Interesting To Cows

Back when I first visited Butano a year or two ago, I noticed that Big Basin was only a short distance to the east and wondered if there was a route connecting them.  It turns out that there are actually two- the Butano Fire road and the Gazos Creek Road.  The Butano Fire Road is an extension of China Grade Road (This is the right turn you pass while driving to Big Basin from the north)  Gazos Creek Road runs from Big Basin HQ to the sea passing the site of the historical Sandy Point Guard Station.  Both of these roads are popular with the mountain biking crowd. 

With a few additional roads added, it was possible to combine the two into a lengthy 25 mile loop dayhike.

Small waterfall along Gazos Creek Road.

In my last entry, I noted the backcountry crime scene that I found on the skyline trail.  This week, I think I found the culprit- this Middle Ridge redwood tagged as a "killer tree" with skull and crossbones flagging tape.

 
Killer Tree

The full set of pictures, map, and commentary are here.

I headed down to Big Basin on Thursday morning to squeeze in a quick hike before the massive storm system hit. 

Today's route passed the McAbee Overlook and Berry Creek falls and covered a number of trails that were new ground for me.  I came prepared for a downpour, but managed to get most of the loop completed before it started raining steadily.

Always Picturesque Berry Creek Falls

I stumbled across one of the more odd things I've seen in the backcountry about a half mile upstream from Berry Creek Falls.  A single shoe rested in the middle of the Skyline to Sea trail.  Next to the shoe was a fallen "widowmaker" tree branch marked with yellow police tape.  Strange. 

Pictures, map, commentary, and the full set of pictures are here.

It was in the mid 40's as I headed south from Mountain View for my first outing of 2008.  By the time I reached Hollister it was sub 40 and it broke freezing around the time I turned off of Hwy 146 onto the park access road.   The thermometer bottomed at 24 degrees near the Chalone Creek bridge and then rose a bit to 27 up at the parking lot.  Good to be back in warm sunny California. 

Today's route was a loop around the remote Northern Wilderness trail returning via the Juniper Canyon & High Peak trails. 

The morning chill did end up quickly wearing off and it turned out to be quite a nice day. 

Machete Ridge from the Northern Wilderness Trail.

Pictures and commentary are here.
Earlier Pinnacles trips are here:  2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002.