White Hill

 After a quiet Christmas, I was ready to get out. I decided to do a combined SOTA/Nifty Ninety trip, and went up to Marin to get Pine Mountain and White Hill, both on the ninety list. Only Pine Mtn, however, has the prominence for SOTA.

White Hill

It was overcast when I left the Azalea Hill trailhead. I got there early enough there was plenty of parking available. All the mountain bike tracks in the mud were nice, they let me know how deep it was before I stepped.

Playing radio on the summit of Pine Mountain.

It is an easy hike up to the top of Pine Mountain. I set up in the same spot I had on previous visits and got on the air. My new QCX-mini did wonderfully, and the 5watter held its own on 40 as well. Its always fun to make contacts with homebrew rigs.

Muddy ridge.

It was cold and windy, and the clouds were pretty threatening, so I didn't stay too long on the summit. I retraced my steps back to the main fire road on the ridge and followed it to my turnoff. Here it drops down into the woods for a ways before coming up to White Hill.

Almost at the summit.

There are some steep parts on the way up to the summit, but the ridge itself is quite nice. The views are excellent up there. I had been in the area before during orienteering events, but I'm not sure I had been to the summit ever. Now there's no question, I've stood on the high point.

Cascade Creek.

The descent to the trail junction was quite steep. There is then some side hill trails to get around a corner of private property, then more descending down to the Cascade Creek. There were a number of bikes on this section, and plenty of people in the valley. I crossed the brook, then started a long climb back up the ridge to my car. 

The Marin hills after a storm.

In retrospect, putting a big 1000 foot climb at the end of a long run might not have been the best planning, but I made it to the ridge. Starting at Cascade Creek may have been a better option. As I climbed, the sun started coming out and it began to turn into a pretty nice day. Back at the car I stretched then headed down for the drive home, happy with the day's outing.

Garin Peak

What better way to start the year than peakbagging? New Year's Day was a nice day to go for an easy hike over Garin Peak. 

Near the trailhead.

We started at the main Garin Park parking lot. There were plenty of spaces open. People must have partied too hard the night before. The first part of the trail is paved, but then the dirt starts for a nice loop. 

Rocks in the middle of the field.

The trail is not difficult, and the views were nice. The grass was starting to turn green, but it will be a while before it gets to the bright, vibrant green that we get in the spring. 

View to the south.

We brought sandwiches, and had some lunch at the summit. It was a nice place for a picnic. On the way down, one of the groups we passed told us they saw a bobcat. They were loud enough I'm sure it was scared away and we had no chance of seeing it. 

W6/NC-092 Poverty Ridge

The forecast was for a beautiful day, so why not spend it all outside? I had had my eye on this peak for a while but was waiting for a nice day before attempting it. Poverty Ridge is about nine miles from the nearest trailhead, and the approach is all on a ridge, so cold or rain or wind would make it a miserable hike. 

Heading down the trail.

The standard route seems to start at the Twin Gates trailhead in Joe Grant park, so this is where I started. I got to the lot shortly after it opened at 8, but wasn't the first car. Once I was ready, I headed up the hill and north.

Looking back towards Mt Hamilton.

There is a steep initial climb, then lots of ridge. My first destination was Antler Point, a peak on the Nifty Ninety list. There is a trail that leads to one of the summits, but maps show the other one is higher.

View from near Antler Point of Day Mountain and Black Mountain.

Antler Point was quite nice, and is worth the hike out. The trail-less slope down from the point is very steep. Not one you'd want to go up. I crossed the marshy ground at the bottom and followed an old road through a broken gate to the next trail, a well traveled dirt road.

The fanciest gate on the way.

This middle section is relatively flat, with lots of short and gentle ups and downs. I saw a hawk of some sort sitting on the ground a short distance off the trail, which I was not expecting. Usually I see them flying around or perched on something higher up. Maybe I interrupted its lunch. 

Tree at the summit, looking west.

The last climb to the summit is the biggest, but it is not steep. Just before the summit there is another gate, this one with a mailbox. I tagged the summit then went back to the fence to set up the radio. I figured it was a good spot, close to a steep dropoff to the east. 

Looking south at Day Mountain and Mt Hamilton.

I did work France on 20m, so it may have helped. I did not have good cell service on top, so I relied on RBNHole to spot me. Before leaving I called a few times on 2m and 70cm, but didn't hear anyone. 

Antler Point in the foreground, on the way back.

I mostly retraced my steps to get back. I didn't, however, see a reason to go over Antler Point again, so I took the trail around the west side. The valley it went through, by the Pala Seca cabin, was quite nice. There were also a lot more people in this section. Must be about as far as normal people want to go on a day hike. 

A nice rock in the Canada de Pala.

The trail goes by peak 2844, a P300, so I decided to climb over it on my way back. It is not too far above the trail, and an easy side trip. The views on top were excellent, especially of the Mt Hamilton area. 

Copernicus Peak is on the left, with the small tower.

Back at the car I was pretty tired after running and hiking over 18 miles. But I was satisfied, I couldn't have asked for a better day to be out in the Diablo Range. 

Trailhead: Twin Gates Trailhead, Joe Grant Park
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Take the Canada de Pala trail along the ridge. You can either take the Pala Seca trail over Antler Point or go around. Cross the marshy area on the old road to the well maintained one, and follow it and the ridge north until you get to the summit.
Red Tape: None. No signs or indications of private property.