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Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007: Henry Coe State Park Mountain-Bike Camping / Day 1: Downtown San José to Henry Coe State Park /

After climbing a short, steep segment of Hobbs Road, the 10-ton bike gets stuck on the drainage ditch that must be crossed.

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05209-sierra-view-trail-stuck-800px.jpg The 10-ton bike enjoys the rest while I sign in for eight nights of backpacking using the Park's self-registration system.ThumbnailsArriving at the Sierra View campsite.The 10-ton bike enjoys the rest while I sign in for eight nights of backpacking using the Park's self-registration system.ThumbnailsArriving at the Sierra View campsite.The 10-ton bike enjoys the rest while I sign in for eight nights of backpacking using the Park's self-registration system.ThumbnailsArriving at the Sierra View campsite.The 10-ton bike enjoys the rest while I sign in for eight nights of backpacking using the Park's self-registration system.ThumbnailsArriving at the Sierra View campsite.The 10-ton bike enjoys the rest while I sign in for eight nights of backpacking using the Park's self-registration system.ThumbnailsArriving at the Sierra View campsite.

Most of the 1.5 mile trip from Park Headquarters to the Sierra View campsite is fairly easy, except for the short, steep grade on Hobbs Road just before the Sierra View Trail.

This little piece of Hobbs Road is steep enough that one drags the bike up the hill a few feet at a time, holding the brake levers in the "on" position in between segments, so that the bike doesn't slip back down the hill, while catching one's breath.

I'm both frustrated and laughing when I can't get the bike across the little drainage along Hobbs Road to get on the Sierra View Trail. Can the oak trees hear me cursing?

The bike is really heavy, and I haven't built up much strength on day one of the trip, so it falls over when I try to lift it over the drainage. A few days from now, I'll probably feel like Superman, but that's not today!

Awesome views from here.