Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007: Henry Coe State Park Mountain-Bike Camping / Day 2: Sierra View camp to Mississippi Lake 24
The 12-mile trip from Sierra View to Mississippi Lake is tough due to the Willow Ridge Trail, which is steep enough to require that the 10-ton bike be dragged up most of the hill, a few feet at a time.
The day's travel is a big roller coaster going from 2800 feet elevation at Sierra View to down to 1200 feet at Poverty Flat, up to 1750 feet on the side of Jackass Peak, down to 1200 feet to Los Cruzeros, then up to 2600 feet to Willow Ridge, followed by numerous steep ups and down on the final "descent" along Willow Ridge Road to Mississippi Lake at 2200 feet.
- 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 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. - 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. - 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. - 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. - Heading down the trail away from the Sierra View campsite.
The trail to the Sierra View campsite passes through a shady area, which is where the spring is located. - At the end of the Sierra View trail, the 10-ton bike has to cross that little drainage gulley where it got stuck last night.
It's easier getting across this time since I'm heading downhill and don't have to lift the heavy bike up a couple of feet. I'm glad I'm heading down steep Hobbs Road here this morning, rather than up. - After descending that little steep piece of Hobbs Road, I ride down Manzanita Point Road across the meadow.
It's a mostly gentle downhill across this meadow, which is painted in a typical Henry Coe late-summer palette: golden yellow (grass), sky blue, and some dark green trim from the oaks and other trees. I will climb over that ridge in the distance (Willow Ridge) later today to get to Mississippi Lake on the other side. It's interesting to me how many people interpret the golden yellow of the dry grasses as brown and dead (and thus unappealing). Personally, I find the dry golden yellow grass against a bright blue sky to be a one of the more striking colour combinations that California landscapes have to offer. I do most of my visits to Coe Park in late summer, when the landscape it at its driest. While the greener landscapes of winter and spring have a beauty and lushness of their own, I find their verdant character at that time of year to be darker perhaps a bit more monotonous (I love yellow!). - 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. - 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'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. - 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? - The beginning of the hill on Mahoney Meadows Road that I'm about to descend.
Yeah, it's steep. Steep enough that I've decided to walk down this short slope before getting on the bike. A fully loaded bike (or motorcycle for that matter) can be quite unstable. If there's any doubt whatsoever about whether a trail segment here is ridable or not, walk the bike. Cell phones don't work in most of this park, and it might be days before anyone finds your injured body out here after a crash. - 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. - 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. - A benign switchback on Willow Ridge Trail just beyond the log in the poison oak grove gives me a few more problems.
I'm trying to keep the bike (and myself) on the two-foot wide trail without it slipping and falling into the adjacent poison oak while I negotiate the tight corner. Why is such a simple concept proving to be so difficult in execution? - Phew, Willow Ridge Trail pops out of the poison oak grove and crosses an open area where there's a bit of a breeze.
It's a hot day, so I wouldn't call the breeze "cool," but the air flow in this open area sure is welcome after the stuffy air back in the poison oak grove. It scares me that I'm already feeling exhausted (OK, beyond exhausted), so I take a much-needed break here. How will I make it all the way to the top of this hill? I can still see the Los Cruzeros area down in the canyon below, so I haven't even risen risen that much yet! I've just started having odd leg and foot cramps that I've never experienced before and which are making walking difficult. I've read about things like this being caused by an electrolyte imbalance, so I start eating some salty potato chips after eating a Clif bar, in case it helps. - A little higher up on Willow Ridge Trail is a short level stretch that lasts for about a tenth of a mile.
I happily remount the bike here and ride it the short flat distance before getting off and returning to dragging it up more hill. Yes, I do remember this easy spot, a brief moment of relief that teased my senses during last year's trip. The Willow Ridge Trail can be seen climbing further in the middle of the photo. It looks so easy in the photo, and is probably an easier climb for backpackers without a 10-ton bike! - My next break spot, a little higher again up Willow Ridge Trail, eating yet another Clif bar, drinking yet more water.
