2003.05.04
***Doug Robinson
– “Mountaineering simply means, ‘Glad to be here.’ ”
***Shasta’s wintry wonderland: Mountaineers revel in Glissfest
– “As he carefully drove up a sleet-slimed street, heading toward a Mount Shasta trailhead, veteran climber Doug Robinson peered out at towering berms of snow. ‘You know it’s going to be good when even banks by the side of the road show cornices,’ Robinson remarked. Last weekend, Mount Shasta presented fresh cornices (overhanging waves of wind-packed snow) and other mid-winter features to those attending a mountaineering celebration dubbed the Glissfest. Participants included backcountry snowboarders, telemark skiers and randonnee skiers.” [SFGate]
***New Route at Almaden Quicksilver County Park
When I arrived at my normal trailhead in New Almaden I discovered that the trail had been closed by perhaps-overzealous rangers worried about rainy conditions. On a hunch I tried the Mockingbird Hill park entrance and found no trail closure signs.
I haven’t hiked from this entrance in a long time. Many years ago – before I realized that there was an Almaden entrance – I occasionally hiked from here. I recall one memorable hike, perhaps 25 years ago, when I climbed out of Santa Clara Valley winter fog into the light on the ridge and discovered the old mines near New Almaden for the first time.
In any case, yesterday I wasn’t quite sure where to hike from this trailhead so I decided to head right (southwest, then northwest) on the New Almaden trail and try to pick up Prospect #3 trail. Unlike many of the Almaden Quicksilver trails, the Almaden trail is not an old road. It climbs up and down as it traverses along the lower part of the ridge, in places becoming faint where the grass had been flattened by the rain. (It also has a lot more poison oak than some of the other trails!)
I finally reached Prospect #3 and shortly arrived at the junction with the lower trail to Guadalupe dam, crossing it and ascending to the very muddy ridge trail. I descended to English Camp and then took the Hacienda trail back to the car, getting hit by the rain during the last five minutes of walking.
—–
May 4, 2003 -
Posted by gdanmitchell |
Commentary
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Dan's Outside 
2003.05.04
***Doug Robinson
– “Mountaineering simply means, ‘Glad to be here.’ ”
***Shasta’s wintry wonderland: Mountaineers revel in Glissfest
– “As he carefully drove up a sleet-slimed street, heading toward a Mount Shasta trailhead, veteran climber Doug Robinson peered out at towering berms of snow. ‘You know it’s going to be good when even banks by the side of the road show cornices,’ Robinson remarked. Last weekend, Mount Shasta presented fresh cornices (overhanging waves of wind-packed snow) and other mid-winter features to those attending a mountaineering celebration dubbed the Glissfest. Participants included backcountry snowboarders, telemark skiers and randonnee skiers.” [SFGate]
***New Route at Almaden Quicksilver County Park
When I arrived at my normal trailhead in New Almaden I discovered that the trail had been closed by perhaps-overzealous rangers worried about rainy conditions. On a hunch I tried the Mockingbird Hill park entrance and found no trail closure signs.
I haven’t hiked from this entrance in a long time. Many years ago – before I realized that there was an Almaden entrance – I occasionally hiked from here. I recall one memorable hike, perhaps 25 years ago, when I climbed out of Santa Clara Valley winter fog into the light on the ridge and discovered the old mines near New Almaden for the first time.
In any case, yesterday I wasn’t quite sure where to hike from this trailhead so I decided to head right (southwest, then northwest) on the New Almaden trail and try to pick up Prospect #3 trail. Unlike many of the Almaden Quicksilver trails, the Almaden trail is not an old road. It climbs up and down as it traverses along the lower part of the ridge, in places becoming faint where the grass had been flattened by the rain. (It also has a lot more poison oak than some of the other trails!)
I finally reached Prospect #3 and shortly arrived at the junction with the lower trail to Guadalupe dam, crossing it and ascending to the very muddy ridge trail. I descended to English Camp and then took the Hacienda trail back to the car, getting hit by the rain during the last five minutes of walking.
—–
Share this:
Related
May 4, 2003 - Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary