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- Willow Ridge Trail rises out of Los Cruzeros
- Heading up out of Los Cruzeros along the Willow Ridge Trail.
- Poison oak woods on Willow Ridge Trail
- Willow Ridge Trail rises out of the poison oak forest to a more meadowy area.
- Break time on the lower-middle section of Willow Ridge Trail!
- One of many steep sections on Willow Ridge Trail
- A rare flat stretch along Willlow Ridge Trail
- Looking back down another steep part of the trail.
- Big manzanita along the trail.
- Approaching Willow Spring
- Willow Spring itself
- Top of the Willow Ridge Trail, where it meets Willow Ridge Road, also called "roller coaster ridge"
- Up on the ridge finally on Willow Springs Road.
- Sunset approaching along Willow Ridge Road, getting higher.
- Up on top of it all on Willow Ridge Road.
- Willow Ridge Road, lots of steep ups and downs as it rides on the ridge top. I have to drag the bike up some of the steep hills
- My last decent photo along Willow Ridge Road before it gets dark.
- Morning at Mississippi Lake with a bit of shade thanks to the ramada.
- Mississippi Lake itself behind the tent.
- Bear Spring Road heads northward away from Mississippi Lake.
- Bear Spring Road meanders through the grassland along the dry creek.
- The tub at Bear Spring is full of nice cool water.
- I go for a walk up one of the rocky hills by Bear Spring.
- Pumping water from Bear Spring.
- Standing in a patch of stachys albens (?)
- These stachys (?) plants fill the entire creek bed.
- Close-up of the plants and their blossom stacks.
- Big pine cones litter the trail near Bear Spring.
- Sometimes, the "road" rises above the dry creek briefly and then rolls back down to meet it again.
- Riding along Bear Spring Road back toward Mississippi Lake.
- One last hummingbird-attracting bloom remains on this thistle, which I believe is the California native red thistle.
- Bear Spring Road (it's a trail, really) crosses the dry creek several times.
- After spending a couple of hours back at my tent by the lake and having lunch...
- The dam crossing the south end of Mississippi Lake.
- View north up Mississippi Lake from the dam at the lake's south end.
- The road rises up away from the lake toward County Line Road and Board Spring.
- Elderly chamise bush along County Line Road.
- I walk down the Hartman Trail a few hundred feet and look back up toward County Line Road.
- Bike standing on the edge of County Line Road at the trailhead of the Hartman Trail (closed to bikes)
- County Line Road is picturesque as it winds through chaparral and oak woodlands with amazing views off to the east
- The short (1/3-mile-long) road to Board Spring narrows.
- Pumping water at Board Spring.
- At the end of the road is the spring and I'm ready to start pumping!
- Enjoying the view from Board Spring out across the Orestimba Valley.
- Board Spring Road veers off County Line Road into the brush in the middle of the photo on a slight downhill along the edge of the mountain.
- On the way back to my campsite at Mississippi Lake, I stop to take photos along County Line Road on the ridge top
- Back at my Mississippi Lake campsite under the ramada and old oak trees for the evening.
- Moonlight (almost a full moon) at Mississippi Lake.
- Packing up in the morning to leave Mississippi Lake.
- Leaving Mississippi Lake on the old road.
- A slow and mostly gentle climb up from Mississippi Lake to County Line Road, which rides along the ridge.
- After a mile or so, I've made it up to ridge on County Line Rd, with great views looking back down to Mississippi Lake
- County Line Road climbs slowly as the ridge rises.
- Some amazing views from County Line Road across the Orestimba Wilderness and the ridgetops beyond.
- County Line Road slowly rises along the ridge.
- Heading toward the top of Bear Mountain, County Line Road passes through oaks and chamise chapparal.
- The views from County Line Road across Orestimba Valley are quite impressive along the upper parts of County Line Road.
- An old gate on County Line Road before the final rise where County Line Road veers westward and becomes Bear Mountain Road.
- County Line Road rolls up and down along the ridge as it rises to reach the summit of Bear Mountain Road.
- One final big hill at the top of County Line Road, which is easier for me to drag my bike up, rather than try to ride it.
- At the top of Bear Mountain Road.
- Bear Mountain Road drops off toward the valley below me.
- With much downhill to come, I look back up at the distance I've already dropped down.
- At the junction of the Bear Creek Trail: Bear Mountain Road heads downhill
- Bear Mountain Road drops off steeply several times on the way down.
- There are many uphills on the way down.
- Another drop-off on Bear Mountain Road.
- More rolling ups and downs on the way down.
- Looking back up one of the short steep hills that I just came down on Bear Mountain Road.
- More ups on the way down.
- The bottom of the road in the canyon at Coyote Creek becomes visible.
- Getting closer to Coyote Creek at the bottom of Bear Mountain Road.
