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- At the edge of a Mojave Desert sand drift
- Rear view, 2521 and 2525 Barrington St, Halifax, 1982
- Antler and sagebrush, Death Valley National Park.
- Rear view, 2521 and 2525 Barrington St, Halifax, 1982
- 2521 and 2525 Barrington St, Halifax, 1982
- Sundown, Mojave National Preserve, York Fire zone.
It's a huge loss—full recovery will take longer than most of us will live. Fire hadn't struck the area for a few hundred years. I found peace and some beauty in the altered landscape nonetheless. - Creosote bush and dune.
- 2577 Maynard Street (formerly 229 Maynard), Halifax, 1983
- Desert dandelions blow in the wind
- 2195 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1982
One of the last buildings remaining on the southeast corner of Barrington and Cornwallis in 1982 before it was demolished for the urban-renewal road-widening project. - Scarecrow Joshua tree, Mojave National Preserve, York Fire zone.
Only the upper part of this tree burned. - 2577 Maynard Street (formerly 229 Maynard), Halifax, 1983
- 5531-5533 Buddy Daye St. (formerly 113-115 Gerrish St), Halifax, 1982
- Killdeer egg laid on the ground in a meager "nest"
- Windbreak
- Creosote bush and roots, Mojave Desert.
- Day's end, Kelso Dunes, Mojave National Preserve.
- Low-lying lupines influence the pattern of ripples in the desert sand
- 2390-92 Creighton Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Fall 1982
At the corner of Buddy Daye Street (formerly named Gerrish Street). - 2013 Creighton Street (formerly 3 Creighton St), Halifax, 1982
Donna Kasdan and Leonard Kasdan had bought this house and were doing significant repairs to keep it going another few decades. They kept its original style and the house still stands today in 2024. - Foggy day, 2315-29 Creighton Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Fall 1982
- The Akins Cottage, 2151 Brunswick Street (formerly 285 Brunswick), Halifax, 1982
One of the oldest houses in Halifax, built in the 1790s—also known as "Akins House National Historic Site of Canada." - Demolition, Buddy Daye Street, Halifax
- Demolition, Buddy Daye Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Rabbitbrush season
- 2565 Barrington Street, Halifax
- 5527 Buddy Daye St, Halifax (formerly 5527 Gerrish Street)
- Sand outpour, Mojave Trails National Monument area
- Laundry day, 5527-5533 Buddy Daye Street (formerly Gerrish Street), Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Camille's Fish n Chips, Barrington Street, Halifax, 1984
Camille's Fish n Chips was renowned for making the best fish n chips in Halifax back in the day, according to so many people's comments—and my taste buds agree. This photo was taken a few years before the owner, Maman Camille, retired and sold the business, and the building was demolished as part of a street-widening urban-renewal project. - Rock island in the sand
- A family of deer visit Pacheco Camp to get a drink from the "horse spring."
My tent is only a few hundred feet from the "horse spring," so the deer hesitate before approaching the spring. I try to be still so as not to deter them (I'm sure they need the water in this hot weather). Good thing for them that I'm not a deer hunter. - Sand platform
- Storm clouds approaching
- Empty parking lot, weather too hot!
- Coit Road descends toward the Mahoney Meadows area.
A bit beyond the oak grove ahead, Coit Road turns sharply and drops down into the canyon on the left, while Mahoney Meadows Road, my route today, continues along Mahoney Ridge. Park Headquarters, my destination tomorrow, is up in the direction of the high grassy ridge in the distance. - Deer near Pacheco Ridge Road.
As I get close to Coit Road, I come across these two deer browsing in the field. - Sand patterns
- Sun pokes through the clouds near Mono Lake
- Rain, sagebrush and pines
- I reach a flat area on Manzanita Point Road and see smoke not far away; looks like a brush fire in Henry Coe State Park.
Now I know what those airplanes were doing: carrying water to douse the flames. I wonder if the area around Frog Lake is on fire, where I camped my first night out in this park six or seven years ago. Just before I get back to the Visitor Centre, I come around a bend and find the first fire engine to arrive is heading straight toward me on narrow Manzanita Point Road. I hear sirens not too far away, but this truck has its siren off, so I am startled when it suddenly appears. I quickly move off the road into the brush and up against the embankment as far as possible, which leaves just enough room for the fire engine to pass. At the Visitor Centre, I chat extensively with a couple of Park Volunteers and Park visitors. We have plenty of time because us last few visitors are not allowed to leave the park for an hour or so while fire crews bring more equipment and firefighters up the narrow, winding road to the Park. - Gunk on my water filter intake tube from Clark Spring.
The flower bits wipe off easily from the filter's tube. Despite the mess, this water tastes pretty good. For one thing, it's a bit cooler than the air, so it feels really good when I drink it. Pumping was getting rather slow and tight, so I only partially filled my water bag. I guess the inside of the filter needs another brushing to clean it up. I'll try some Jackrabbit Lake water tomorrow once my filter has been cleaned. I walk back to the tent with my water bag slung over my shoulder. - Before setting up camp, I check out the water situation at China Hole
The small pool is much smaller than it was when I was here at China Hole this time last year (it has been a dry year). The water contains a lot of algae, but I could filter water from it if needed. - It's such a treat to have a bit of shade at the end of a really hot day
But it's still in the 90s... You know it has been a hot day when low 90s feel refreshingly cool. - This is one of the best views from upper Dunne Avenue down to Anderson Reservoir and the town of Morgan Hill below that
The road is too narrow to stop here if you're in a car, but not if you're on a bike. Anderson Reservoir looks like it's at the bottom of the hill, but it's actually several hundred feet above Silicon Valley. - Heading up one of the rollers on Pacheco Ridge Road.
This could be fun on a bike; I'll make a point of doing a day ride up here some day. - The seat in the shower.
Hmmm, there's a car seat in the shower. It has a lot of spider webs on it. I don't need to sit on it, but it serves nicely as a bench on which to rest things. - 92 degrees in the shade, according to the thermometer on the side of the shower house.
No wonder it feels so hot today. It must have been close to 100 degrees when I was up on the ridges earlier today. The thermometer is marked, "Donated by Mike." - Pacheco Horse Camp.
Not far behind my tent is the Pacheco Horse Camp. There's a spring tub there, but the water in it looks stagnant; it's best left for the deer. The road that goes behind the horse camp is Pacheco Creek Trail. I'll study my map tonight and possibly go for a hike or bike ride up that way tomorrow. - Just before entering this wooded area, I make a note of where it seems the Robison Mountain Trail should be
I see neither a sign nor the trail, but the map makes the location clear. Perhaps the junction was erased by last year's brush fire. - From here, I can clearly see the trail up the Robison Mountain ridge line whose beginning I didn't see down below
It does look like it would be an awesome trail to hike, maybe on my next visit. Or maybe tomorrow? - The tent hides under one of the huge oak trees at Pacheco Camp.
