Mission Peak: November 23, 2013

Though not a very high mountain (it tops out at 2,517 feet) and not very long (3.5 miles from the trailhead to the summit) Mission Peak was one of the first trails that stood out when I started researching training hikes for Mt. Whitney.  Located on the northern end of Fremont in the San Francisco Bay area this initially wouldn't seem to be that strenuous of a hike.  I was wrong.  Not only was this one of the tougher training hikes we did almost everyone we met on the trail, including two Marines, were training for some activity. One the way down we met a older woman in her late 60's that took one look at our packs and said: "Oh, training for Mt Whitney are we?"  Turned out she had hiked Whitney three times herself and had plenty of advice for us.

The Rim of the Bay Hikes (http://www.sfbac.org/programs/hiking#rim) are well known to scouts and scouters in the Northern California area.  These are a series of six hikes that are located around the Bay area and are known for their length (typically no less than 10 miles round trip) and difficulty (moderate to strenuous).  Myself and the scouts and scouters that made the hike to Mission Peak had done the majority of the other hikes, including Mt. Diablo, Mt. St. Helena, Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. Wittenberg and the Pinnacles.  Nobody from Troop 136 had completed the Mission Peak hike.  First, there was no where to camp nearby, and it was almost deemed too long a drive for a day trip.  Second, the length of the hike, only 6.9 miles round trip didn't make it seem worth it.  For the Hiking Merit Badge scouts have to complete five separate hikes of over 10 miles each, so this originally seemed like a waste of time.

Using the excuse that (1. this was recommended as a great training hike for Mt. Whitney and (2. nobody in the troop had made the hike and as such had not received the patch, I set up a day hike for Nov 23, 2013.  Due to the departure time (we were on the road by 6 AM) it was a small group of scouts and scouters that set out for the summit that brisk Saturday morning, but it was a trip well worth it.

The trailhead, just before 8 AM.  We hit the parking lot off Stanford Ave at just the right time.  As we arrived the hikers that had set off at 5 AM that morning to catch the sunrise were just coming down.  Our group of three cars found parking spaces within five minutes of arriving.  Any earlier or any later and we would be parking over a mile down the road.

Our happy hiking group from Troop 136, "The Zoo Troop."

From the start of the trail we began heading up.  The terrain was very open and very dry.  There were no water sources along the trail.  This is just after 8 AM on a November morning.

The city of Fremont below.  The South Bay can just be seen.

Trail break.  Dean had hiked Mt. Diablo just the week before with the troop.

Looking back down at the trail.  Though it was steep we gained elevation rather quickly.  With our full packs we were starting to learn to take it slow and move one step at a time.  The trailhead is just beyond those trees in the center of the photo.

Even this early the trail was very crowded.  It is the most popular trail in the area.  We met some older folks that did this hike every day.  Others were teenagers or college students doing the trail on a dare or a school challenge.

You can see the southern part of San Francisco Bay.

About the half-way point.

Trail break.  Scouts will sit on whatever rock outcropping they can find.

Water, Gatorade and Cliff Bars -- nothing else like it.

Packing up.

The trail continues up to the saddle you see in the center of the photo.

A very confusing trail sign.  We are on the Hidden Valley Trail, making our way to the junction with the Peak Trail that will take us to the summit.

The junction is at the top of the rise.

The trail junction with the Peak Trail.

This scout has achieved all of the Rim of the Bay patches except this one.  He celebrated with a can of Mountain Dew after completing the hike.

The last junction to the top.  The mud track that people are following along the fence is just that, a mud track.  The actual trail continues north for a bit before turning and going up the summit.  This is what happens when too many people use a trail and do not abide by trail courtesy.  There were signs everywhere urging hikers to stay on the marked trail so the ground can recover and be regrown to its natural state.  At this point we stopped for awhile and people watched.  I still find it amazing how many people are unprepared for the hike they set out on.  The group of three in front of us with the dog had brought only a small water bottle for the three of them and the dog.  At this point they were out of water.  At the summit they asked if we could spare any. I did, for the dog...

Looking back.  Most people took the mud track that was next to the fence.  We stayed on the marked trail.

Another look back. The only bathroom on the trail.  The trail going off to the right is the Peak Trail and begins at Ohlone College.  The trail we came up goes off to the left.

Looking down at the Peak Trail and Ohlone College.

The correct trail.  From here we turn right and start up to the summit.  Straight ahead is the entrance to the Ohlone Wilderness and a backpack camp that is located just within those trees.

The trail up.

The last push to the summit.  While we were there more than one person looked up and said forget it, I'll wait here...  We ran into one group of high school students wearing nothing but flip flops.  One of the girls was having so much trouble she just took them off and went barefoot to the top.