- One steep final hill on Bear Mountain Road to the canyon bottom at Coyote Creek. This segment is steep...
- The bottom of Bear Mountain Road crosses Coyote Creek, which is dry at this time of year.
- The road crosses Coyote Creek several times; here is another crossing.
- I approach my destination down here in the canyon, Arnold Horse Camp
- Another dry crossing of Coyote Creek as I approach Arnold Horse Camp.
- Arnold Horse Camp, my destination for the day, is hidden in the trees at the centre-right, up the road from the dry Coyote Creek
- Toads living in the spring water at Arnold Horse Camp.
- Inside the old cabin at Arnold Horse Camp is a bedroom equipped with a mattress, and probably hantavirus from the mouse dropping
- Living room in the cabin at Arnold Horse Camp
- Decomposed scarf and water bottle decorate the living room wall.
- The kitchen at the cabin at Arnold Horse Camp
- The cabin at Arnold Horse Camp sits in the shelter of a big tin roof
- Just a drip of water from the water spigot.
- Nice cool water is piped from the spring into this big Rubbermaid tub. Two creaky chairs invite visitors, sort of.
- Approaching the cabin at Arnold Horse Camp.
- Walking the bike up the short road to Arnold Horse Camp.
- The old corral
- My tent is set up, home is ready for the night!
- Starting a short hike down the Narrows Trail
- The Narrows Trail runs along the dry Coyote Creek.
- The dry creek bed of Coyote Creek can be tiring to walk on after a while with all its small rocks
- A small pool of water remains from last year's wet season.
- Animal bones along the creekbed.
- The trail follows the creek, but sometimes rises up the bordering hills a bit.
- A big grass tuft (muhlenbergia, I think) sits in the dry creek bed.
- Old oaks along the dry Coyote Creek, some 1200 feet above San Jose and Silicon Valley
- Old corral fence and tarweed
- A trail of thousands of ants stretches across the Narrows Trail
- More tarweed
- Red bugs
- Madia elegans growing along the Narrows Trail
- Back at Arnold Horse Camp, I guzzle lots more water.
- Time to prepare yet another add-boiling-water-to-bag camper's meal.
- I sat on that old kitchen chair next to the spring tub and several toads jumped out of the cracks in the worn-out upholstery!
- Morning near Arnold Horse camp. Last night at about 23h, I moved the tent and everything.
- The tent in the canyon down by dry Coyote Creek.
- The tent dismantled, everything packed up and ready to mount on the bike for the return ride to downtown San Jose today.
- I walk the bike up the creek canyon to the bottom of Blue Ridge Road, where I begin the first climb of the day.
- Rising slowly up Blue Ridge Road and looking back down toward the Coyote Creek canyon where I started a while ago.
- I finally make it up to the little plateau around 1800 feet (Arnold Horse Camp sits down below in the canyon at about 1250 feet)
- I turn on Poverty Flat Rd and begin heading out of the park the same way I came in.
- Entering the forested area, still above the canyon.
- Some scenic drop-offs alongside the road into the canyon below.
- Snake track across the road near the junction of Jackass Trail.
- I tackle the tough trek up Poverty Flat Road toward park headquarters.
- This hill on Poverty Flat Road always kills me when I climb it.
- Whew, the worst is over as I reach the upper stretches of Poverty Flat Road, which aren't quite as steep.
- After finally reaching Henry Coe Park's visitor centre at about 2600 feet, I take a long break and fill up on water.
- The downhill on Dunne Avenue begins.
- Dunne Avenue winds its way slowly downward.
- Some amazing views of the Anderson Lake area on the way down.
- Heading down the lower stretches of Dunne Avenue into the Silicon Valley town of Morgan Hill.
- Orchards along Monterey Road near Morgan Hill
- The old 15-mile stop restaurant, presumably 15 miles outside of downtown San Jose.
- Approaching the recently built Bailey Road overpass across Monterey Road in the suburban sprawl of south San Jose
- Entering San Jose's suburban sprawl along Monterey Road for real now, passing by a street called Grandwell Way.
- Monterey Road passes under the Blossom Hill Road underpass.
- Slight dust storm
- End-of-day haze at 108 degrees F (42 C)
- Sundown on the rocks
- Rock bubbles and crack
- Desert brush takes over an old stove in the Death Valley National Park backcountry
- Western tanager
- Arching pinyon pine in the highlands of Death Valley National Park.
- Future pinyon pine tree in the highlands of Death Valley National Park
- Lake Hill and Panamint Dunes at sunrise
- Sun shower
- Impact—that tiny spring out in the Death Valley backcountry did contain a wee bit of life-giving water.
- The 10-ton's bike driver is also ready to go to Henry Coe.
- The 10-ton bike is ready to leave downtown San José to head for Henry Coe State Park.
- Riding down Monterey Road in south San José.
