeton who built it in his backyard. He lived below the trailhead and would frequent the hill regularly. The cross was actually funded by a Jack in the Box nearby.

Personal Experience: I grew up in Rancho Bernardo and yet never once hiked to this peak when I lived there. After finally doing it, I'm really disappointed that I wasn't hanging out up there all the time! It has a great view, it's an easy hike and is very quiet and isolated. From what I've read online, this is not where the San Pasqual battle was held. The real battle was held on Mule Hill nearby, but to respect any archaeological evidence a cross was placed here.

Up there is where we will be heading:

The entrance is in a residential neighborhood:

We took a different way down the mountain and found a bunch of bike jumps!

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