I must make it to the top, no matter how many breaks I must take along the way! I'm still feeling exhausted and sore, but at least those nasty leg cramps have disappeared. The 10-ton bike is sitting on a fairly level segment here after coming up a short slope that felt rather vertical, though it doesn't look it. Awesome scenery here, but I'm too fatigued and too focused on my goal of reaching Mississippi Lake today to appreciate it fully. It just occurred to me that maybe the trail isn't that steep after all; maybe the problem is just that I'm just tired. - The same resting location as in the previous photo, but looking back down Willow Ridge Trail.
Gorgeous end-of-day light. The steepness of that little incline I just trudged up is somewhat concealed by the vegetation along the trail. The 10-ton bike waits patiently for me to finish my Clif bar. An important technique in bike-dragging is to choose the most level spots possible for stopping. This decreases the amount of energy needed to hold the bike (and oneself) in place without roll-back, while getting ready to advance a few feet further. - This manzanita is all pretty and red in the late-afternoon sun and takes my mind off the pain of climbing this hill.
I think this tree is half-dead, but I'm too tired to investigate further. The red leaves make a nice photo. Just beyond this tree, I reach the "dreaded steep spot" on this trail that I remember from last year's trip. I have been thinking that I must have already climbed that bad spot further back, and that it wasn't as tough as I remember. But suddenly, I realize that I didn't, and that I'm "there" now. - The "dreaded steep part" where I must remove my heavy saddlebags from the bike and walk them up the hill separately.
This little hill doesn't seem like it should be any tougher than other steep stretches of the trail, but I just can't get any traction here. My feet keep slipping back when I try to push the bike up. Last year I made it up this hill by zigzagging back-and-forth across the trail, stopping in the grass on either side where there is more traction. The bike was unwieldy enough last year, but it's even heavier today, so I won't even bother trying that trick again. Removing the saddlebags from the bike and carrying them up to the top of the hill separately turns out to be an easy solution. The bike is still down there on the ground hidden by the two tiny manzanitas growing in the middle of the trail. I'll go back down and get it after I take this photo. (No, I don't know why there's a piece of powder-blue ribbon tied to that manzanita tree in front of me...) Wow, it's 19h12 and I've been on this 1.6-mile-long trail for about three hours now, and I'm still not quite at the top! It didn't take me as long to get up this trail on my two previous trips here (with a slightly lighter bike). - I finally make it to Willow Ridge Spring, which means that I'm close to the top and the hardest part is over. Sort of.
I'm almost out of water, though I didn't expect to run out before Mississippi Lake. But I've been drinking constantly (6-8 litres) due to the hot weather (around 90 degrees F). I get out my water filter and replenish my reserves from the Willow Ridge Spring tub. Willow Ridge Spring is not flowing right now, but the tub is still full. There's a fair amount of algae floating in the water, which sticks to my filter, but the water tastes pretty good after filtering. Better yet, it's cooler than the almost-sickening warm water I've been drinking the past few hours. At this point, I'm far beyond exhausted. Too tired to continue, but I'll continue anyway. The batteries in my camera have worn out and I'm too tired and lazy to change them (it's a big job), so no more photos today. The sun is setting, so I ride the final five miles to the prized campsite at the north end of Mississippi Lake on Willow Ridge Road in the dark, aided by the beautiful full moon and my bike's headlight. A glorious ride that's a test of my endurance. The temperature remains quite warm after sunset and I don't need to put on a sweater or long pants. Willow Ridge Road theoretically descends from 2600 feet to 2200 feet at Mississippi Lake, but there are numerous long and steep ups and down as the road rides the ridgetops on the way "down." Sometimes I accumulate enough momentum going down one steep incline to make it most of the way up the next one. I've never counted how many ridges are on this stretch of road, could there be a dozen? There's a reason it is often called "Roller Coaster Ridge" and avoided by many hikers. I arrive in the moon-lit darkness of Mississippi Lake at 21h45, hungry, but almost unable to eat. I force myself to eat anyway, slowly, mostly potato chips, knowing how much I need food, and how much better I'll feel tomorrow morning for having done so (that is, if I ever wake up again).