- Still riding down Monterey Road, now about 15 miles from home, getting closer to the town of Morgan Hill.
- Henry Coe State Park's land becomes visible on the distant hilltops at the centre of the photo.
- In the suburban town of Morgan Hill, I head up Dunne Avenue, which climbs to the top of the hills straight ahead.
- Further up Dunne Avenue, well above Anderson Reservoir, looking back down toward Silicon Valley, Morgan Hill and San José.
- Taking a short rest on Dunne Avenue in one of my favourite shady spots on the way to Henry Coe State Park.
- Somewhat tired from the climb up Dunne Avenue, especially the steep upper section of the road, I arrive at Henry Coe State Park
- The 10-ton bike enjoys the rest while I sign in for eight nights of backpacking using the Park's self-registration system.
- After climbing a short, steep segment of Hobbs Road, the 10-ton bike gets stuck on the drainage ditch that must be crossed.
- Arriving at the Sierra View campsite.
- Getting ready to prepare an add-boiling-water-to-bag backpacking meal by moonlight at Sierra View campsite.
- The Sierra View campsite in the morning.
- I go for a short walk up the trail from the campsite to Sierra View Spring to filter enough water to get me to Mississippi Lake.
- A view of the small car campground at Henry Coe State Park from the Sierra View campsite.
- All packed up and ready to leave Sierra View; on toward Mississippi Lake!
- The old outhouse at Sierra View.
- Heading down the trail away from the Sierra View campsite.
- At the end of the Sierra View trail, the 10-ton bike has to cross that little drainage gulley where it got stuck last night.
- After descending that little steep piece of Hobbs Road, I ride down Manzanita Point Road across the meadow.
- I just descended 1000 feet in 1.7 miles down the steep Poverty Flat Road to the bottom of the canyon.
- After the short flat stretch of dirt road at the bottom of the canyon that is Poverty Flat, it's time to climb out of the canyon
- I'm just about to reach the high point of this part of Poverty Flat Road, near the junction of the Jackass Trail.
- I finally meet the junction of Poverty Flat Road and Mahoney Meadows Road, and begin a short, fun, and steep downhill.
- The beginning of the hill on Mahoney Meadows Road that I'm about to descend.
- Well, that short downhill was fun! At the bottom of the hill, I reach Los Cruzeros and take a break.
- I begin the dreaded climb up the Willow Ridge Trail that will take me to the top of Willow Ridge above Mississippi Lake.
- As Willow Ridge Trail rises, it passes through a brushy area with pretty red-leaved poison oak reaching out into the trail.
- A benign switchback on Willow Ridge Trail just beyond the log in the poison oak grove gives me a few more problems.
- Phew, Willow Ridge Trail pops out of the poison oak grove and crosses an open area where there's a bit of a breeze.
- A little higher up on Willow Ridge Trail is a short level stretch that lasts for about a tenth of a mile.
- The same resting location as in the previous photo, but looking back down Willow Ridge Trail.
- This manzanita is all pretty and red in the late-afternoon sun and takes my mind off the pain of climbing this hill.
- My next break spot, a little higher again up Willow Ridge Trail, eating yet another Clif bar, drinking yet more water.
- I finally make it to Willow Ridge Spring, which means that I'm close to the top and the hardest part is over. Sort of.
- The "dreaded steep part" where I must remove my heavy saddlebags from the bike and walk them up the hill separately.
- Time to filter some drinking water from Mississippi Lake.
- Making late-morning coffee at the picnic table at Mississippi Lake.
- View of my Mississippi Lake campsite.
- Heading up the road away from Mississippi Lake (this is actually still part of Willow Ridge Road)
- Starting up Bear Spring Road.
- Catching some shade on Bear Spring Road (much of the road is exposed to the sun and not shady at all).
- A dry creek crossing on Bear Spring Road.
- Bear Spring Road, getting closer to Bear Spring
- Arriving at Bear Spring.
- Close-up of Bear Spring.
- Wild California fuschias around a rocky outcrop opposite Bear Spring.
- Stachys albens (hedgenettle) in the creek, now dormant and waiting for the fall rains.
- Old fence along Bear Spring Road.
- Old concrete cistern along Bear Spring Road.
- Bear Spring Road drops back down to the level of the dry creek after a short rise.
- A small California buckeye tree along Bear Spring Road (aesculus californica).
- Back near my campsite, Bear Mountain Peak Trail veers upward from Willow Ridge Road
- Time for a pipe and coffee back at the campsite to end the slow and relaxing day.
- And more coffee.
- Mississippi Lake campsite area just before sunset with Willow Ridge Road passing through.
- Close up of the plant life in Mississippi Lake.
- I walk down to Mississippi Lake to see what the birds are doing.
- Ready, the 10-ton bike waits for its chauffeur to drive it to Jackrabbit Lake, on the other side of the Orestimba Wilderness.