Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve - Bald Mountain

 Full Moon

 A few years ago, I hiked from the Bald Mountain parking area in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve near New Almaden, CA up to Mt. Umunhum and back. At the time, I didn't know much about the Bay Area Ridge Trail (BART) or the Nifty Ninety, but I knew I wanted to return to the area and hike some more trails. Yesterday I did just that.

Bald Mountain (2,387 feet) is an easy walk-up from the parking lot. It only takes about 20 minutes to get to the top, including time to gawk at the manzanitas and take pictures of the mountains. You might wonder why this peak was selected as one of the Nifty Ninety until you get up there and realize that hey, this place is really nifty. The views, even on a hazy, overcast day, are sweet in every direction and you didn't even get out of breath to see them. Great spot to take little kids, even big little kids.

Returning to the parking lot, I crossed the road to the trailhead for the Umunhum Trail that Captain Chem and I hiked in 2018. After a few tenths of a mile, the trail splits, with one going up to the mountain and the other, Barlow Road, taking off toward the Woods Trail on the other side of the Guadalupe Creek drainage. This was my hiking goal for the day - a bunch of ups and downs to Woods Trail and back, so I would have this little corner of the BART completed. I'm not 100% certain I want to finish the entire 400 miles of the BART, but I am chipping away at it. I really don't care how long it takes or if I do the whole thing. I just like to hike.

I didn't see one animal on or near the trails, not even a bird. Yesterday was a holiday for a lot of people and a big chunk of them were outside messing around like me. The parking lots were full, but the hikers were pretty spread out. I was impressed by how clean the trails were here and everybody I encountered had masks (most worn around their necks at the ready if they needed them - me, too) and were quietly friendly. Even the mountain bikers were courteous. I like that. 

Visually, the Barlow Road hike wasn't super-wonderful, but it was a good out and back workout. I am starting to get my legs back after last year's relatively slothful, mostly flat, road-walking, beach-walking miles (just over 1,800 or 4.9/day). Climbing hills is so much better for your conditioning. On to the next one. Back to Henry Coe?

Peace, Love, and MLK,

Jim