Almost there.

The top is where that lone figure is standing just to the right of the center of the photo.

At the summit, the only scouts from Troop 136 to complete the last of the Rim of the Bay Hikes.

The Ohlone Wilderness.  The Ohlone Wilderness Trail (http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ohlone) starts here at Mission Peak and continues another 25 miles through the Sunol Wilderness and exits at Del Valle Lake to the east. This is a three-day trip I plan to take in the near future.

The totem that marks the top of Mission Peak.

Me on the totem.

Our happy group!

On the way down; grazing cattle.  We had to stop for 10 minutes because some cattle were laying smack in the middle of the trail.  They may only be cows, but one kick from them can do some damage.  First rule of wilderness hiking: animals have the right of way!

A falcon.

A dried out wash near the trailhead. Typically this time of year it would be filled with water.

 Almost to the end.

A fox that we spotted near the trailhead.

The terrain may seem unremarkable at first, and certainly Mt. Diablo to the north has much better views since it is nearly twice as high at 3,939 feet (Mt. Diablo has the distinction of being the highest peak in the Bay Area and during the winter can have snow at the summit), but the trail is worth hiking if not for the sheer difficulty and the sense of accomplishment when you reach the summit, but for the views of the area that you just can't get anywhere else.  Just a word of caution, you have to be in decent shape to complete this hike.  I have read more than one blog were the hiker did not make it the first time, and I saw several people on the trail turn back because the going was a bit more difficult than they had thought.  As long as you are prepared for the trail, have plenty of water and trail food, and apply sunscreen, the hike is not only pleasant but a nice group or family outing with a delicious picnic at the summit.

http://www.ebparks.org/parks/mission

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517

http://www.mdia.org/

http://www.mtdiablocam.com/

http://troop136.com/

http://www.crew136.com/

Pinnacles National Monument: January 31 - February 2

One of the greatest advantages to living in or near Sacramento is that within a three hour drive you can be lounging on the beach in Santa Cruz, eating fresh crab at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, walking among the largest trees on the planet in Calaveras County, enjoying all that Nevada as to offer in Reno or Lake Tahoe or enjoying old fashioned bed-and-breakfast mornings in Mendocino or Ft. Bragg.  Essentially, you can be a world away.

On the the first weekend of February, 2014 myself and a few others from Troop 136 headed down to one of the most spectacular pieces of landscape California as to offer, Pinnacles National Monument (http://www.nps.gov/pinn/index.htm).  Located just south of Hollister along Highway 25 this park is the home not only of the California Condor, but of some of the most fascinating geological features to be found anywhere.

If you are looking for a fall, winter or spring getaway this is the place.

The Old Pinnacles Trailhead Parking lot.  You need to get here early because once all the spaces are filled the next parking lot is a mile down the road at the visitors center.

The trail at 9:30 AM.  This area of California looks more like the dry desert regions of the Eastern Sierras.

The creek bed just to the left is completely dry.  Typically during this time of year it is almost overflowing.

Our first stop, the Balconies Talus Caves.

Breakfast on the trail.

The Scouts pose for a photo op near the entrance to the caves.

This is the trail into the cave entrance.

Climbing over rocks. Talus caves are not "real" caves in a sense that are formed by large and small boulders that leave "pockets" that look and feel like caves.

The cave entrance.

Notice the "flashlights required" sign.

Making our way over, around, and sometimes under various rocks and boulders.

That is me in the orange shirt getting ready to climb into a small hole that will take me up and around this large boulder on the right.

My son Gavin (the tall one) with another scout.  As you can see, they both have flashlights.

Coming out the other side.  The rest of the cave was too dark for cameras.

Climbing out of the hole.   It never fails to amaze me that people will set out on a hike completely unprepared for what they will come across.  At both entrances to the caves there are several signs that warn that the caves are dark and do not attempt without flashlights.  As we were coming out of the caves we ran into a family of seven --- three adults and four children, two of which couldn't be more than three-years-old.  Between the seven of them they had one cell phone that they were using for a flashlight.  We went back into the cave and spread out so they had enough light to reach the other side.  Be Prepared!!!

Near the end of the caves.

Tight squeeze.  You can just see the exit gate straight ahead.

And out the other side.

Gavin and I at the exit of the cave.

One more tight squeeze.

And out the other side.  We stop to pack our flashlights and discuss lunch.

The cliffs on the other side of the caves.  This part of the trail reminded me of Rock City at Mt. Diablo State Park (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517), only and hour and a half away from here.

Making our way towards lunch...

This trail took us to the West Pinnacles Visitor Center on the western side of the park.  We stopped there for lunch then decided where else we wanted to go.  The caves were only the first three miles of the hike. We wanted to do at least ten before the day was done.

