Henry Coe State Park April 19, 2014
Word around the campfire is that the California Conservation Corp crew cleared some roads at Mississippi Lake. March 15th I had seen them working on White Tank Spring Road…
…which seemed to me to be a waste of resources but clearing the Mississippi Lake Perimeter Road is, I think, a very worthwhile project. It was the most feral bit of the Hard COEre 100km route. I was very curious to go see for myself.
Please excuse the poor quality of this one. My camera doesn't zoom well. I'm just proud that I crept-up on these turtles without spooking them off into the water:
The potential for a great photo is there.
That was Rodeo Pond. Soon afterwards, while resting at the Wagon & Crest intersection, Ken fka Orange Voodoo Guy rode up. We talked and I told him my plans. He said he had been out to Mississippi Lake and yes, they had cleared it all up. We rode Wagon » Fish & Game (Ken's first time) » Willow Ridge Road together then Ken turned off on Cross Canyon.
I improved my time on Rose Dam Trail and then made the left-hand turn to go up the beautiful Pacheco Creek valley:
In the beauty, there are some hazards:
Years ago Roy broke his Trek's frame there.
So here is a view of Mississippi Lake I hadn't seen before; that is from the Mississippi Queen Trail which I found and rode for the first time:
There actually was a fairly fresh bike track on it which was both helpful and mysterious since the trail isn't well known...who could be that rider?
The stories were true, the Mississippi Lake Perimeter Road was cleared wide enough to drive around:
This section is a non-event now.
Pedaling up from the lake, I spotted this Horned Lizard on Willow Ridge Road only because he moved. He's so well camouflaged:
As I was putting away my camera, 3 guys walked up. They had orienteered overnight, cross-country to Mississippi Lake. Amazing! They were tired and were just going to walk the normal roads and trails to get back to Park HQ.
Another part of my mission today was to scope-out Heritage Trail for possible trailwork. (It's part of the Hard COEre 100 route.) It would be impossible to fully brush the length of the trail but there are a few choke points which if cleared would help a lot. There's one of them:
That photo was after cutting back some brush.
Start at Hunting Hollow » Hunting Hollow Road » Lyman Willson Ridge Trail » Bowl Trail » Willson Camp » Wagon Road » Wasno Pond Trail » Wagon Road » Fish & Game Trail » Coit Road » Willow Ridge Road » White Tank Spring Road » White Tank Spring Trail » Rose Dam Trail » Pacheco Creek Trail » Willow Ridge Road » Mississippi Queen Trail » Willow Ridge Road » Mississippi Lake Perimeter Road » Willow Ridge Road » Pacheco Ridge Road » Heritage Trail » Pacheco Creek Trail » Pacheco Camp » Coit Road » Live Oak Spring Trail (upper) » Wagon Road » Wasno Road » Jackson Road » Jackson Trail » Anza Trail » Coit Road » Coyote Creek gate » Gilroy Hot Springs Road » Hunting Hollow parking. 40.30/6:51/10:58/6,239'
Gilroy:
Cordoza Ridge:
