3rd Annual Bay Area BPL Hike

I'm rearin' to go, too, Ben! Worried about your UL kit? Heck, I'm just getting to the 'light' side of the spectrum…but it's getting there (with the help of the folks here at BPL).

ETA: 24 hours!

We'll be bringing 'flame logs and some delicious lemon-cookie-dessert-goody-things (a technical term) the missus is making for us all.

Safe travels, everyone!

I'm out the door in a few. Travel safe everyone. See you soon!

They're calling for significant snow! Parking is at 2500ft, which is currently forecasted to get 9+ inches. The group camp is only a few hundred feet lower. Everything is in order for a really unique Henry Coe experience!

You might get a good chance to practice snow cave technique, after all.

–B.G.–

Kevin

I hear you! My daughter is a little older, 11. This should be a good training / testing opportunity being close to home and able to bale out if need be. Now if only the weather will cooperate and allow us to get there.

Rick, I'm thinking the same thing – just hoping the weather will let us get there. I've been following reports for Coe and just hoping that if there are inches of snow on the road the police/rangers won't close it. People arriving before Friday evening will likely get in before any accumulation (if there is any).

I thought most of the accumulation would be tomorrow during the day, tapering off Friday night with less of a chance on Saturday/Saturday night. Or am I looking in the wrong place? I'm also only see snow accumulations of 1-3 inches?

Eight hours ago, the weather forecast called for some snow down to 1000' elevation on Thursday night/Friday morning, and then some snow down to 500' elevation on Friday night/Saturday morning. What seems to change is the amount of precipication.

–B.G.–

EAST BAY HILLS AND DIABLO RANGE-SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS-
SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS AND LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST-
MOUNTAINS OF SAN BENITO AND INTERIOR MONTEREY COUNTY INCLUDING
PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT-
234 PM PST THU FEB 24 2011

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM FRIDAY TO
10 AM PST SATURDAY…

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM FRIDAY TO
10 AM PST SATURDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 INCH DOWN TO 1000 FEET ELEVATION WITH 3 TO
6 INCHES ABOVE 1500 FEET ELEVATION. LOCALLY 9 INCHES OR MORE FOR
ELEVATIONS ABOVE 2500 FEET.

* TIMING: A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND
CHANGE TO ALL SNOW ABOVE 2000 FEET BY LATE TONIGHT AS SNOW
LEVELS DECREASE. STEADY PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO SNOW
SHOWERS BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS SNOW LEVELS CONTINUE TO FALL.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: ALL ROADWAYS ABOVE 100 FEET INCLUDING THE
HIGHWAY 17 SUMMIT…SKYLINE BOULEVARD…HIGHWAY 152 TO PACHECO
PASS…AND LAURELES GRADE.

http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=CAZ511&warncounty=CAC085&firewxzone=CAZ511&local_place1=9+Miles+ENE+Milpitas+CA&product1=Winter+Weather+Advisory

I should be there at 10am tomorrow. If I have reception, I'll post an update as to the conditions at the time. Otherwise, I'm not sure what my backup plan would be.

Glad i put new tires on my pickup. I am still just a peewee 2 wheel drive though.
My favorite line from Edward Abbey's book Abbey's Road.. While attempting to cross the Austrailian Outback in a rented Ford LTD he runs into some locals.. Abbey: "What do ya think my chances are of getting to Alice Springs through the Abo reservation?" Locals looking at the two inches of ground clearance under the LTD: "Well Yoink.. Giver a Go!"

Adan and I are planning to get there about 9 PM Friday. We are coming up from OC.

Someone who has all wheel drive PM me a phone number just in case. We might need a ride up the hill.

Looks like fun,
Jerry

Still planning on going and very much looking forward, but in case anyone gets stuck not being able to get into Coe Saturday morning, we can put up some people at our place in Palo Alto, which may be especially convenient for people driving south to Coe from the Peninsula and further north.

I got a PM message from Kevin. It looks like his campsite is full. Assuming the road is open Friday does anyone have room for one person in there site? I'll help chip in on camp fees.
Thanks,
Rick

Rick – we're planing on getting there around 2pm, and have a reservation for space #15…look me up!

The reservation suggests it covers two people and one vehicle; the cost of another vehicle is $8, I believe.

-Aaron

Thanks Aaron!
See you tomorrow. Not sure what time yet. It depends on when I can sneak out of work.
Rick

heading that way at 9 am hopefully we can get over hwy 152 and into gilroy to catch the 101

my 6 yr old son and his puppy dog eyed mom have conned me into bringing him along
so im repacking my sack as of right now he is agreat kid and will not be a bother
to anyone i will just have to take my time and hike in at his pace he does pretty good though im sure it will be a trip to remember

see everyone there

kevin

Kevin your son did a great job last year at Point Reyes, with a stride half the length of us grown ups…in a few years he'll out-hike us all. Have a safe drive in, hope to see you guys on Saturday.

Who's driving in Sat AM and where are you driving in from?

Current forecast for Friday evening/Saturday morning looking pretty good. Doubtful under these conditions that the road would be closed – likely to be a little slushy at worst:

Friday Night: Rain showers before 10pm, then snow showers. Low around 34. North northwest wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Calm wind becoming north northwest between 6 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

i'll bring my big pack
sign me up for some logs or a keg of beer.

see you friday

Not all forecasts are agreeing. The NWS Winter Weather Advisory and the crucial Discussion, updated an hour ago, still call for more snow and heavy winds. Everyone is calling for it to clear up, be less windy, but still cold starting Saturday night though.

still maybe for Saturday

i prepaid for a campsite for friday night–happy to email the receipt to someone who will use it

I hope you make it Saturday Cary. Your company is always appreciated and it would be great to catch up.

I agree–been looking forward to going but

1. feeling a little sickish tonight
2. my ride doesn't wanna go in the wet & cold Friday for sure with a ton of other stuff that needs doing
3. i have a ton of other stuff that needs doing (job/fellowship/etc. applications that are due over next 4 days & would be rushed tomorrow or sunday night if i go tomorrow)

So, he's gonna call me tomorrow night & we'll evaluate sat. I might still go if he doesn't, but my car is getting a bit out of shape for long trips

Boarding soon, then on my way!

Off to get the rental car and pick up Jack. We should be hiking by 11:00. See you all Saturday afternoon. Snowmageddon here we come. Stoked!