Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2008: Bikepacking in Henry Coe State Park / Day 1: Hunting Hollow to Pacheco Camp, Henry Coe State Park 26
For the first time, I start a Henry Coe bicycle-camping trip by getting a ride to the Park entrance. The boy leaves me at the Hunting Hollow entrance and I "ride" to Pacheco Camp, meaning that I drag the bike up some long hills.
Remember, almost nothing at Henry Coe State Park is flat! About 2000 feet of elevation gain and 14.4 bicycle miles today.
- The boy drops me off at the Hunting Hollow entrance to Henry Coe and we bid each other goodbye for a week
A couple of cars sit in the otherwise empty parking lot with a few people who seem to have finished their hiking or biking for the day. At first, we wonder why one group has chosen to hang out in the hot sun, but then we realize that the shady areas are controlled by a lot of annoying small flies. It is a rather warm day, in the mid 80s, but still comfortable. On the way here, we stopped at a Starbuck's and In-and-Out Burger in Gilroy that turned out to be a suburban traffic-jam nightmare that we quickly regretted. - I pedal slowly down the road from Hunting Hollow and make my first stop at Fern Spring, after a quarter mile
This is the closest spring to the Hunting Hollow parking lot, which has no water available. However, I've brought enough water to last me most of the day, so I don't need to filter any of the brackish water here. I'll see a mountain lion drinking from this spring a little over a decade later from today. - The mostly flat road through Hunting Hollow
I'm still warming up and getting used to the heavily loaded bike, so it's nice that the first three miles in Hunting Hollow are mostly flat and relaxing. The road crosses a dry (in summer) creek several times. The steep Lyman Willson Trail, which I've hiked before, but won't be using today, is visible here climbing up the hill on the left. - At the end of the three flat miles in Hunting Hollow, Henry Coe reality sets in as I begin the climb up Wagon Road
The climb starts out quite steep and whips me into shape. On steep stretches like this, I drag the bike up a few feet at a time, keeping the brakes on to prevent the bike from slipping back, and pay attention to my footing so that I don't slip while holding the bike in place. - The views back down to Hunting Hollow below are already inspiring, and I've not risen much yet
The hard work of hiking or mountain-biking a steep landscape like Henry Coe usually provides instant gratification in the form of excellent views. Not everyone likes hard work, but everyone likes instant gratification. - The climb up Wagon Road becomes more moderate after the initial steep section out of Hunting Hollow
The really steep hill down below took a lot out of me, but I'm warming up and doing better now. I remind myself to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. - I see that Wagon Road has another steep hill ahead for me
So I'm enjoying this short, flat part of the road, and the little bit of shade that's available here. - I've reached the first summit of Wagon Road and will now descend into the gulch and begin the climb to the second summit
I've climbed about 800 feet during the last 1.5 miles, so the short downhill ahead of me will be a welcome respite! The next steep uphill on Wagon Road is visible ahead. The slight breeze up here pressing against my sweaty skin feels good. - Climbing up toward the second summit of Wagon Road
It's a lot of work getting up this hill, but still quite not as tough as I thought it might be (I remember hiking up it a year ago). - I stop here to pump up my rear tire; Willson Camp, my next stop, is visible at the far left
I guess I have a flat tire, but my "slime"-filled tube has been repairing the flat as I roll along and slowly lose air. Willson Camp, my next stop, is visible at the far left. - I filter some cold water from the spring behind Willson Camp
The water that I'm carrying has gotten quite warm, so the cold water here is a welcome refreshment. The shade here is nice break from the hot sun, and the layer of bay leaves on the ground exudes a comforting aroma. - The old cabin at Willson Camp, Henry Coe State Park
The modern metal windows contrast sharply with the traditional board-and-batten wood siding. - The side door to the Willson Camp cabin is open, so I step inside
The broken door appears to be the product of an act of vandalism. - The Willson Camp cabin boasts an ample living room
The light bulb near the front door shows that the cabin did (or does) have access to electricity. - I wouldn't be surprised if this mattress in the Willson Camp bedroom is full of little mice!
Old and new again: the abandoned mattress sits in front of a relatively new metal window. - Beyond Willson Camp, some of the rise on Wagon Road is very gentle and easy to ride as it rolls along the ridges
This five-mile upper portion of Wagon Road between two places that I know, Willson Camp and Coit Road, is new to me and has wonderful views to the east. It only rises a few hundred feet. - I pass a modern outhouse at the junction of Wagon Road and Wasno Road, near Wasno Pond
It's only 4.5 miles from this point to Pacheco Camp, today's destination, and much of that will be downhill. This is good news; I had been wondering if maybe I wouldn't reach Pacheco Camp before dark. - More breathtaking views to the east from the Wagon Road ridge
The colours are especially nice at this time of day. - Just beyond the junction of Coit Road, I pass a lesser trail on my right, Live Oak Spring Trail, and decide to take it
This is my first time on Live Oak Spring Trail. It will rejoin Coit Road 1.6 miles further down on the way to Pacheco Camp and should provide an interesting detour. - Live Oak Spring Trail, Henry Coe State Park
Not everything is burned, but there is a lot of visible damage on Live Oak Spring Trail from last year's big fire. - After 0.8 miles, Live Oak Spring Trail splits into an upper and a lower trail trail for the next half mile
I choose the upper trail because I want to see the spring there. This part of the upper trail is quite grown in with yellow tarweed flowers, whose scent I really enjoy while riding through. (Will someone try making tarweed-scented soap someday?) - This is Live Oak Spring, Henry Coe State Park
The water is green and unappealing, but it's nothing that my water filter couldn't take care of if I were short on water right now. I consider camping somewhere near here, but decide to head on down to Pacheco Camp as planned, just a few miles further. - A downed tree on Live Oak Spring Trail, Henry Coe State Park
It appears that park patrol vehicles don't come down this trail very often. - More fire damage on the upper Live Oak Spring Trail
Many burned plant carcasses along the grown-in trail here are exhibiting fresh green growth from the root base. - Soon enough, I'm back on Coit Road for the final 0.7 miles down to Pacheco Camp
Pacheco Camp is about 350 feet lower down in the canyon. It will only take a few minutes to ride down this hill. - And here we are at Pacheco Camp for the night! (elevation 1689 feet)
I stayed here for the first time during last year's Henry Coe trip and really liked the place, so I'm back. The cooler air down here in the canyon is refreshing after the warm day. Time for my first add-boiling-water-to-bag backpacker's meal of the trip! It's Mountain House Teriyaki Beef with Rice and is tasty. I'm enjoying the tranquility and the birds flitting about in the huge oak trees here. A couple of deer saunter over to the spring tub for a few licks of water before darkness takes over. I haven't seen anybody since leaving the Hunting Hollow parking lot this afternoon.