CHANGE O’ PLANS: Dan Mitchell wants to do this at dawn to catch the sunrise from the top of the peak. This would require a 5:30 a.m. launch from the trailhead to get up to the top at 6:55. There will be a full moon, but at this time of year there’s a good chance of being rained on or fogged in. This is just crazy enough to turn into a cool outing, so I’m thinking let’s go for it. Rain or shine, to the summit or turn back when our common sense returns (if nothing else it could be an excellent chance to test rain gear under extreme conditions.)
Click on “Add Your Feedback” if you want to come along. The upside of this outdoor wake-up call is that you’ll have the rest of the day to lie around and wait for Thanksgiving Dinner. So, to summarize, the new plan is: Meet at Mission Peak’s Stanford Avenue Trailhead at 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 23. Hike to the top, possibly take alternate trail down. Should be done by 9 or so.
The original post
The last two years I’ve hiked to the top of Mission Peak on Thanksgiving morning. Any of you Bay Area types wanna tag along this year?
For those who haven’t done it, Mission Peak is a pretty major slog: 2000 feet of elevation gain in 2.5 miles up a gravel road. The only single-track is the last quarter mile to the top. The summit view of Silicon Valley to the south and west, Mount Diablo to the north and the Diablo Range to the east make it worth the sweat. Getting to the top got me hooked on hiking.
Here’s the plan: Meet at 9 a.m. at the Stanford Avenue trailhead of the Mission Peak Regional Preserve. Hike to the top in about an hour and a half. If we feel energetic we can take an alternate route back down that adds another mile or so to the hike and makes it a loop rather than an out-and-back. Shouldn’t take much more than 3.5 hours. You’ll be done in time to have worked up a nice appetite for all that turkey.
The hike happens rain or shine. The train leaves the Stanford Avenue trailhead at 9 sharp. I’ve done this hike a hike solo dozens of times so it won’t break my heart if of you all stay home, but if you wanna come along, I’ll wait till 9, then I’m up the trail.
What’s the view like up there? Well, this is about as good as it’s gotten at the summit, in my experience.
Took this last March when we got a dusting of snow on all the hilltops. That’s the Diablo Range off to the east.
Hi Tom:
How about an earlier start – a much earlier start?
Dawn is the best time to be on Mission Peak. It is absolutely stunning. (Assuming, of course, that it is not in the middle of a storm with raging winds and torrential rain.)
In addition, some of us (ahem…) have family/turkey responsibilities that day and while we might be able to get away before dawn may not find it so easy to disappear for the entire morning.
If not, perhaps I’ll go very early and meet you at the parking lot as I come back from the peak.
Dan
Let’s go for it. See you at 5:30 at the trailhead.
I am so-oo not a morning person when I’m sleeping in the city, but I have the time free and it sounds like fun. If I can actually haul my tail out of bed, I’ll plan on being there.
OK, that’s three gray-bearded white guys. Do I hear a fourth?
Yup.
Wow! And thanks!
I definitely plan to be there. It will be a gas. I’ve been on the peak heat, rain, fog, snow, and I’ve started early up this trail… but so far I’ve missed the actual sun rise by about 15 minutes. I’m looking forward to the hike and to meeting a few fellow bloggers and Bay Area hikers.
One small word to the wise… If you haven’t been to Mission Peak before, be aware that the Fremont Police Department apparently derives a good portion of its budget by way of parking citations right outside the park gate. You have two choices for parking. Since we are arriving early there still may be some spaces in the small paved lot inside the park gates. If not, do not park in the dirt along the side of the road just outside the park – even though it looks like a parking area. YOU WILL BE TICKETED. Instead drive about a minute back down the hill to the first cross street and park legally there.
See you on Turkey Day!
Sounds like a good way to start the day. Dan, do you want to car-pool? I can meet you at the 7-11 between 10th and 11th.
I’m not grey-bearded, but I am most definitely a white guy. The last time I climbed Mission Peak I was probably in the 4th grade. That was only 15 years ago, but I’ll take it easy on you Gandalf-types.
Randy: we’ll be glad to have you along … since it’s getting into the rainy season we won’t have to worry about eating your dust all the way up.
Try not to splash us on the way by.
About the “white guy” comments – guilty as charged.
However, one of the very cool things about the Mission Peak trail is that you’ll see just about the most diverse groups of hikers in the Bay Area – and that’s a Good Thing!
Oh, and Tom (Clifton)… yes. I’ll email you separately about carpooling.