DISTANCE: 12.23km / 7.6 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: 634m / 2081'
TIME TAKEN: 3:20
GRANT RANCH COUNTY PARK
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA
SOUNDTRACK: Unrest: Isabel
TAMIEN NATION, OHLONE AND MUWEKMA STOLEN LAND
SUMMITS:
• Mount Isabel: 1289m / 4230'
• "Mount Isabelita" (Peak 3312): 1009m / 3312'
PHOTO ALBUM
MAP
*Note: The header photograph of Mount Isabel was taken from Mount Hamilton on March 20, 2020, and does not reflect the conditions of the Mount Isabel hike on April 26, 2021.
Still in San Jose, I took another opportunity to tackle one of the local hikes I had on the list. Today, Mount Isabel, the highest peak in Santa Clara County outside of the Mount Hamilton massif. I didn't get an early start, but it wouldn't be needed for this short hike. Luckily, I had access to Amber's nimble Subaru Forester while she was away, and I took it up the winding road through Grant Ranch to the Smith Creek Fire Station Trailhead. It was nearly 10AM when I set out, down a bucolic country road that soon became a trail, going alongside the well flowing Smith Creek, which was lush with greenery. In less than 20 minutes, I was at the end of the "trail," and a gate that said "area closed." So, not trespassing, just closed, right? So I continued, because this was my path forward of course. There were wildflowers all around. I continued past the gate on and old fire / ranch road, which basically led all the way to the top of the mountain, only sometimes disappearing beneath a thick carpet of grass, wet grass which also did the job of soaking my boots all the way through.
It was beautiful day, partly cloudy, and I kept steadily ascending on the green road. Views of Santa Clara Valley and the Mount Hamilton massif came into sight. Things began to get a little more ominous about an hour in, as I spotted a ripped off deer leg, and I entered the area that had been burned in the Lightning Complex Fire. The burn included the top of the mountain, which looked formerly brushy, so perhaps this was a benefit to my travels. I topped out at 11:30AM, and sat on a rock to enjoy a snack and the view, Mount Hamilton especially, but also the vast lonely hills to the east. I followed mostly the same path back down, which went quickly on the sloping road, the only aberration being to hit the bonus Peak 3312' ("Mount Isabelita"). The return was otherwise uneventful, no more animal parts, and I was back at the car by 1:15PM for a three hour and twenty minute out and back journey. I highly recommend this hike, if you want to do a mountain trail in San Jose, because there's no trail up Mount Hamilton, and this is the next best thing.
FURTHER READING
• Mount Isabel on SUMMITPOST and PEAKBAGGER
• Point 3312' ("Mount Isabelita") on PEAKBAGGER
• Bob Burd goes to Mount Isabel
No comments:
Post a Comment