Sep 20, 2010
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With: | Steve Sywyk |
Bruce Ramstad | |
Tom McClaughry |
We started at the northwest end of Uvas Reservoir where a gated road goes over the creek to the northeast side of the reservoir. A rock wall was easily scaled and then just past the bridge we scooted under a chain-link fence to gain access to dirt road that contours around the lake on that side. The road was open and clear and quite a pleasant hike by moonlight. We could see cars on Uvas Rd only 100yds a way on our right, but it would be impossible for us to be spotted if we kept our headlamps off. We followed this road for about a mile to a waypoint I had marked on the GPS, then took a left fork heading uphill. This steep road started off quite promising, but began it deteriorate after about a quarter mile and then became a bushwhack another quarter mile later. The presence of poison oak made it unpalatable to me and some of the others. Bruce seemed the most energetic in seeking a way up our brushy ridgeline, so we were happy to let him explore possibilities looking for a trail until he had exhausted those. I checked the GPS and found we were still half a mile from the top of the ridge where I knew we could pick up a good dirt road, but none of us wanted to bushwhack for that distance. Back down we went.
As a consolation prize we drove north a few miles on Uvas Rd for a very easy climb of Laurel Hill. Less than a mile from the road, I had picked out this peak for a climb with my daughter a few days earlier, but it was too light out at that time to hazard the dirt road that skirts a residence near the start - so we had bailed. Tonight we could see a light on at the residence, but no dogs thankfully, and it we were able to hike by on the road unnoticed. The road climbs steeply to a saddle south of the summit before veering away. We climbed under a barbed wire fence and climbed the steep grassy slope cross-country to the summit. There were trees blocking some of the views, but it was still a pleasant place to reach with views north towards San Jose and southeast to Morgan Hill. A moderate breeze was blowing over the summit, the first chill we'd gotten on an otherwise warm evening. We returned via the same route without incident. I am getting more determined now to find a way to Twin Peaks. Twice I have been rebuffed on a peak not even 2,000ft in height - we will return...
This page last updated: Tue Sep 21 16:53:56 2010
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