So Fedak and Tom Clifton are both interested in a Ventana Wilderness outing, and Fedak has a couple options lined up.
He says we need to leave Mountain View very early on Saturday, like 7 a.m. Works for me, I like getting up with the roosters in the neighborhood.
I’ll let Fedak fill out any more details in the feedback area.
Ok, I’m going to make an executive decision on Pine Valley. We’ll meet at my place at 7am on Saturday morning. (If anyone wants to arrange alternate transportation or lives south of Mountain View and wants a pickup, send me a mail)
The hike is a classic Ventana Wilderness ridge hike- Lots of chapparal and one big ridge to climb over. The VWA trail crew is attacking the trail this weekend, so it should be in great shape for next week.
The hike is 12 miles round trip. There is (creek) water at Pine Valley itself, but none enroute. The vegetation is rather unforgiving (and this is prime territory for both ticks and poision oak) so long pants and sleeves are recommended.
Theres a great article on Pine Valley (and the 86 year old vet who lives in an inholding) in this Montery County Weekly article:
http://montereycountyweekly.com/issues/Issue.08-04-2005/cover/Article.cover_story
Please RSVP with me a john@fedak.net if you’re thinking of coming.