W6/SC-389 Peak 4820

This was the second peak of the day I climbed with Joe N0MAP, immediately after Peak 4092. After we had bushwhacked back to the trail, we returned the way we had come. It is a long, slow climb back up the North Coast Ridge Trail. We stopped at a spring to refill, but it was not running very fast. We had passed a stream on the way in, so we decided to just wait to refill to there.

The Mystery Tree. We couldn't find the stump of this tree that was lying in the middle of the trail. We decided aliens was the cause.

The sun had come out which burned off most of the fog still hanging over the ocean, so the views out that way got much nicer. At the Rodeo Flats junction, we kept on the trail and started the final climb up to the summit. There is an old firebreak that goes up to the summit, and it is very overgrown in some places.

North Coast Ridge Trail.

We managed to push our way up to the summit ridge. There is a bit of a traverse to get to the highest point, but it is all open on top. There is a mystery antenna below the summit too. We got set up, and both had decent service on this peak. Joe got the first contact, and got the first activation of the peak. I had some trouble on 30 and 40, but managed to squeak out my four contacts.

Clouds rolling over some of the peaks to the north.

It was getting late, and we were both getting tired, so we didn't linger. We retraced our steps back to the trail junction, then took the trail back down.

This would be a great place to watch the sunset.

The trail down seemed much steeper than it did on the way up, and we ran a few of the steep sections. It was a relief to get back to the flatter section. Back at the stream crossings, Joe just waded across while I managed to get across the same logs again. Back at the car we put on some clean shirts and watched the campers with their fires.

Junipero Serra Peak.

Overall it had taken just over 12 hours for us to cover 22mi and 6400'. There was still some light as we drove back through the fort, stopping to take pictures of all the blooming flowers and sunset. After stopping for some burritos, we made it back to the bay area.

Trailhead: Santa Lucia Memorial Park. The large dirt lot is on the right where the pavement ends.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map. GPX from my watch downloadable from the map.
Route: Arroyo Seco Trail, Rodeo Flats Trail, North Coast Ridge Trail. Where the trail begins contouring around the summit, take the old fire break up to the summit. An approach from the end of Cone Peak Road is also reasonable, but the road was closed when we went. For the most up to date trail conditions and accurate gpx of the trails, check out http://bigsurtrailmap.net/
Red Tape: None. The road to the TH does go through Fort Hunter Liggett, but it seems like there are no longer any gates.

Looking back up the canyon. Peak is on the right.