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6 triplogs
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Mar 04 2018
avatar

 Guides 111
 Routes 433
 Photos 4,307
 Triplogs 788

51 male
 Joined Feb 16 2007
 Walnut Creek, CA
Mount Saint HelenaBay Area, CA
Mount Saint Helena
Bay Area, CA
Hiking avatar Mar 04 2018
JimmyLyding • Triplogs 788
Hiking10.30 Miles 2,350 AEG
Hiking10.30 Miles   5 Hrs      2.06 mph
2,350 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Jumping Jehosophat! This was an incredible hike due to the fact that it snowed the day before. I had planned on hiking that day, and I quickly decided on this old standby when I saw all of the blue on the weather radar. I went with my cousin and his wife, and we weren't disappointed. We walked on snow for about 70% of the hike, and the top had about a foot. The rime ice falling from one of the towers on North Peak was spectacular. The hike up was on snow after the initial 3/4 mile stretch through the trees, and the hike down was snow-free for the last 2.2 miles. The stretch from mile 7.8 to 9.4 was snow free on the way down despite being covered in the white goodness on the way up. We saw a few people on the way up and at the top, but the crowds really came out on our way down. If they had only gotten in gear a little earlier. I got to park at the actual trail head for the first time which was cool.

I also want to recognize the brave firefighters and their families for putting so much on the line to fight the Tubbs Fire. The Tubbs Fire started around 9:45 PM on October 8, 2017 just north of Calistoga, CA. Calistoga (the place where the fizzy water you may have enjoyed comes from) is at the northern end of Napa Valley. The Tubbs Fire spread downhill due to Diablo Winds (same thing as Santa Ana Winds, but NorCal style), and crossed US Hwy. 101 around 2 a.m. on the 9th.

I've always gotten a kick about seeing the sugar pines near the top of Mount Saint Helena because they seem like a relict of the Pleistocene Age. They also have the longest cones of any pine tree on earth. I remember worrying about these trees when I read about the horrifying Tubbs Fire on the morning of October 9th, and hoped that the smoke I was choking on didn't include the combusted remains of sugar pine! Luckily these wonderful trees made it through unscathed. I don't know if it was because the firefighters made a stand or divine intervention. Perhaps those are the same thing. I'd like to think so.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Knobcone pine  Sugar pine
 Geology
 Geology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Tafoni
_____________________
  1 archive
Jul 02 2016
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 Guides 9
 Routes 33
 Photos 780
 Triplogs 4,634

44 male
 Joined Nov 25 2008
 Scottsdale, AZ
Mount Saint HelenaBay Area, CA
Mount Saint Helena
Bay Area, CA
Run/Jog avatar Jul 02 2016
Booneman • Triplogs 4,634
Run/Jog10.30 Miles 2,350 AEG
Run/Jog10.30 Miles   1 Hour   50 Mns   5.62 mph
2,350 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
After visiting my sister numerous times in Santa Rosa over past three years, I finally had a chance to climb the Sonoma county high point. Since most of the trail is actually a fire road with a moderate grade I ran most of it up and down. Views were good, but too hazy to see Mt Shasta.
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  1 archive
Apr 23 2016
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 Guides 111
 Routes 433
 Photos 4,307
 Triplogs 788

51 male
 Joined Feb 16 2007
 Walnut Creek, CA
Mount Saint HelenaBay Area, CA
Mount Saint Helena
Bay Area, CA
Hiking avatar Apr 23 2016
JimmyLyding • Triplogs 788
Hiking10.48 Miles 2,191 AEG
Hiking10.48 Miles   4 Hrs   33 Mns   2.71 mph
2,191 ft AEG      41 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I did this hike with my brother Bob. Nice cool day with a mainly cloudy sky that made photography difficult just like my last trip in January. There wasn't any snow this time, and that was a good thing because my bruddah wore a long sleeve cotton shirt that was soaked by the time we reached the summit.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
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Jan 31 2016
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 Guides 111
 Routes 433
 Photos 4,307
 Triplogs 788

51 male
 Joined Feb 16 2007
 Walnut Creek, CA
Mount Saint HelenaBay Area, CA
Mount Saint Helena
Bay Area, CA
Hiking avatar Jan 31 2016
JimmyLyding • Triplogs 788
Hiking10.30 Miles 1,850 AEG
Hiking10.30 Miles   4 Hrs   10 Mns   2.76 mph
1,850 ft AEG      26 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I love hiking Mount Saint Helena, but the weather today was an added treat to the typical great views and workout.

I drove down to Middletown to see the damage from last summer's fires. There wasn't much to see because scorched hillsides are unfortunately all too common around these parts.
The first mile reminded me that I haven't done a decent hike since October, but it's always good to get going early. The dirt road started soon enough, and led to some seriously amateur-looking climbers. The weather was still glorious with bright sunlight and a few puffy clouds and light wind. However, I saw dark clouds with noticeable precipitation as soon as the trail approached the upper basin at the 3500' mark.

I kept going because the precip looked to be at least 20 miles further north and headed west-to-east. I kept noticing the shadows from the dark clouds inching closer as the storm now began to head south, but without the rumble of distant thunder. I called off lunch at the summit because all of the ground north of the mountain that I could see was dark. I met 2 people at the summit, then headed back to the trail head with lunch in my pockets.
The snow started real slow about a mile below the summit, and then picked up as I approached the climbers' spot. I had begun hiking with one of the people I met at the summit and also with a couple who had a black and tan coonhound, and we went all the way to the bottom. The snow wasn't serious, but it was very cool.

My biggest regret was not taking gloves, but that goes to show how spoiled I've gotten here. "How can it be snowing up here on this 4000' mountain on the last day in January?"
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sugar pine
_____________________
 
Apr 11 2015
avatar

 Guides 111
 Routes 433
 Photos 4,307
 Triplogs 788

51 male
 Joined Feb 16 2007
 Walnut Creek, CA
Mount Saint HelenaBay Area, CA
Mount Saint Helena
Bay Area, CA
Hiking avatar Apr 11 2015
JimmyLyding • Triplogs 788
Hiking13.62 Miles 2,966 AEG
Hiking13.62 Miles   5 Hrs   51 Mns   2.73 mph
2,966 ft AEG      52 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Another glorious day. The moist soil in places defied the 4-year-long drought. The general vicinity is pretty green, in fact, but conifers and oaks are going to either be green or dead this time of year. Looks like they're not dead yet, but this area is probably going to see a wildfire or two this year. I think most everywhere besides the far north coast and southeastern deserts will see fire in California in 2015.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky today which was a nice contrast from my previous visit. I went up the Palisades Trail for a mile and change to Table Rock Overlook then returned to the trail head to do Mount St. Helena. The wind was light, steady and welcome on my grind up to the top. The views from North Peak were phenomenal in the late afternoon sun.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Douglas-Fir  Knobcone pine  Pacific madrone  Ponderosa Pine  Sugar pine
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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Apr 26 2014
avatar

 Guides 111
 Routes 433
 Photos 4,307
 Triplogs 788

51 male
 Joined Feb 16 2007
 Walnut Creek, CA
Mount Saint HelenaBay Area, CA
Mount Saint Helena
Bay Area, CA
Hiking avatar Apr 26 2014
JimmyLyding • Triplogs 788
Hiking10.38 Miles 2,356 AEG
Hiking10.38 Miles   4 Hrs   48 Mns   2.76 mph
2,356 ft AEG   1 Hour   2 Mns Break
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Marin? Check. Santa Cruz Mountains? Check. Henry Coe SP and the East Bay? Check and check. What's left? Mount Saint Helena has been taunting me ever since I moved here in 2010, and today was the day. I was planning on completing the northern 2/3 of the Bolinas Ridge Trail, but my smartphone thingy indicated heavy traffic on the way so I audibled to Napa.

I drove up on Hwy 29 and suffered through the congestion in the wine country-touristy town of St. Helena before the final winding road up to Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. This is truly beautiful country with the wineries and farms on the valley floor ringed by ridges with soft chaparral and thick forests of Douglas fir and tanoak.

The hike itself is a fairly mellow 10.3 miles round trip with 2,300' AEG and mostly on a fire road. The sugar pines near the top are the only ones I've seen in the greater Bay Area. Amazingly enough I didn't see any dogs, but they are prohibited here. It's still surprising. Great views on the way up and at the summit. The high puffy clouds got thicker in the late afternoon, but I think I still got some good pics. Pretty good hike, and I'd like to do it again. Maybe either a sweat-a-thon in the summer or after one of the few times each year when snow covers the top.
Full hike description and pictures to follow.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Douglas-Fir  Sugar pine
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Memorial
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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average hiking speed 2.6 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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