Day 6 - Pinnacles National Park
What a wonderful day! Started out in Bay Area traffic. Which I have to admit is just so wonderful. I wanted to cook some eggs on my engine while I sat there. Honestly though it wasnt that bad. But it did add some time to my trip down to Pinnacles. But hey it was worth it. Of course there was that other thing. On their app and their website it seemed like their Visitor Center would be closed. That would kind of suck.
When I finally pulled in there was no one at the gate. I was beginning to get worried. But the visitor center was present and open. Stuff bought and clarified that the road I needed to get to Visalia. Was yeah . . back over the mountains and was SUPPOSED to be open now. Oh boy. Well I figured once I get to the top of this hike today I will have service and will check.
Today I had routed out a decent hike. I would take a small jaunt from Peaks View Parking to Sycamore Trail. Take that trail over to Bear Gulch area and up Condor Gulch Trail then over Blue Oak Trail to Bench Trail. Bench would take me back to my car.
Ready to roll. I have never looked up Pinnacles before this trip and while there was a cool cave hike that I wanted to do it was closed so I made the giant loop through the eastern side of the park as my adventure for the day.
Sycamore Trail ran between two at the time I thought high hills. It went in and out of the sun. before beginning a gradual climb up. It evened out eventually as it got closer to the Bear Gulch Day Use Area.
I did spot an Acorn Woodpecker and a Steller's Jay.
A quick jaunt across a parking lot and we were heading up Condor Gulch Trail. This was where I learned I had not yet begun to go up. This trail went up 1,100 feet over 1.7 miles.
The views were quite nice though as I eventually made it the vista point.
After the vista point it was time to finish Condor Gulch and head further up to Blue Oak Trail. I had passed and talked to a father and his daughter (at least I hope so) and they had seen some snakes and condors up on the ridge. I was excited! Up I went.
All the way to the top and wow what a view. For a brief few minutes I contemplated trying to hike higher. Bad life choice avoided and I followed Blue Oak Trail for its 2 mile nice descent to the Bench Trail.
There were some great views and some strange sights. I swear the mountain was giving everyone the finger.
I did not see any snakes, at all, all day, spoiler!
I did see some condors. Sadly unable to capture any shots. But I did catch a shot of a Western Whiptail and a Regal Horned Lizard.
After all was said and done the hike came up just under 7 miles. I then headed back out down 25 and over the mountains via 198. Yes it was open. At one point at the top of the Pinnacles I got service and put in an address so my maps had something even when there was no service.
Also note that I drove through a portion of the California Ag corridor. So much produce being grown.
Well tomorrow will be historic as I step on Randy Morgenstons home turf and will be getting parks #29 and #30.
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