Mission Peak ^4x CC / NN
Mt. Allison ^3x P1K CC

This was just a training hike for the Sierra Challenge, hitting another of the popular summits in the South Bay. Mission Peak might be the most climbed summit in the Diablo Range, with many dozens visiting it almost every day. Even on a weekday with the summit in the clouds, it is still popular. I've been up it probably half a dozen times, but this was the first time I approached from Ohlone College to the northwest. Signs near campus seem to direct hikers to one of the pay-to-use parking structures on the campus, but there was sufficient street parking on Mission Blvd for my early start before 7a. I thought the trail a better one than the more exposed and more popular starting point from the end of Stanford Ave. The trail from Ohlone College has an easier gradient, passing by a small lake with a shady section through an oak woodland. Both routes are peppered with friendly cattle. Mission Peak and the higher Mt. Allison another mile further to the south were buried in clouds, leaving no views. A sign on the approach to Mt. Allison say No Public Access and other unwelcoming things, but the very summit has a view bench dedicated to one of the local public access champions. Go figure. Without the clouds, I probably would have continued south to Monument Peak, but I was having enough of the fog and headed back. 11mi and 2,700ft of gain in a little under 4hrs.

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