W6/SC-063 Hepsedam Peak

Down at the southern end of San Benito County are Laguna Mountain and Hepesdam Peak. I had done Laguna a few years ago, and went back to attempt Hepsedam. The Laguna Mountain Camping area was closed and the gate was locked, so I had to park on the road. The sign on the gate said the trails were still open for hiking, so I climbed over and started up.

Laguna on the left, Hepsedam just peaking over in the middle.

The trail up to Laguna was as I remembered it. I knew to turn on the primitive trail and follow the new route up to the top to save some bushwhacking. At the top, I stopped for a snack and to rest for a few minutes, then continued on.
The trail up Laguna comes up a drainage, and if you continue straight over the summit area on the road you will be heading in the right direction. The road up here was rough, it probably never gets maintained.

Hepsedam Peak from Laguna. High point is the left summit.

The jeep trail drops down to a flat area on the ridge, and another jeep trail meets it here. Turn sharp right onto this new trail, and follow it down. It is nicely graded, and easy walking. It was overgrown in places, and probably only gets used by animals.

There is a very large and expensive looking occupied house just out of sight below the clearing.

After dropping a few hundred feet, the jeep trail ends. Here you have to push through a little brush to get to a nice open meadow. Follow this meadow down to the bottom of Sulphur Canyon. There is a small gully on the way down, but it was easy to find a way across.

Crossing the gully.

A little lower you cross Laguna Creek. I was able to step across. Above the other side of the creek is a well maintained and traveled road. There is a little flat area before the real climb begins. This section is the most unpleasant for two reasons. First, it is extremely steep. Second, there is lots and lots of poison oak. It was unavoidable.

Taking a break at a spot without poison oak.

At the top is the densest brush on the route. You have to push through it to get to the end of another jeep trail. That is the end of the hard section. Follow this new trail up to the ridge. The bottom part is rather overgrown, but still easy to follow. At the main road on the ridge turn right and head up.

Otherworldly landscape near the summit.

Below the summit I stepped off the road and went straight up through the woods. The area below the summit is bare earth, and a stark contrast to the rest of the terrain. At the summit are some old concrete pillars and a wooden cross. The lid for the register was still under a rock, but the body of the case was scattered around in a few pieces.

Summit.

I setup just below the summit. There was very marginal cell service for spotting, but I was able to get some out. I only did 20 and 40 since it had been getting cloudier all day, and I really didn't want to be bushwhacking back in the rain. As it turned out, I got back to my car about two minutes before the heavens opened up.

Walking back up the meadow.

I retraced my steps back to the top of Laguna, which I activated before heading back to the car. It was a long hike, but a neat mountain to go to. And somehow I never broke out in a rash from all the poison oak!

Trailhead: Laguna Mountain Campground. This is the third BLM site along Coalinga Road.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Hike up to the top of Laguna Mountain. Continue straight across the summit area on the trail. At the flat area below turn right onto a new trail. At the bottom, follow the meadow down to the stream, then bushwhack up the ridge across to the jeep trail. Follow road up to below the summit, then bushwhack the last few vertical feet.
Red Tape: None.

Looking back at Laguna.