Advice from Leftcoasters

“Looking for a good long day hike, preferrably uphill somewhere in the Mendacino area (or a similar distance from SF).

Have consulted the usual guidebooks--they all point to snow mountain--any thoughts on this as a hike? Better ones?”

“Ahh...sorry to sound like a new resident of Cali, but where is Mendicino? If it's close to the Bay, Henry Coe St. Park is good, rugged land in the Diablo range, and Big Basin Redwood St. Park in the Santa Cruz mtns is beautiful as well.

Both allow backpack camping, and both are just south of San Jose.”

“BTW "leftcoaster." I love it.”

“If you really want a stiff uphiller at Snow Mtn start at Davis Flat and take the Trout Ck Tr to the East Summit, total elevation gain 5000'+. BTW, Snow Mtn is still buried in snow.

Another option is a climb of Kings Peak in the Lost Coast Recreation Area. Start on the coast and the climb is 4000'+.”

“tommy--I just moved into the area about 6 months ago...so I am pretty new to California as well. Mendicino is about 2-3 hours north of the bay area. Big Basin is really great--one of the first places I checked out when I got out here. I will have to check out Henry Coe one of these days.

Dunk--I am up for snow, but I don't think my hiking partner is...how far is Kings Peak from the bay area? (I know, I know, I'm looking at maps, but sometimes the lazy man's approach is faster).

Thanks to both of you for the info.”

“Bongo, what part of the Bay Area are you living in? Are you looking for a day hike or backpacking trip? Do you have a 4wd vehicle?”

“Dunk-- I do! I do! Where can I go play with it and backpack at the same time?!?

Bongo--Coe is rugged. Many people use it to warm up for a Sierra hike. And it's 81,000 acres, so plenty of space to play.”

“Well Tommy, to get to my favorite Snow Mtn trailhead, Crockett Peak, you have to cross 3 streams, one of which is rather significant, all of which can be after a storm. I've had water over my hood 3 or 4 times on this route and once I had to be towed out. Damage to my truck was over $4000. The area is remote, the scenery is excellent and the feel is wild. From Crockett Peak trailhead it's about 2.5-3 miles to an excellent backcountry waterfall.”

“Dunk--I'm in Berkeley, there's great stuff nearby, but I was hoping for a bit of an adventure this weekend. I don't have a 4wd (one of those purchases that were wiped out by dotbomb mania)--but I really want to check out a good No. Cal spot...

Tommy--thx on the Coe info...will have to check it out soon.”

“Hence the moniker "Dunk."

$4k is a little steep to go hiking...does it dry up a bit by August?”

“Mendocino - right under Ft. Bragg on the coast. Mendocino county is allowed to grow pot for personal use (just a side note :{}).”

“Tommy, yes it does dry a little and it can and often does get down right hot at the Rice Fks crossing, and you will want to "Dunk"”

“Mendocino is right below world famous Humboldt County.”

“Bongofreak, welcome to CA, check out the Desolation / No Ca thread...we're trying to put together a trip into Desolation Wilderness on Memorial Day weekend. From Berkeley, east to Sacramento is about 1 hr, then 1.5 hr's to Echo trailhead....the Sierra's are beautiful, you have to head East!!!”

“wanderer--that trip would be a lock in my calendar, but i have to go back east for a friend's ordination (he's going to be a priest). Total drag that the two events are on the same weekend, because I am dying to get out to the Sierras. I assume that there will be a few more weekenders this summer, right?


Looks like I am lost coasting it this weekend. Got a decent compromise from the old hiking partner (aka girlfriend), we do King's Peak...but I have to stay in a B-n-B. I know, I know, not such a hard life...but our little Kelty Zen doesn't get enough use as it is...

Thanks for the advice all...”

“Thanks for the advice on King's Peak, Dunk. Although we ended up doing more driving than hiking (I now know that "unimproved road" doesn't mean "a road so good they didn't have to make any improvements on it") and probably tested the outer limits of the Toyota Camry off roading experience to get to a trailhead, the views from the top were completely worth it.

I ended up starting about halfway up the mountain at the Lighting Trailhead--so the hike was only 5 miles, but there was 2000 feet of elevation gain.

And, not that this is a place where people come to get this information, if you ever do need to stay in a B-n-B, I highly recommend the Howard Creek Inn (in Westport, CA), beautiful area, 200 yards from the beach.

Thanks again.”