Before setting up camp in that spot, I took a good look at that tree to see if anything looks loose. I hope not to be killed by a falling branch. This evening I brave the gnats and make my instant supper before the sun has completely disappeared: Mountain House Oriental-style Chicken, followed by some beef jerky. Excellent. I haven't seen another person for four days now. I start wondering if maybe there will be people around here tonight or tomorrow. I remember reading that this location is sometimes used for group activities, which would be most likely to take place on a long weekend like this, I would think. This is Friday night, the beginning of this year's Labour Day long weekend. But the night remains quiet, except for some unidentified critters passing through. Despite the hot day, it cools down considerably in the evening, almost, but not quite, to the point that I would need to put on a sweater. My coolest night so far, and I sleep really well. - The top of Canteen Trail ends at Pacheco Ridge Road.
From here, I'll have a two-mile walk on top of the world on Pacheco Ridge Road before dropping back down into the canyon to my Pacheco Camp campsite. - Looking for Rose Spring, it should be here somewhere.
The double tire tracks of the trail come to an end, so I follow the faint-in-places trail that continues upstream along the dry creek bed. I see some dried algae in the stream bed from last spring, but I see no sign of moisture here. - Pacheco Camp buildings as seen from just above on Coit Road.
After my shower, I soak some of my dirty clothes in the sink and go for a walk around the camp. View from the outhouse, just a bit up the hill from the other Pacheco Camp buildings. My tent is invisible in the photo, but it's under that big oak tree to the left. - Enjoying the views up on Pacheco Ridge Road in the hot sun. My cell phone works here!
Time to check in for messages and to leave a new outgoing message to tell anyone who calls where I am. - The lower part of the China Hole Trail includes a number of switchbacks.
The shade here provides a nice cool-down cycle for the day's travels. - Back at the hot tent, the sun begins to set on my little plateau above Jackrabbit Lake.
I take refuge in the tent from the annoying gnats that buzz around just before sunset. But it's hot inside and everything in my tent is giving off heat. I'm guessing that it won't cool down much tonight. After dark, the gnats subside and I step outside to boil water for tonight's meal, Mountain House Teriyaki Beef. Excellent. Interwined shadows from the slender oaks fall across the ground under the moonlight. I hear a few critters, probably small ones, but don't know what they are. With almost no breeze in the air, it's incredibly quiet. Except when a jet flies overhead... This location seems to be under a flight path and it's right about here that jets make a special grinding sound as they begin to decelerate on their approach to some local airport. If it weren't so quiet here, I might not notice. Wow, midnight approaches, and it's still hot in the tent. - Looking back down the Canteen Trail to take in the view.
Because the trail is steep and in open terrain, I get the impression of having climbed more than I've really done. That's fine by me. Great views. That should be Willow Ridge on the other side of the canyon, whose ups and downs I rode in the moonlight on the way to Mississippi Lake five nights ago. - Further up Pacheco Creek Trail, a grader parked alongside the trail bakes in the hot sun, with nobody inside.
It's Saturday today, so I guess the operator doesn't work on weekends and only got this far yesterday afternoon. It's clear that the trail was freshly graded, but it didn't occur to me that the work might still be in progress. I'm glad now that I chose to hike it here today instead of riding in the soft surface on my bike, which I had considered. A squat California buckeye on the left side of the road waits for winter rains. - More picturesque rolling down Mahoney Meadows Road.
That short little hill just ahead turns out to be quite steep and I have a hard time dragging the 10-ton bike up it a few feet at a time. (My feet keep slipping back while I hold the bike in place with the brakes on.) Though I had to walk the bike on a few short stretches earlier today, this is the only demanding bike-dragging that I've had to do during the last few days. - 15 miles on Coyote Creek Trail, then another seven miles on nasty San José streets, and I'm home!
I stop at a Vietnamese tofu shop on Senter Road for a tasty snack of fresh fried onion tofu cubes and hop in the shower as soon as I get home. Another tough Henry Coe trip is over! Once I recover (give me a few days!), I'll probably feel inspired again and start thinking about doing another trip at Henry Coe next year. - This is Live Oak Spring, Henry Coe State Park
The water is green and unappealing, but it's nothing that my water filter couldn't take care of if I were short on water right now. I consider camping somewhere near here, but decide to head on down to Pacheco Camp as planned, just a few miles further. - I go for a short walk up the trail from the campsite to Sierra View Spring to filter enough water to get me to Mississippi Lake.
I'm not measuring, but I fill my 10-litre water bag about 2/3 full, and fill up my two-litre Camelbak. There are quite a few leaves decomposing in the spring tub, some of which I remove, and a bit of algae floating on the surface, but the water is reasonably clean and tastes good when filtered. There is still a trickle of fresh water coming into the spring tub, and a trickling overflow on the other side of the trail attracts a few yellow jackets. - The sign on Coit Road near the Pacheco Camp cabin says that it's 16 miles to Park Headquarters.
I'm feeling more comfortable about my water situation now, even though I might be fooling myself. I really like it here, so I think I'll stay tomorrow night as well, instead of fleeing toward Park Headquarters due to lack of water. - The 10-ton bike waits a few feet above the rocky bottom of China Hole Trail while I look for a campsite.
The trail fizzles out somewhat near the bottom. Rather than risk getting the 10-ton bike stuck in the rocks on the way down, I'm down here seeing first where I want to bring the bike. - Well, that short downhill was fun! At the bottom of the hill, I reach Los Cruzeros and take a break.
There are several campsites scattered around here, which is usually underwater during the winter months (this is another part of Coyote Creek). There is a little bit of shade here from the oak trees, so I take advantage of it. Another Clif bar, and more water of course. It's definitely a hot day today. I bet it has reached 90 degrees (Fahrenheit). - I begin the dreaded climb up the Willow Ridge Trail that will take me to the top of Willow Ridge above Mississippi Lake.
It starts out fairly easy and, at first, has great views back down to Los Cruzeros and across the mountains. The road in the middleground winding down the hill is the Mahoney Meadows Road that I just descended from Poverty Flat Road to Los Cruzeros. "Dreaded climb?" Well, this is the third time that I'm climbing Willow Ridge Trail. The trail rises about 1200 feet in 1.6 miles. The 10-ton bike (or is it a dead horse?) must be dragged upward most of that distance, little by little, which gives the body quite a work-out, for which it is not yet ready on just day two of a bikepacking trip. - Time to throw out the iodine-tainted Jackrabbit Lake water that I've been drinking all day.
... and perhaps throw caution to the wind as well. Hurray! The spring water here at Pacheco Camp tastes great, better than San José tap water, and it's cold. Of course, I have no way to know if it's truly safe to drink without filtering. I'm so sick of the iodine odour on my breath that I've gotten used to from drinking more a gallon of that water today. It still tastes like poison to me. I convince myself that if I'm going to get sick from untreated water, it will be from the grey water that I drank yesterday at Paradise Lake and Jackrabbit Lake. The Jackrabbit Lake water was greyish to begin with, but the addition of iodine makes it look like toilet water. Eau de toilette, anyone? - One of a series of ups and down on Pacheco Ridge Road. Awesome views up here.
It looks like this could be called "Roller Coaster Ridge," but that name is reserved for Willow Ridge Road across the canyon, which seems to have more, and steeper, rollers. - Descending Coit Road back into the canyon to my campsite at Pacheco Camp.
Coit Road descends about 300 feet as it winds its way down the hill over 3/4 mile. It's not as steep as it looks owing to the switchbacks in the road. - Orestimba Creek Road rises a bit above the canyon, which becomes rather narrow after a while
I keep wondering why I haven't seen any signs on the left indicating trails; I know there are a couple of trails that climb the hills somewhere along here. - I'm boiling water for my backpacking meal tonight at dusk; usually I wait until after dark for some unknown reason
Tonight's meal is Backpacker's Pantry Jamaican BBQ Chicken, which is pretty good, but I remember it being better for some reason. Perhaps the heat has killed my taste buds, despite my desire and need for calories. More `groups` of ducks (if that's what they are) return to Paradise Lake tonight with the whistle of pre-explosion fireworks and I'm amused again. After dark, I keep hearing coyote yips and howls. It sounds like they are in different hillside locations and calling to each other across the little valley here. Crickets hum and I write notes about today's hike, which is the longest I've ever hiked in this kind of heat. - I like walking through some easy-to-miss chia sages in Upper Black Diamond Spring Valley
These produce a classic musty sage aroma when you brush up against them. - Taking a breather at the Orestimba Corral to assess our condition after crashing on the way down the hill from Will's Pond.
I'm a little shaken up right now, but trying not to be. A few minutes ago, on the way down the (not very steep) hill from Will's Pond, I was thrown off the 10-ton bike when it fishtailed upon hitting some powdered clay, and I couldn't regain control. The oak trees heard me land chest-first on the road with a thud. I immediately jumped up, just to prove to myself that I could, that I wasn't hurt. Somehow, the front wheel of the bike ended up turning 180 degrees and just needed to be turned back. Amazingly, neither of us seems to be seriously injured. The layer of clay dust on the road seems to have prevented me from getting road rash. One leg feels quite bruised and I'm hoping that those sore ribs are just bruised too. The 10-ton bike also seems to have survived despite the force of the fall. The only damage that I've noted so far is that the overloaded rear rack bent just a little. Kudos to Old Man Mountain for making tough racks, and to Trek for making a tough bike. I try to make this a normal break by taking a few photos, eating a Clif bar, and sucking back more of my disgusting iodine-infused water, which is quite warm now. I'm very lucky. I haven't seen anyone in four days. - Arriving back at Paradise Lake, a pretty sight, home again for the night
If I had taken the cross-country route instead to get back here from Rooster Comb Summit, I would be arriving down the big yellow hill ahead, on the other side of the lake. - The wild pigs run away once they hear me coming up the road.
I didn't count the size of this family, but it seems like there are more than a dozen of them, perhaps 18, big and small. - 95 degrees in the shade at Pacheco Camp at 19h.
I've obviously acclimated to the heat during this trip. If it's 95 down here in the shade now, it must have been over 100 in the midday sun while I was up on the ridge. But it didn't occur to me that it might be another triple-digit day. A bit before sundown, a small pick-up truck drives past and heads up Pacheco Creek Trail. Shortly after, I hear voices and can see two men wearing Camelbaks, but no backpacks, over by the horse camp. They disappear, but a few minutes later the pickup trucks passes by camp again, apparently leaving. The driver sees me in the tent peering out and waves. Supper tonight is Mountain House Beef Stew, good as always with its rubbery carrot, meat and potato pieces. Around 20h30, a vehicle passes through camp and it turns out to be a ranger on patrol. We speak for about 15 minutes, the first time I've spoken to anyone in five days. I notice that my speech is rapid, so I guess this is an exciting event for me. She tells me that it was 102 degrees at Park Headquarters today and gives me a couple of 1/2 litre bottles of water. - The beautiful ride down Mahoney Meadows comes to an end when I reach the intersection of the China Hole Trail.
Actually, Mahoney Meadows Road continues down the hill to Los Cruzeros, where I crossed dry Coyote Creek on day two. But I'm not going that route now. From here at 1850 feet, the China Hole Trail drops down 700 feet over 2.1 miles. Though the ridge itself is quite steep, the many switchbacks along the trail make it a fairly gradual descent, by Henry Coe standards. At this intersection also begins the trail that leads down to Lost Spring. I'll camp tonight at the bottom of China Hole Trail. - I start back up the Rooster Comb Trail to the right to avoid the private property on Orestimba Creek Road ahead
In this view from the north, Rooster Comb Trail winds partway up the hill straight ahead and then drops back down to the left. Rooster Comb Summit sits at the top of that hill. - The tent is intact; I always wonder how many curious animals visit it during my absence
One thing I've noticed since arriving here a few minutes ago is that it's a bit hotter down here. I guess this gulley retains heat in the same way that the floor of Death Valley does. - I pass a marker indicating that the trail continues straightahead (which seems obvious to me)
What I don't realize is that I'm at a junction with a faint trail. Turning left up the steep hill here leads to the Rooster Comb Summit (that's marked on the side of the post that I'm not looking at). The other thing I don't realize is that I'm looking at Robison Mountain, my alleged destination. I should be looking at my map, but I'm too consumed by hiking bliss. - Will I get clean at Pacheco Camp?
I'm really dirty from my crash on Orestimba Creek Road a couple of hours ago, so that shower building sure looks enticing. Actually, the real reason that I want a shower is because I haven't had one six days. Given the 90+ degree temperatures this week, a significant residue of grime, sweat, salt and sunscreen wants to be washed off! But first, I should unpack the bike and set up the tent (or maybe that's not important right now). - Half a mile up Pacheco Creek Trail, the singletrack Rose Dam Trail veers off and rises eventually to Hoover Lake.
I haven't been up to Hoover Lake yet. It was on the list of possible routes for today's little hike, but it didn't make the short list this time around. There's so much to explore here! - The lower part of Canteen Trail, near the spring.
The oak grassland begins a transition to chamise chapparal, which will be completed as the trail rises up the steep hill. - I experience more great views on the return trip down Rooster Comb Trail to Orestimba Creek
It's amazing how Henry Coe State Park presents itself as green and lush in certain views, despite the summer aridity. - I peel the outer layer off the tent to expose as much screen as possible and take a break inside away from the flies
After 14 miles walking in the heat, it feels good to relax in the hot tent and enjoy the sound of the birds. Occasional jets overhead (Paradise Lake is under a flight path) remind me that I'm close to civilization, even though there's apparently nobody around for miles. - More oaks on lower Long Ridge Road.
A little further up lower Long Ridge Road, the grove of old oaks thickens, but are still not as meaty as those seen in many other areas of the Park. - China Hole at sunset, looking northeast toward The Narrows.
Down here at 1150 feet, we're closed in by steep hills all around. This is mostly underwater during the winter months, but all that's left at this time of year are a couple of pools of water. Interesting fire-like reflection in the water. - Time to call it a day. The tent is set up at China Hole (looking northeast up the canyon).
Time to go in and relax a bit (and get away from the gnats buzzing around!) before making supper. Once I get inside, I hear voices, I think. No, it's not just leaves rustling in the breeze. I peer out the tent and see three or four backpackers further up the canyon, apparently looking to set up camp, which they do. There isn't supposed to be anyone else camping here tonight; there's just one site and I've reserved it. They stay out of sight, like good campers. After it gets dark and the gnats go away, I step outside to boil water for my last add-water-to-bag backpacker's meal; Mary Jane's Kettle Chili (vegan), supplemented by some spicy beef jerky on the side. The chili is really good, though I think of it more as a hearty lentil stew than as chili. I have an excellent sleep, again. - I've just turned around and am looking back down into the canyon.
The China Hole campsite is down at the bottom somewhere. - It's uphill for the next mile to the top of Pacheco Ridge, 550 feet above
There's a bit of shade down here, so I stop for another short break to take advantage of it. - I ride up the road a little and stop again to look at the sculptural shadows of the trees on the next ridge (Wasno Ridge).
The afternoon sun is just right, and the trees there far enough apart, that their individual shadows can be discerned bending over the warped landscape. - All packed up and ready to leave Sierra View; on toward Mississippi Lake!
Mississippi Lake is about 12 miles away, more or less on the other side of the second ridge in the photo. I'll get out toward the third ridge later in the trip. It's going to be a long day. From here at about 2800 feet, I'll drop down to about 1200 feet at Poverty Flat, then climb over that lower ridge to about 1750 feet, then back down to about 1200 feet at Los Cruzeros, then up and over Willow Ridge, whose high point is around 2600 feet. It's already almost 13h, so I'm off to a rather late start, but I don't care. I'm on vacation and enjoying not being in a hurry for a change. - Old concrete cistern along Bear Spring Road.
Also at the site of the fence is an old concrete cistern, which presumably once held water from nearby Bear Spring (or a second spring). - Sheesh, I was getting excited about standing under a steady stream of water, but the water is so cold!
I'm in disbelief that on such a hot day with the sun shining on me through the screens on the shower building, the water is still too cold! OK, so I just hose myself down little-by-little and it's still wonderful. I feel like I'm shedding a layer of skin. It's fun watching brownish water roll down my legs. - An old outbuilding along Pacheco Creek Trail not too far from Pacheco Camp.
I slept in nicely this morning, partly because of the excellent shade from the huge oak tree that I'm camped under, partly because it cooled down so much overnight. Breakfast is two bowls of miso soup with seaweed, two cups of coffee, one bag Mary Jane's Wild Forest Mushroom Couscous (OK, but boring and unsubstantial), a handful of tequila pistachios, and a few tamari almonds. I think I hear something around 11h while eating. I look outside and see a ranger vehicle drive past. Though it didn't stop, this is my first brush with humanity in almost five days. By 13h I'm leaving Pacheco Camp for my day hike up Pacheco Creek Trail in the hot sun. I fill my two-litre Camelbak with spring water and bring along a few extra litres in my half-full 10-litre water bag. - A quarter mile climb up a little hill
This appears to be an old fire road that has grown in over the years. - Gnarled oak on Pacheco Creek Trail at a (dry) creek crossing.
This tree looks like it may have had a hard life. - Contemplating my route here on The Lost Road...
I decide that following the tire tracks through the creosote-bush scrub might be easier than pushing the 10-ton bike up the hill to my left. This is one of those moments where it's best to just go with the flow. - Rolling terrain on Long Ridge Road between Orestimba Creek and Jackrabbit Lake.
The road just came over that knoll in the background and crossed the creek at the bottom of it. I'm almost at the point where I turn off Long Ridge Road onto the Jackrabbit Lake Road. Clark Spring should be somewhere around here. - A shady area on the upper part of the China Hole Trail.
This trail is popular with mountain bikers, yet I've never travelled it before, so I'm glad to finally ride it and see what it's like. I haven't come across any other visitors in the Park today, except for that bicyclist this morning passing through Pacheco Camp. - I just descended 1000 feet in 1.7 miles down the steep Poverty Flat Road to the bottom of the canyon.
At the bottom of Poverty Flat Road is this dry-at-this-time-of-year crossing of Coyote Creek. I had a minor crash coming down Poverty Flat Road last year on a slippery (from powdered clay) switchback, and I was careful not to repeat that again this year! There are five campsites down here at Poverty Flat, and I've camped here a few times. On a hot weekday like today, there's nobody around anywhere, which suits me fine. Poverty Flat is only a third of a mile long (flat areas in Coe Park tend to be very short) and I ride across it to begin the climb out the other side of the canyon. I stop briefly at the modern concrete outhouse for a potty break (it's extremely hot inside) and then stand outside for a minutes in the shade of the outhouse, hiding from the sun. - Paradise Lake is small compared to Jackrabbit Lake.
I finished the two litres of water in my Camelbak a while back on Red Creek Road. It's amazing how much one drinks in the heat. I get out my water filter and pump some water here, hoping that it tastes good. The pump is even tighter than it was earlier and isn't providing much water. My patience runs out when my two-litre Camelbak is about three-quarters full and I give up pumping. True, I'll run out of water before I get back to camp, but I'll be close to home and there's plenty of water there. I spend a few minutes walking around the area, and take note of a couple of spots that obviously serve as campsites. Content with my discovery, I turn around and begin the three-mile walk back to Jackrabbit Lake. - The dry creek bed near Rose Spring.
I'm not sure if I walked too far, or not far enough, but I haven't seen Rose Spring. Maybe I'm too busy watching out for poison oak and rattlesnakes and missed it. No big deal; it has been an enjoyable little side trip. I return to Pacheco Creek Trail and continue walking up the canyon. - Canteen Trail keeps heading upward.
Once you get part of the way up the hill, there's not much shade to be had. - Back on Orestimba Creek Road, I take a moment to explore the fenced entrance to the privately owned ranch
"& SON" was added to the "Roostercomb Ranch" sign after it was created... - Climbing these weird hills of earth is fun
... so I go higher. - I finally meet the junction of Poverty Flat Road and Mahoney Meadows Road, and begin a short, fun, and steep downhill.
Yee-haw! I will descend 350 feet in 0.5 miles down this road to the bottom of the canyon below (not visible in photo) to the next crossing of now-dry Coyote Creek at Los Cruzeros. Mississippi Lake, today's destination, is on the other side of Willow Ridge, the big hill in front of me here that needs to be climbed. Did someone say that yellow, blue and green aren't beautiful, and that California is all dry and ugly at this time of year? - Heading up the County Line Road grade toward Mississippi Ridge, stopping by a trap for wild pigs.
After my break at Orestimba Corral, I decide that I might as well start the climb up County Line Road; about 500 feet elevation gain in a mile, from 1450 feet to 1950 feet. I'm a bit sore, but I think I'm mostly OK (still not sure about my ribs). There are quite a few of these pig traps in the park, but I've never seen one yet with a pig in it. There's a fair amount of dappled shade on this road, which makes the hot sun more manageable. The real surprise is that I'm actually riding up a lot of this road ad building up some momentum here and there, rather than dragging the bike as expected. This gets me wondering if I could have ridden this road uphill on day one of the trip. A person gains strength day-by-day on demanding trips like these. Additionally, I've consumed some of my supplies, so the load I'm carrying is a little bit lighter.After my break at Orestimba Corral, I decide that I might as well start the climb up County Line Road; about 500 feet elevation gain in a mile, from 1450 feet to 1950 feet. I'm a bit sore, but I think I'm mostly OK (still not sure about my ribs). There are quite a few of these pig traps in the park, but I've never seen one yet with a pig in it. There's a fair amount of dappled shade on this road, which makes the hot sun more manageable. The real surprise is that I'm actually riding up a lot of this road ad building up some momentum here and there, rather than dragging the bike as expected. This gets me wondering if I could have ridden this road uphill on day one of the trip. A person gains strength day-by-day on demanding trips like these. Additionally, I've consumed some of my supplies, so the load I'm carrying is a little bit lighter. - The shower hose can be suspended from a pully and then raised or lowered.
The system seems to work fairly well, but I'm too lazy to fiddle with it and just get the hose into one position and leave it there. - The trail to Rose Spring obviously doesn't get a whole lot of use.
Compared to some of the less-travelled trails in Coe Park, this one is fairly well-defined. - Higher up the Canteen Trail toward the top.
Another steep section. I'm enjoying the hot, sweaty climb. I'm taking it fairly slow though, and drinking lots of water, to prevent overheating. - Another switchback near the bottom of China Hole Trail
I get off the 10-ton bike again and walk it around this tight curve. - The gravel of dry-in-summer Orestimba Creek radiates heat on a 100-degree day like concrete does in a big city
This area always makes me sweat! I take a break under trees at the junction of Red Creek Road, knowing that the final mile across shadeless Paradise Flat will make me wilt. - I get my first view toward the north, above Upper San Antonio Valley
I'll be down there for a brief visit in a few minutes. I like the yellow dry stream (yellow from tarweed flowers) in the middle of the valley and the small pond at the far right. - After 0.6 mile, I reach the Rooster Comb Trail and I've already drank 1.5 litres of water
On a bicycle, Orestimba Creek Road dead-ends here. The Rooster Comb Trail is inside a Wilderness boundary (no mechanized travel allowed), and travelling straight ahead on Orestimba Creek Road would trespass on private property outside the Park. - The 10-ton bike follows the tire tracks through the creosote bush scrub
To my surprise, the ground is often firm enough here that I can ride on the tire tracks. I was expecting to need to hike the 10-ton bike. - I've decided to call this The Lost Road, since I'm not exactly sure where it's leading me
The Lost Road is now heading toward the Castle Mountains, as hoped, but it's deteriorating significantly. - The Sierra View campsite in the morning.
A great place to wake up. I slept really well. However, there's not much shade here, which means that sleeping in late isn't possible due to the hot sun heating up the tent. I can tell that today will be hotter than yesterday. The suburban town of Gilroy is way down there and its lights are visible from up here at night. Monterey Bay is further off in the distance. This is in one of the higher areas of the park, and this campsite sits at about 2800 feet. Breakfast is coffee, two Zen Bakery cinnamon rolls and a Granny Smith apple. - I pause along Mahoney Meadows Road to take in the view across the canyon to Willow Ridge on the other side.
It looks as if a very steep trail descends the face of Willow Ridge down into the canyon, on the right in the photo. Perhaps it's just massive erosion because I've not noticed any trail there on my maps. The more moderate (it didn't feel moderate!) Willow Ridge Trail that I had problems climbing on day two of the trip more or less rises up the slope in the centre-left of the photo. - Beyond the carpet of chamise, manzanitas start appearing along China Hole Trail.
It's not quite as hot as it was the past few days, but I'm working up a bit of an uphill sweat and the shade here feels good. - I leave Mahoney Meadows Road and take the left trail fork toward China Hole
The right fork of the trail passes Lost Spring, which I haven't visited yet... I should plan a stop there on a future trip. - Hiking a segment of Orestimba Creek Road that I've never been on before, everything feels familiar again
Narrow ranch road running through a yellow, green and blue landscape with tall hills all around: quite typical of Henry Coe State Park. One thing that's different here compared to many areas of the park is that this road is obviously well-used, since it serves the private ranch nearby. Still, I don't see any people anywhere. - Expansive views across to the Willow Ridge area on the right and far beyond as Mahoney Meadows Road descends
This gentle downhill is a lot of fun, and I rode this last year as well, but it probably gets tiring in the uphill direction, which I haven't tried yet. - Getting closer to the bottom of the canyon, which is almost visible through the trees
The tight switchback here is almost impossible to see as it turns back 180 degrees and the trail drops down the hill behind the tree on the left. - Coyote Creek Trail is my chosen route back into San José today instead of the busy, but more direct, Monterey Road
Coyote Creek Trail has some shady segments that are enjoyable in today's heat, and it's always nice to be out of busy traffic. However, on some of my trips, I just take Monterey Road because it's more direct. - Old fence along Bear Spring Road.
If I did my research, I'd expect to find that this is part of an old corral, or the boundary of a former ranch. Here the road rises above the creek bed for a bit. - I pass a few early Desert mallow flowers along the Mojave Road
I'm not expecting to see any of these at this time of year, and there are only a few. - A dead fish rests in the large pool at China Hole
I wonder where this fish came from. Maybe it got trapped in the pool here as Coyote Creek dried up during the summer, or maybe an animal picked it up somewhere else and dropped it here accidentally... I pull the dead fish out of the water and leave it on dry land (I might be filtering some of this water to drink tomorrow). It disappears during the evening; apparently an animal found it and carried it away to munch on in a more private area. - Beyond Willson Camp, some of the rise on Wagon Road is very gentle and easy to ride as it rolls along the ridges
This five-mile upper portion of Wagon Road between two places that I know, Willson Camp and Coit Road, is new to me and has wonderful views to the east. It only rises a few hundred feet. - Bear Spring Road drops back down to the level of the dry creek after a short rise.
I've never been here during the wet months to see how much water can flow down this creek bed. - Big grasses in the dry creek bed at China Hole, looking southwest down the canyon.
These grasses remind me of muhlenbergia, except that these have tall flower stalks rising up out of the middle. - My first stop is the dam at Paradise Lake to pump some water
There's a lot of algae in places, but it's easy to avoid. There are also a number of yellowjackets that I don't want to sting me, since I'm allergic to them. I filter six litres of water for the day. The water tastes a bit musty, but it's cool, so very refreshing. Just pumping all this water is making me sweat! - I'm just about to reach the high point of this part of Poverty Flat Road, near the junction of the Jackass Trail.
I'm having some difficulty coaxing the 10-ton bike up this last little steep part. But I'm almost there! This stretch of Poverty Flat Road "only" rises about 550 feet in 1.5 miles. Steepness isn't the only factor that creates difficulty when it comes to dragging the 10-ton bike up a hill. Slipperiness of the road surface, caused by loose gravel or powdered clay dust, can prevent me from getting the traction that my feet require for me to be adequately braced me while I push or pull on the bike. Without enough traction, sometimes I slip backwards instead of pushing the bike forward a few feet. Immediately after taking this photo, two pick-up trucks drive slowly over the hill and I have to rush out and pull the bike off the road to let them pass. They would be the last people I see for four days. - Coit Road crosses Willow Ridge Road on top of the next ridge at about 2250 feet.
The fairly easy climb from Coit Lake up to Willow Ridge Road here is only a third of a mile long and only gains about 200 feet. I haven't seen this end of Willow Ridge Road before. I won't be seeing any more of it today either because I'm heading down the next hill toward Kelly Lake. - Almost two miles up Pacheco Creek Trail, I see the sign ahead for the trail to Rose Spring.
Perhaps I'll go check out Rose Spring, since the trail is only 0.2 miles long, according to my map. I don't need any water in addition to what I'm carrying, but it will be fun to explore and find out what Rose Spring looks like, and if it has any water in it at this hot and dry time of the year. - For safety reasons, I give up on the idea of hiking up Robison Mountain and continue backtracking along Orestimba Creek Road
This hike is still really enjoyable, but it's always disappointing for a hiker to not reach a foreseen destination. Then again, that leaves a goal to reach during the next trip! - I reach the Rooster Comb Summit Trail and decide to walk up it a quarter mile
I'm getting a bit tired from the heat, low on water, and I still have 3.5 miles before I make it back to Paradise Lake. But this short side trip should be scenic. - After backtracking 1/3 mile, I locate the Long Ridge Road that I missed, my route to Jackrabbit Lake
When I passed here a while ago, I was focused on riding, and didn't think of watching for signs on the other side of the creek bed. I also missed signs on the way to my present location for Kingbird Pond, Mustang Pond and Red Creek Road. I must be having a good time! Oh great—Long Ridge Road rises up a hill right away. Where can I stop and take a break before going any further? Hey, that oak tree behind the sign is casting a stripe of shade across the road... - Gold Valley Road keeps rising
The road has already crawled up around the back of a big hill such that Greenwater Valley below is no longer visible. - Mahoney Meadows Road continues its descent along the ridge through the meadow.
There are a few short uphill segments along here, but it's mostly rather brisk downhill riding. - I've reached Mississippi Ridge and I'll turn left here on Coit Road
I take a short break here in the hot sun, and try to make a call from my cell phone, but the reception isn't quite strong enough. - After 2.4 miles on Center Flats Road, and only 300 feet overall elevation drop, I begin the steep hike down Walsh Trail
In just 1.2 miles, Walsh Trail drops down 750 feet to Pacheco Creek then rises 450 feet up the other side of the canyon to Pacheco Ridge, below Walsh Peak (the grey, rocky peak straight ahead). - A number of ceanothus bushes dot the flat landscape just north of the private ranch
The specimen to the right is a large one. Ceanothus seem to grow mostly on hillsides, so it's interesting to see them in a flat area like this. - Death Valley National Park welcomes me
... however, there's no one around to witness the warm welcome bestowed upon me. The crest of this hill on Highway 178 sits at about 2200 feet elevation. When I left Shoshone an hour or so ago, the elevation was just under 1600 feet. - My Greenwater Valley Road veers off to the right
Getting away from pavement in these remote areas sometimes feels like abandoning civilization. It's what people are referring to when they ask, regarding a trip like this, aren't you scared? Sure, I'm a little scared. I suppose I could stay at home in front of a television and watch horror movies to obtain a different kind of a similar adrenalin rush. - Upon hearing some noises outside, I discover a lone wild pig moseying around the Paradise Lake dam
I find this unusual because I have never come across a solitary wild pig. - Back at the tent, the first thing to do is wipe myself down and get rid of some of the salt and sunscreen residue on my skin
As an added bonus, I pour lots of water over my head. That feels great. - Rising higher on China Hole Trail, I still have some grandiose views down into the Coyote Creek canyon below
This won't last much longer though, as I enter more manzanita forest and get on the ridge that climbs toward Park headquarters. - I see that Wagon Road has another steep hill ahead for me
So I'm enjoying this short, flat part of the road, and the little bit of shade that's available here. - Rooster Comb Trail meanders through another open area and crosses a small dry creek
The gentle grade and numerous switchbacks of Rooster Comb Trail suggest that this trail was built in recent decades. Modern trail design often incorporates these features as a way of minimizing erosion. - A yellow-flowered buckwheat-like plant.
There are so few flowers blooming at this hot time of year that even small flowers like these can be noticeable. - China Hole Trail winds across a meadow on its way up.
