My Favorite Hike- Soberanes

miles: 6

I thought I'd share one of my most favorite hikes on this blog, which is the Rocky Ridge trail in Garrpata State Park, commonly known as Soberanes. The hike is relatively short, but very challenging, and i hike it about 2-3 times a week. It's been great for training for the PTC. If I ever feel depressed, hung over, happy, whatever, I hike it and I feel great. 

It was insanely windy today, and I knew this would play a major part in my hike, so I grabbed a wind shirt and gloves and started in the early evening so I could watch the sunset on my way back down.

This trail is legendary around here because of its beauty, and the steepness of the trail. Once you gain the first ridge, the trail gets so steep, for so long that many people, mostly tourists, are defeated early on and call it day, returning to their cars. On the way up, I always enjoy the wildflowers; Poppy's, morning glory, Indian Paintbrush, Lupine, and especially sagebrush, which I like to crush between my fingers and breath in its aroma. 

As pictured below, the trail gets really bad and very steep.

There may have been a time when I struggled up these hills, but these days I fly up them. My PCT training has been paying off big time, though the real reason I train is to help avoid injury early on the PCT. I just love being out and hiking. After hiking up for a good while, the views start becoming downright filthy.

And I continue to climb towards my destination.

At this point of the hike, there is a bench with a first class view that about half the people who hike this trail have as their destination. It's a great place to stop, but it's almost always occupied, and many come here for sunsets, full moons, solstices, etc. I think I carved my name in it with my brother many years ago while I was in high school. I passed it and saw a bunch of hikers crowded around a poor gopher snake taking pictures. Poor snake. I continued up and this is where the wind started to howl.

When I reached the top the wind was just crazy. I've done this hike like a hundred, or many more, times and have never seen it so windy. I put on some layers and started to walk to the other side of the mountain top, checking out all the views along the way. 

I had planned on going a mile further to Dowd Peak, with views of Monterey and even Santa Cruz, but the wind was not only strong, but freezing. Not even joking, It felt like my snot in my nose had frozen. I really need some windproof gloves for the PCT too, because my fingers felt ice cubes and I had a hard time taking pics. Sometimes I go down the backside of the mountain, which descends to a Redwood canyon and a creek. Its a wonderful hike, but I had a date with that sunset, so I started the steep walk down, pushed harder by the biting wind. 

By the time I returned to the highway, the sun was just beginning to set, so I snuggled up to the edge of the world and watched. Another beautiful sunset in the most beautiful place on Earth!

Carmel Valley Hike

miles: 10

Since I wasn't nearly as sore as I thought I'd be after yesterday's Big Sur hike, I decided to take advantage of this great Spring weather and head to Carmel Valley Village and Garland Park. It is crazy here lately, it feels like Summer but with wildflowers and green everywhere. I strapped on my Merrell's to give them one last "wear-in" before my thru-hike, while also testing my Darn Tough socks, and I was off. After walking past many people soaking in the sun by the Carmel River, i crossed it and passed through a few meadows.

There were critters all over the place today, I was constantly serenaded by noises all around me, but no rattlers like last time I was here. I soon hit the incline and the trail was very steep for the next mile and a half.

I was really impressed with how nice the trails are here. Very well maintained, probably because they are used by horses often. I imagine the PCT will be a lot like this.

there was evidence of Sudden Oak Death everywhere. The pathogen that causes SOD is running rampant through California and Oregon killing Oaks and other species of tree and is quite devastating, since very few control mechanisms exist for the disease.

After climbing straight up for a good spell, I finally reached a beautiful meadow, drank some water and rested. I've been working on trying to rest more and drink more water in smaller amounts.  I have a tendency to take no breaks and I believe this has contributed to my ankle stress injury. 

Regarding my sore ankle, it still throbs on top when I first put my shoes on,  but after hiking for about 20 minutes, the pain goes away. Going downhill exacerbates it some, but I'll continue to ice it, and otherwise pretty much ignore it.

I continued ascending toward a summit called "Vasquez Knob," and when I got there I was surprised to find a bench with a John Muir quote on it. This has to mean something, right? I was meant to hike the PCT!!

After exploring the ridge for a bit and taking some effect pics for fun, I continued along a different ridge with stunning views of Garzas Canyon.

Once the decent started, it was serious business. It was very steep for a long time, and all I could think about was how much it would suck to have to walk up this. Halfway down, I met an old rancher, dressed in farm clothes, powering slowly up the grade. He must have been late 60's!! That guy is a warrior for sure. After carefully going down for what seemed like a long while, I noticed a Redwood grove at the bottom of the canyon, and I even found a trail that loops around them and Garzas Creek.

When I got to the creek, the scene was beautiful. The sun was coming through the branches of the Bay and Oak trees, and it was quite special. I walked along the creek for a couple miles, crossing it around 6 times.

I followed the trail until it reached the Carmel River and then followed that back to my truck. Another great day of hiking, and the best part is how great my legs feel. I'm ready to hike the PCT and I wish I could start tomorrow, but as is, I will continue to keep my legs in hiking shape until I leave. Until next time...

Pico Blanco Summit Hike

mileage: 17 miles

I write about this mountain a lot, i know, but I had unfinished business from 2 weeks ago when I was stonewalled, literally, from reaching the summit. This time I approached Pico Blanco from the West, from the Old County Road and the south fork of the Little Sur River.

Bixby Creek Bridge

I drove through the beautiful dirt road to the trail head about 6.5 miles in.

 

The first part of the trail is nothing short of idyllic. Sun soaking through the giant Redwoods, green everywhere hugging the the small river. I had some time to test my Sawyer mini water filter, even though I drink this water all the time as is, I didn't need to look like a fool by using it for the first time on the PCT.

 

After crossing the Little Sur River, the trail climbs steeply up Dani Ridge.

 

The path eventually crossed a private dirt road, littered with "NO TRESPASSING" signs. Most of this land has been owned by El Sur Ranch since 1834. They are serious about enforcing trespassing and I continued on the trail, even though I'd heard it was pretty bad and not maintained. I found out later that the trail is quite bad. Over gown, tons of poison oak, washouts, endless amounts of ticks, and it's totally exposed. I didn't get any pics of the poor trail because I was busy bushwhacking and checking my legs for ticks, but here are some pics of the change in landscape as I approached Pico Blanco.

 

The mountain has massive limestone deposits, and the South and West slopes resemble desert environments. I was quite tired of the over gown trail, so I climbed up the ridge to the dirt road and began my ascent of Pico Blanco. Last time I tried this, I went straight up the South face for hours until it was too steep to climb. Having found the road, this time was much easier, but I was out of water, sun-burnt and very tired. I was determined to make it to the summit. 

The road I've been climbing in the distance below.

I climbed and baked in the sun for over an hour, and was really tired. I kept seeing  the top of rocky cliffs above me, which I was nearly certain was a false summit. I finally reached the end of the road, finding a weather antenna, and I began climbing the ridge again.

I seriously thought I was climbing to a false summit, when I suddenly saw a small pipe sticking out of the rock It was the summit registry!!! I was at the top!!! I yelled out in triumph, it was incredibly rewarding after a long, hard hike. I signed the register, and looked around at the stunning 360 degree panorama of beauty around me. I could see as far as Santa Cruz to the North, and Cone Peak to the South, and I could see my mom's house. She lives on a remote ridge in Big Sur, so it was very neat to see it. 

I am in love with the Ventana Wilderness and the PCT has some serious competition for my viewfinder, though I think I'll find a few beauties on the PCT as well.

fun pic I took near summit