This was an easy half day outing to some minor peaks in the Scott Valley area
of the Santa Cruz Mtns. I grabbed a few GPX tracks off PB from Colin Gregory
and another user and headed to Scotts Valley along SR17 between
Santa Cruz and San Jose. Hiking and driving combined came to about 4hrs. All
the hikes were fairly short, scenic (what's not to like about redwoods?) and on
trails. No real bushwhacking. I drove the Miata today instead of the van, making
for a more sporting drive than it would have been otherwise. I even had the top
down for the drive back after the day had warmed up a bit.
Mt. Hermon
This is a PB-only summit, not officially named and only about 240ft of
prominence. The peak is located between a juvey center and an evironmental
science park for youngsters called Sand Parkland - quite the juxtaposition.
I parked at the entrance to the juvenile center and hiked up to the summit from
there, a nice walk through unsigned trails that criss-cross through the
area. On one side can be heard the older voices of the juveys recreating in the
compound, on the other side can be heard the higher-pitched voices of the
youngsters on the science park side. I found my way to the large cross
that occupies the summit along with a few park benches. There is a moderately
interesting view overlooking Scotts Valley to the northeast. I went back down
through the science park on the way back, finding
a ropes course, skate park and other youth-oriented adventure
activities. Three or four classes of middle-schoolers were sharing the woods
with their guides and teachers, mostly making noise and having fun but I
suppose learning a few science-y things as well. Good fun.
Lodato Peak
An unofficially named summit that sounds better than "Peak 1,100ft." This
interesting little park is found behind a business park,
of all places, with
a trailhead sign and a fantastic, but much too short trail going
off into the woods behind it. The place seems moderately popular with trail
runners and dog owners, particularly the 1.5mi Loop Trail which winds through a
scenic forest of second-growth redwoods. The Loop Trail doesn't actually go
to the summit, nor is it clear that the summit is within the park boundary, but
there aren't any No Trespassing signs above the Loop Trail where other
trails and roads branch off, mostly unsigned. With the help of the GPS I found
my way to the highpoint, tucked away in the trees just off one of the
little-used roads. There appears to have been some sort of a corral structure
here, but long
ago having fallen into disrepair. There are plenty of signs of the logging
efforts that swept through here more than 100yrs ago, in the way of giant, old
stumps and numerous logging roads, heavily overgrown. On my way back I started
down one of the other unmarked trails that descend off the summit, eventually
finding my way back to the Loop Trail and down to the TH. This was the nicest
of the three hikes despite having no views at the top.
Peak 980ft
This lowly summit is found a few miles east of Scotts
Valley, just off Rodeo Gulch Rd. There are several places to park along
the west side of the road. The land appears to have an absentee owner - no signs
of any sort other than No Dumping, and there is a crappy use trail that
leads the short distance to the summit. There is plenty of
poison oak along the trail to watch out for and plenty of crumpled beer
cans indicating it as a choice party location. The summit is surprisingly open,
a little grassy area with 180 degree views overlooking the forest to
the south. Despite the views, this was the least interesting of the
three summits.