Dan's Outside

Joining the hordes on Mission Peak

I did my Mission Peak climb this morning – joining hundreds of other people on a spring pilgrimage to this high peak overlooking the Bay Area.

Saturday morning hikers on the trail to Mission Peak. April 24, 2004.

I ascended on the main “highway” (a gravel road) from Stanford Avenue off of Mission Blvd. After I reached the summit – a nearly 2000 foot climb – I traversed south along the ridge toward Monument Peak.

Rocks and grass below Mission Peak. April 24, 2004.

I ran out of time a bit short of this second peak, at a beautiful meadow filled with yellow flowers. I returned to the base of the peak and then cut left down the Horse Heaven trail to pick up the lateral down the little valley past the residences right below the peak.

Field of yellow flowers between Mission and Monument Peaks. April 24, 2004.

I used to climb this peak regularly when I taught at Ohlone College – I even ran up it a few times. Back then it was surprising to see a dozen other hikers. Today I saw several groups of about 20 (including the nice but apparently somewhat obsessive folks from INCH), plus all of the other individual hikers and small groups. The other interesting change is that this has become one of the most ethnically diverse hiking crowds that I have seen – much more so than at my usual stomping grounds at Almaden Quicksilver Park.
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April 24, 2004 - Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary