My fourth hike to Santiago Peak this time originated from the Maple Springs Trailhead at Silverado Canyon. I began at about 5:45 am in the dark hiking up the asphalt road. I could have driven to the end of the pavement and parked there and saved 6 miles round trip, but I wanted to do my first long-distance hike in several months. Soon I was in natural light and passed through many groves of Bigcone Douglas-Firs, Coulter Pines, Bigleaf Maples, Bay Laurels, and Canyon Live Oaks as the now dirt road switchbacks gently up the canyon. The chaparral is also beautiful. Only walking up this road can you fully appreciate and savor the sights and smells of the area. I hiked up to meet Main Divide Road and took it to the Saddle between Modjeska and Santiago Peaks. I found a use trail at the saddle, and went right on it. It is very brushy, so watch your head in the jungly chaparral. The trail is very easy to follow, but you may get scratched a bit. I did not see nor contact any Poison-Oak along the stretch thankfully. The use trail meets up again with Main Divide, and I followed it to the summit. Once I was done at the top, I headed back the same way to the saddle, and then took the use trail going the opposite way to visit Modjeska Peak, and then descend back to Main Divide and Maple Springs for that very long descent back to the trailhead. I was tired and stiff, but felt reinvigorated after an epic dose of the Santa Ana Mountains!! It was the first time I summited both Santiago and Modjeska on the same hike; usually one is enough to tire me out completely!! My elevation gain stats below are for Santiago Peak alone which is approximately 3,900'; they do not account for the extra gain for Modjeska Peak. The combined gain would be closer to 4,500'.