Lunch time...Condor Crags are just above to the left.  There are no roads that go straight through the park  You can reach the eastern side from Highway 25 south of Hollister.  The western side can be reached by Highway 146 off of 101.  This is a very windy road and can be difficult hike from the Visitors Center to reach the more interesting parts of the park.

Condor Crags, our next stop.

We had a choice, a long walk around and go through the Bear Gulch caves, or go up and over and try to get some views of the condors we saw flying around.  So, we went up...

Interesting rock formations.

Having fun on the trail.

We went up several switchbacks.  Shade was iffy, one section was nice with the next in direct sun.  Now remember, this is the first week of February.  The night before it dropped to 20 degrees.  Today it was a balmy 82.  It could have been worse -- our first trip here was the June before and we hiked the Condor Gulch Trail in 100 degree heat.  After the hike we were cooling off in the Bear Gulch Visitors Center when a young couple came in and asked the Ranger for some advice on which trail they should hike.  The Ranger replied, "Why?"

Not quite to the top.

Looking down at what we had climbed.

The picnic area where we had lunch is just on the other side of the gully in the center of the photo.

And still going up.

Break time.  There were two condors swooping around in the sky above us.

Just when we thought we had reached the top we would turn a corner and see the trail continue upwards...

Another look back.

This was a cool looking rock formation that reminded me of Easter Island.  This is near the top of the Juniper Canyon Trail.

Looking back at the climb up.

Having fun -- a scout poses as the "Thinker."

More switchbacks.

Looking back -- you can barely see the Picnic Area where we started just off to the right.

Looking at the view beyond.

I have come to realize that if a trail does not take you ever upwards, there won't be much to see at the end...

This rock formation reminded me of a cobra, ready to strike.

Almost to the top - from there we connect with the High Peaks Trail, which will take us past Condor Crags.

A California Condor.

Two more flying just above us.  These two actually swooped down and flew alongside for a few seconds.

The final push to the top...

Gavin at the top -- he dropped to the ground as soon as he saw the sign for the junction.  Three more feet around the bend was a nice comfortable bench placed there years ago by volunteers...

Our next trail.  The description is rather deceptive -- while we did have some ups and downs to endure, from here the trail was mostly down, with some rather strange ups...

The only really steep grade on this side of the High Peaks Trail.

The view on the eastern side.  Our starting trailhead is around the bend of the trail you see straight ahead.

Steps leading us up to Condor Crags.  We did see large condors flying either just above us or at times alongside us -- it was very hard to get a decent photo of the flying birds.

Gavin cursing me out when he saw the next section we had to climb.  I didn't really blame him...

It's actually not that bad, there are steps carved into the rock.

Almost there...

Looking down at the staircase.

Condor Crags.  The trail we came up is dead center.  While we were taking a break a hiker came up from the other side and couldn't locate the next part of the trail until we pointed it out to him.

The view to the East, where we started that morning.

 Beginning our descent back to the canyon floor.

Going down we became glad that we took the route we did, coming up this way would have been much more difficult.

Tight squeeze.

The final steps to the dirt trail.

Descending the final staircase.

From this point it should have been an easy 2.6 miles back to the junction with the Bench Trail and then turn left for half a mile to reach the trailhead where we had left the vehicles.  I say should have been because with any wilderness situation, things can go wrong.  Three of the scouts decided to make a bee-line for the finish and left us in the dust.  My son Gavin was delayed because he had to leave some squatch bait (because of his size, 6'2", he has earned the nickname "squatch."  We were about a half mile from the junction when he had to go to the bathroom.  I stayed on the trail while he made his way to a suitable place just up the hill.)  While I was waiting the two other adults continued on.  My number one rule while hiking with groups is that no one hikes alone.  The group may become split, but nobody is by themselves.  This has paid off more than once when safety is involved.

Gavin came back down the hill and we joked a bit as we reach the junction and turn left to finish the hike.  Upon arriving at the trailhead I see the other three scouts sitting in the back of my truck.  I don't see the other two adults.  When they asked where they were my first thought was that I was being punked; they should have arrived a good 15 minutes before but the scouts were adamant that they were not there.  So we all sit down in the back of the truck and wait.  There are two ways they could have gone, and instead of trying to guess which way I decided to sit tight and let them figure out where they were.  About 15 minutes later they arrive in a car -- they had made a wrong turn at the junction, arrived at the parking lot further down the road but were lucky enough to run into a woman we had camped next to the night before and she gave them a ride to the trailhead.  Let this be a lesson that no matter how skilled you are, it is easy to get turned around in the backcountry if you hurry.  Needless to say, I still haven't let them live it down yet...