With no drop-off on either side of the trail, I'm able to get back on the bike and ride this section. - Supper tonight is Mountain House Chicken and Rice, a flavourful and oily 800-calorie "meal for two"
I like how the corn oil in this meal extends the chicken flavour. But it's really heavy, so best saved for later days of a trip when the extra energy is needed. Around 21h, I hear a noise outside the tent, which turns out to be a wild boar moseying around. Oddly, he doesn't seem to have any family members with him. He doesn't get too startled when he realizes that I'm there, like boars usually do, but I coax him to move onward. I write notes in my journal, listen to the birds, coyotes and jets outside in the darkness, and eventually go to bed for my third and final night at Paradise Lake. - I suck back water at the joyous moment of attaining Pacheco Ridge
Here I finish off the last of the 4.5 litres of now-hot water that I filtered from Paradise Lake this morning. I've consumed (and sweated out) all that in 3.5 hours? - The views back down to Hunting Hollow below are already inspiring, and I've not risen much yet
The hard work of hiking or mountain-biking a steep landscape like Henry Coe usually provides instant gratification in the form of excellent views. Not everyone likes hard work, but everyone likes instant gratification. - A better view of that switchback in the previous photo.
It looks almost flat in this image. - On the way down, I stop at the portable toilets at Anderson Reservoir, which is a County park
Despite the hot weather, Anderson Reservoir is teeming with people picnicking and barbecuing today, and a few folks are out in the water in their boats. It's not a tranquil place like Henry Coe State Park up the hill! - I pass another intersection and I'm on the Mojave Road again (there's a bit of firm ground for me to ride on here)
...for a hundred feet or so. - A view of the small car campground at Henry Coe State Park from the Sierra View campsite.
The views from the Sierra View campsite are spectacular. The town of Morgan Hill can be seen down below. The car campground is adjacent to the Visitor Centre near the park entrance, and is the only part of the park open to regular motor vehicles. Most of the rest of Henry Coe State Park's 87,000 acres is backcountry open to hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders only. And there aren't all that many of any of those types of park users. Nonetheless, one needs to be alert to possibility of occasional motor vehicles on roads inside the Park. These vehicles belong to Park rangers or people who are allowed to access non-Park properties within or adjacent to the Park. - The 3/4 mile drop down into the canyon to Kelly Lake, 450 feet below, was fun.
Now I'm starting the longer climb out the other side toward Mahoney Ridge. Ooo, there's actually some shade on this stretch of road, which means that this is good place to stop for a few minutes. It's not quite as hot as it was yesterday, probably just in the low-to-mid 90s. - And here's China Hole, the gravel area to the left, which is actually a fork of Coyote Creek covered by water in the wet season
The last few feet of the trail is washed out, so I leave the 10-ton bike here while I figure out the best route for walking the bike down to the dry stream bed. - The narrow trail ducks into a woodsy area
This forest isn't thick enough to provide much shade, which would be welcome right now because the temperature has risen well into the 90s. - The orange light has just stopped lighting up the Joshua trees, but still casts a glow on the Castle Mountains over there
I remember being over in that area at sunset a few days ago, when I ended up at The Lost Campsite. - A series of short hills surprise me along southbound Highway 127
Hmmmm... I thought it would be all flat between Death Valley Junction and Tecopa Hot Springs. I take a short break here. My sore right knee is acting up again. It didn't give me any problems coming over the Funeral Mountains earlier today, but I guess it's tired now. - Another switchback on the lower part of China Hole Trail.
I walk the 10-ton bike around most of these switchbacks and on parts of the trail leading up to them. Even when walking the bike, negotiating them is sometimes a very technical exercise because they are tight, a bit steep, and there's hardly any trail width within which to manoeuvre. The unwieldy bike sometimes threatens to slide off the soft edge of the trail and down the hill, taking me with it, perhaps into a patch of poison oak as an additional bonus. This switchback here is really awkward to get down. Looking back, the short, steep and slippery rise suddenly levels out and turns sharply to the right just beyond the log on the ground. - A downed pine tree lays across a switchback on the Rooster Comb Trail
Another victim of last year's brush fire. - I walk around a bend and here it is: Kingbird Pond
Nice area and good potential future camping spot, but I'm baking here in the sun while looking at the spectacle. - I stop for a Vietnamese-deer-jerky break in the Joshua tree forest along Hart Mine Rd
In a few minutes, I'll be leaving this old railway grade that I like so much, to ride over to the Hart Mine area. - There's even a "shower building" at Pacheco Camp.
No hot water here of course, but there is water to this building piped in from a spring. The outdoor sink is a nice touch. The garden hose can be pulled into the shelter and used as a shower, or brought out to the sink as a "kitchen tap." - China Hole Trail passes briefly through a stand of manzanitas
The trail will pass through a denser, shadier stand of manzanitas shortly, but there will be a bit a more open chamise chaparral on the way to there from here. - After the short flat stretch of dirt road at the bottom of the canyon that is Poverty Flat, it's time to climb out of the canyon
The climb out of Poverty Flat toward the Jackass Trail and Mahoney Meadows Road is fairly steep, and most of it requires that the 10-ton bike be dragged up the hill. However, I am able to ride a few short parts of it. - I stop on this switchback on the way up Coit Road from Kelly Lake to look back on my route.
Looking back down to Kelly Lake, I can see the ridge in the background (with Willow Ridge Road on top) that I just rode over. - Higher up Coit Road heading toward the junction of Wasno Road.
Looking back toward Kelly Lake. This is a hot location for a break, with almost no shade. But I find the area really scenic, so I stop here and walk around a bit (and consume another energy bar). Gee, this part of the road is almost level, at least compared to all the hills out here. What's not visible in this photo is the steep drop-off all along the right-hand side of the road. I like those whitish dried flowers along the road, whatever they are. Some plants in this area are giving off a maple-like aroma under the hot sun, but I don't know which ones. - Cotton-candy smoke from the Henry Coe brush fire at sunset in central San José.
