Topo and GPS tracks for this weekend's outing from the park HQ (left) to Mississippi Lake (right). This was a similar route to this 2006 dayhike. Info on the 2007 Lick Fire is here.

Stopped off at the Dennys in Gilroy for breakfast and then headed up to the Coe northern entrance. The park volunteers noted that I was the first one to register for the newly opened sections of the park. (Though I'd see mountain bike tracks out that way)

Hit the corral trail leading out from the park HQ a bit before 9am.

I'd been on this route a half dozen or so times before, so I opted for the most expediant path down to Poverty Flat. This gives a glimpse of the Corral Trail meeting up with Manzanita Point road atop the ridge.

Meeting of the Corral Trail and Manzanita Point road. (I'd be returning via the Spring trail on my way back)

Warm and dry up here atop the ridge heading down to Manzanita Point. Blue Ridge off to the left.

Junction of Poverty Flat and Manzanita Point roads. Headed left here to start the long steep drop down to Poverty Flat.

I quickly remembered how much I despise the Poverty Flat road and its unforgiving grading.

Looking over at the first signs of the Lick Fire damage where the southeastern reaches of the fire had crossed the Blue Ridge into the Coyote Creek drainage.