3rd Annual Bay Area BPL Hike

Soooo… I'd love to go. I gather that it's in February. What dates? Who's driving from SF? Can I snag a ride?

Jack there is a wiki link for info. I am sure there will be many coming from your area. It is on the last weekend in Feb. 26-27

Josh, is it Los Padres Dam or Arroyo Seco? I could not find a Carmel River Dam, so I am assuming that you are talking about Los Padres Dam and following the Carmel River and then heading east to Pine Valley???

If the road leading up to the dam is paved and easier than the one that takes you to China Camp, I am all for it! This would make the hike 13 miles each way.

Discuss

Ok here is a list of the folks that have expressed interest in going. The count is 49 so far.

Ken H (me)+1
Ken T
Marc Eldrige
Sylvester Cullen
Ben Egan
Kevin Smith
Jack Elliot
Stephan Doyle
Jeremy Pendrey
Roger Alsborg
Greg Gressel?
Justin Carter
Mark Verber?
Tony Wong (official photographer)
Cary Bertoncini?
Jay Wilkerson
Ryan Teale
Morgan Sherman
Jacob D.+1
Jesse Helmick
David Lutz
Sean McCutcheon
David Wage
Kat Pierini +1
Ryan Krause
Rick Horne +2?
Jason Cuzzetto +3
Lisa Frugoli +2
Nick Garner
Morgan Rucks?
Justin Carter
Sean McIntyre
Mark Regalia
Frank Heide
EJ +1
Cameron Kennedy?
Samuel Kau
Joshua Billings
Jack Haskel
Richard Gless

Ken H. I think that we are talking about the same trail head. It is defiantly not Arroyo Seco.Is it really 13 miles each way?the other way(from china camp) is 5-6 miles each way.

so from what im gathering the road to china camp is an

(only in a jeep road) lol glad i have a wrangler :)

kevin

How about this. For those that would like to hike in from Los Padres Dam and have an easier drive in, you can start the hike from there and the total mileage is 13 miles.

For the others that want to take Tassajara Rd. to The Pine Valley trailhead you can do so with the understanding that the dirt road is a little tough to drive. People drive it all the time in low clearance vehicles (for instance a Honda Fit, Nissan Altima etc). If you drive slow and pick your way through, it is not a difficult drive

Actually Kevin, it is not that bad. I have driven it in my Honda CRV. I have seen cars drive it too. They just need to drive slow

I'm in Portland, but was toying with the idea of tagging along. Not sure it will work out though.

Is there a total limit to how many people can go? Is there a deadline for letting you know?

Not at all Steven, you are more than welcome to come. There are a few on here that are coming from the Eureka area, so you would have some company from up north. My advise to you is that if you would like to attend, keep an eye on the weather report. I'd hate for you to drive from Portland and get turned back because of a major storm. But with all that said, Yes come along!

IF, and this is a big IF, Tassajara Rd. is closed, we could make a week time decision to host is elsewhere. Henry Coe St. Park is located just east of Gilroy and has group campsites that can accomodate 50 people for a fee of $75. It is a 4 mile hike in. So if Ventana does not work out then we have this option.

Another option would be to move back the date to March-April if weather and travel is a concern. (just thinking out loud here folks)

For those that are planning on attending, please comment on so that I can guage an idea of what we might do if we have to push back or change venues

I'm all for moving it to Coe. I do like the mid winter date though. Sort of a cure for cabin fever. Puts your mind in gear for the upcoming season.

Isn't the group site at Coe on a road? It could easily be reserved for that weekend anyways..

I'd vote to keep it in Ventana. Or, if it needs to be moved, perhaps to Cache Creek. I go to Coe too often. February would be my vote too, because that's the month that I'm in California..

Why does the Tasajara road close? I remember that road to me little more than slightly rough. Not a big deal.

I agree Jack that Tasajara road is not that big of a deal. BUT some folks might have some issues with it, and we don't know what the weather will be like prior or during the get together. If weather gets nasty right before or during, the hike could and possibly will be called off due that road becomes almost impossible to access. This is more of a social gathering that helps us meet new hiking partners, buy used gear, and just have a good time. Some are traveling 300-400 miles to attend and possibly having it at a place that is more accesable makes it more appealing. We have done this get together the past two years at Point Reyes and have outgrown the venue. We are kinda stuck unless we can find a place that is more akin to our needs. With that said, I really hope that you come along. I, as well as many others have made new friends here and have gained new hiking buddies!

Jack, after the big winter rain storms, the Tassajara Road gets very rough due to washouts. When it gets that bad, they just close it until the road can be graded. By summer, it tends to be just slightly rough.

–B.G.–

Bob Gross, why don't you join us??

PS, thanks for the comment, you are correct sir!

Ken, there is the Ohlone Wilderness. It runs between Sunol Regional Park and Del Valle. In the middle of it is Murietta Fall, which is the highest waterfall in the Bay Area. The trick is that the waterfall only shows up after a rain storm and for the following several days. If you start from Del Valle, it is a miserable 6 miles and a few thousand feet of elevation gain to the waterfall. If you start from Sunol, it is longer. The whole trail, end to end, is normally done by UL backpackers in two days. I think the wilderness permit fee is about $2 per person.

–B.G.–

Don't call me sir. I never made it beyond the rank of sergeant.

I tend to hibernate a lot during the mid-winter except for a rare snow-camping trip. Springtime brings more snow-camping. Then summer means the Yosemite backcountry. I spent twenty years leading group trips for the Sierra Club before I burned out. I would consider a local (Coe, Ventana, etc.) backpack trip in winter, but I got a little tired of poison oak, rattlesnakes, and ticks. Those problems tend to be absent when I go high in Yosemite.

–B.G.–

Also, you might consider Big Basin State Park. At the last time I checked, there were two group camp sites that held 50 people each. I've hiked all over that park, but I have never stayed in the group camp sites, so I don't know much about them. Giant Redwood trees are not too exciting to people from some parts of California, but they are kind of interesting to people from elsewhere. Somebody would have to be ready to treat neck injuries. You tend to get a lot of strained neck muscles from people tipping their heads back far enough to see to the top of the trees.

–B.G.–

I would say that with such a large group of people, some of whom are traveling a great distance to attend, we should try to minimize the unknowns.

If there is any chance that the trailhead road will be especially rough or even closed in February, we ought to select an alternate now. Rather than trying to call an audible later.

Just my thoughts.

Big Basin, Henry Coe. I've always wanted to go to Cache Creek. Jack – What's out there? Cache Creek would also cut out a good two hours of driving time for the Northerners.

Well after a few pms with Ken T. and listening to what both Bob and Dave have said, I feel that moving the event for the sake of continuity might be in our best interest. I checked into Big Basin which for me, would be a 20 min. drive from my house. A group site is $335….unless everyone would like to Paypal me about $7 each prior to reserving a spot we can do this. I say no. Henry Coe is $75 and I can foot the bill. Plus we get a little hiking in with that. I love Pine Valley in Ventana and if this was planned….say in late March or so, then the issue with the road would NOT be an issue. Sorry for changing this but for this to be enjoyable I feel that this is a much better choice. So the deal is this, it will be on the same weekend and will be just as much fun. I am all for a wilderness experience but as Ken T pointed out to me, how much of a wilderness experience can one get with 50+ people. For those that have not attended, it is more of a social experience, showing off gear and selling some old gear and just having a good time…with an emphasis of having a good time! So everything remains the same, we are just moving the venue. Even if it is raining we will be able to do this!

I will be reserving a site at Manzanita Point. The space holds a total of 50 hikers. One car is allowed access to bring in stuff ie firewood, gear for sale etc. The hike in is 3 miles so we will get to hike. For others that would like to do some hiking, please feel free to add a second night in the backcountry in the park, or at one of the other parks surrounding the area such as Sunol, Big Basin etc.

Thanks Ken. I'll be there Friday. I can set up a few things before the herd shows up.

Attention all: How many of you are interested in coming in on Friday night? I am going to get a spot and was trying to get a guesstimate of the amount of company I might have.

I'd be into Friday night. Anyone want to backpack in to Poverty Flat and camp by the river on Friday? Then on Saturday hike over to the group camp and enjoy the crowd? It's not much hiking, but would get us deeper into the wild. Or, if someone's ambitious, I'm up for any number of miles on Friday and Saturday. I'd prefer to be at the group camp by early afternoon on Saturday, but we could probably swing 30 miles in before then. Interest?

We might even be able to do a shuttle. Park a car at a far away trailhead, hike to the group, then have one of the dozens of cars full of backpackers shuttle us back on Sunday afternoon.

If it works better, I could swing other days too. Friday, or Monday… Heck, I could spend both out there!

What are people's favorite places in Coe?

I like the shuttle idea….maybe starting at Hunting Hollow on Friday?

But I'm also looking into working my mountain bike into the trip somehow.

The first post should be updated to contain accurate information on the trip, or be replaced with a link to the wiki where anyone can update the content to be accurate.