Hood Mountain Summit

OilMan and I have been talking about hiking up Hood Mountain since we moved here, we never quite got around to doing it. It took the entire family and two dogs and perfect weather to get us to do it today. I suggested such amenities as lunch, water and sunscreen but was overruled on all but the water as 'The Boys', OilMan, Matt and Tim, invited Dana and me to join them along with dogs Olive and Blake. Not certain whether he could make it, and not wanting him to decide he was done right at the summit, we reluctantly left Ozzie the senior citizen at home at least until we could figure out if WE could make it.

The walk to the summit climbs a little over two thousand feet through forests of Big Leaf maple, oak and conifers, past a couple of small ponds, up some switchbacks and along a ridge lined with manzanita and madrone their peeling red bark lighted by the morning sun. There is a steep pitch up to the summit which had us all panting along with the dogs as we staggered into the clearing marked by a plaque.

It was a cruel irony that there is NO view through the chaparral and brush surrounding the summit clearing, requiring us to pick our way along a rocky path for another half mile to Gunsight Rock which has a wonderful view all the way to the East Bay. Unimpressed by the view, the dogs weren't so clear on why we were perched on rocks at the edge of a precipice. OilMan is pointing out some of the many wineries that line Highway 12 running through the Valley below.

Regretting the fact that they rejected my suggestion of packing a sandwich, the boys led the charge back down the mountain to the cars and the deli, while we brought up the rear. It was a delightful hike, and forewarned by me that I was slow, everybody kindly altered their pace for me. It was a lovely day and a hike I genuinely look forward to doing again. I won't insist on taking so much water next time since I all the bottles save one we're untouched as I cleared the decks for our belated lunch.

STATISTICS:
20,500 steps
7.4 miles
77 stairs