I stop on Monterey Road near Tully Road in south-central San José for a last glimpse of the Henry Coe brush fire before my trip officially ends. About four miles later, it's getting dark, I'm home, I'm tired, I'm happy and I'm noticing how much bigger my house is than my tent; even the bedroom feels big. I don't think I've ever went so long (nine days) without a hot shower. Besides photos, another souvenir I'll carry for a while is sore ribs (I try not to cough deeply or sneeze) and a couple of big bruises from my crash on Orestimba Creek Road a few days ago. I feel satisfied that I've really accomplished something on this trip, but I'm not quite sure what that is. I know the trip was successful because I find myself thinking of places that I didn't get to explore, giving me reasons to go back already. The Henry Coe State Park brush fire will continue to burn for over a week, and it will transform more than half of the park, including several areas where I just travelled and camped. It will be interesting to see the new growth in the area once the wet winter weather sets in. Until next time... - Orestimba Creek Road climbs out of the creek, then drops back down into the gravel, then back up on dry land
I meant to watch out for the trail that leads over to Mustang Pond, just like I did when I was out here last year. But I got into the rhythm of mountain biking and missed it again. - The gentle rollers along the top of the ridge here at about 2400 feet are fun to ride, even in the heat
The small green plants in front of me to the right are mostly regrowth sprouting from the stumps of plants that burned during the big brush fire that started on the last day of my Henry Coe trip last year. - Of course, what comes up must come down, and Red Creek Road drops back down to the dry stream bed
More fun ahead trying to figure out where the trail is, and isn't! - I pass a modern outhouse at the junction of Wagon Road and Wasno Road, near Wasno Pond
It's only 4.5 miles from this point to Pacheco Camp, today's destination, and much of that will be downhill. This is good news; I had been wondering if maybe I wouldn't reach Pacheco Camp before dark. - Pinus sabiniana (grey pines) along Coit Road heading toward Mahoney Ridge.
This is quite substantial for a stand of grey pines, actually dense enough to provide some shade, which they often don't. I'm past the summit now and starting to go downhill now as I head toward Mahoney Ridge. Woo hoo! - I begin backtracking and look for Murphy Trail along the way, an alternate route up to Robison Mountain
I don't see Murphy Trail, nor a sign for it, but I could probably just walk straight up the ridge to the top of the mountain. However, with my water and energy reserves evaporating, it's probably better not to. - I park the bike and go looking for the spring: I know it's here somewhere!
I have a couple of hiking routes mapped out for this area; too bad I won't have time to follow any of them during this trip. - As Willow Ridge Trail rises, it passes through a brushy area with pretty red-leaved poison oak reaching out into the trail.
The 10-ton bike really doesn't want to be dragged over this log again (the third time in three years) and tips over backwards, standing on its hind feet in defiance. I dislike this part of Willow Ridge Trail. This is the third consecutive Labour Day weekend that I've come to Coe Park and used this route. I'm always starting to work up a sweat when I reach here, but the brush seems to prevent air flow, so there's a stifling feeling that I get when I pass through here. The narrow trail means that I, or the 10-ton bike's big fat saddlebags, or all of us, brush up against poison oak while passing through here. Despite my many allergies, I presume from having used this trail that I might not be allergic to poison oak. Still, I'm not about to intentionally rub up against poison oak twigs intentionally to test it further. The difficulty I'm having getting the 10-ton bike over this log reminds me how much heavier my load is this year than on previous visits, when I was only staying three or four nights, rather than eight. - Heading down that crazy short, steep hill on the road to Jackrabbit Lake again.
This means that I'm almost home. The sun is starting to set and it already feels a degree or two cooler. - A half-mile rise out of the canyon, and then a ride across Paradise Flat back to the lake...
Most of the final mile is slightly downhill, which is just what I need right now. - At the bottom of the hill, I cross dry Mississippi Creek again
The buckeye trees on the left with their dry reddish-brown leaves await the fall rains and the winter return of the creek. - I pedal slowly down the road from Hunting Hollow and make my first stop at Fern Spring, after a quarter mile
This is the closest spring to the Hunting Hollow parking lot, which has no water available. However, I've brought enough water to last me most of the day, so I don't need to filter any of the brackish water here. I'll see a mountain lion drinking from this spring a little over a decade later from today. - I take one last look toward Hackberry Mountain into the fading sunset, put on my sweater, and ride away
The temperature has dropped a couple of degrees and it will be dark shortly. I haven't decided where I'll camp tonight, but I want it to be within range of Bathtub Spring, in case I need to get water there tomorrow morning. - Close up of the burn from the Gold Valley Road fire is interesting
White residue on the ground looks like individual plants were sprayed with fire-suppressing chemicals, but that seems unlikely here in a remote area. I conclude that the white residues might come from the plants themselves as they were scorched. I'm going to camp out tonight somewhere in this ultra-lunar landscape? Hmmm... - The old outhouse at Sierra View.
Sierra View has its own antique outhouse just up the hill from the campsite. And it's in the shade, which is nice in hot weather like this. - China Hole Trail drops down 700 feet into the canyon over two miles of nice single-track
This trail is a favourite of mountain-bikers because it provides scenic remoteness and challenges, without being insanely difficult, just a few miles from Henry Coe headquarters. - Two minutes later, the orange glow on the Castle Mountains is fading into pink as the belt of Venus forms
- I begin the gentle westward climb up Highway 178 into Death Valley National Park
A bit over a mile outside Shoshone, I turn off Highway 127 onto Highway 178. "No services next 72 miles." That's why I'm carrying so much water. - After climbing a short, steep segment of Hobbs Road, the 10-ton bike gets stuck on the drainage ditch that must be crossed.
Most of the 1.5 mile trip from Park Headquarters to the Sierra View campsite is fairly easy, except for the short, steep grade on Hobbs Road just before the Sierra View Trail. This little piece of Hobbs Road is steep enough that one drags the bike up the hill a few feet at a time, holding the brake levers in the "on" position in between segments, so that the bike doesn't slip back down the hill, while catching one's breath. I'm both frustrated and laughing when I can't get the bike across the little drainage along Hobbs Road to get on the Sierra View Trail. Can the oak trees hear me cursing? The bike is really heavy, and I haven't built up much strength on day one of the trip, so it falls over when I try to lift it over the drainage. A few days from now, I'll probably feel like Superman, but that's not today! Awesome views from here. - I come around a switchback and can see back down to China Hole below
After a tough, but rewarding and enjoyable, week at Henry Coe Park, I hate to be on my way home, and leaving the Park behind me. - Another short break on the Mojave Road, to refill the water in my bottle
Good excuse to stop for a moment; besides, I'm having a few stomach muscle spasms. - Henry Coe State Park's land becomes visible on the distant hilltops at the centre of the photo.
Henry Coe is the second-largest State Park in California at about 87,000 acres (Anza-Borrego near San Diego is the largest). The land at the top of these distant hilltops is just the beginning of the park, which extends far back into the steep ridges and canyons of the backcountry beyond. - I set up camp on the flat gravelly spot next to the China Hole Trail crossing of the dry creek
This might not be the best tent spot here privacy-wise since any trail users will pass by, but it's the flattest spot around that I see. I've since been told that there is a more private campsite further upstream, which I didn't notice. - The climb up Wagon Road becomes more moderate after the initial steep section out of Hunting Hollow
The really steep hill down below took a lot out of me, but I'm warming up and doing better now. I remind myself to drink lots of water to stay hydrated.