Day 2: Sierra View camp to Mississippi Lake
The 12-mile trip from Sierra View to Mississippi Lake is tough due to the Willow Ridge Trail, which is steep enough to require that the 10-ton bike be dragged up most of the hill, a few feet at a time.
The day's travel is a big roller coaster going from 2800 feet elevation at Sierra View to down to 1200 feet at Poverty Flat, up to 1750 feet on the side of Jackass Peak, down to 1200 feet to Los Cruzeros, then up to 2600 feet to Willow Ridge, followed by numerous steep ups and down on the final "descent" along Willow Ridge Road to Mississippi Lake at 2200 feet.
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Date: August 27, 2007, 10h05
Size: 24 items
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The Sierra View campsite in the morning.
A great place to wake up. However, there's not much shade here, which means that sleeping in late isn't possible due to the hot sun heating up the tent.
Date: August 27, 2007, 10h05
Views: 40
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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.
There are quite a few leaves decomposing in the spring tub, some of which I remove, but the water is reasonably clean and tastes good when filtered.
Date: August 27, 2007, 10h16
Views: 48
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A view of the small car campground at Henry Coe State Park from the Sierra View campsite.
The views from the Sierra View campsite are spectacular. The town of Morgan Hill can be seen down below.
Date: August 27, 2007, 11h41
Views: 41
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All packed up and ready to leave Sierra View; on toward Mississippi Lake!
Mississippi Lake is about 12 miles away, more or less on the other side of the second ridge in the photo. It's going to be a long day. I'll get out toward the third ridge later in the trip.
Date: August 27, 2007, 12h56
Views: 44
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The old outhouse at Sierra View.
Sierra View has its own antique outhouse just up the hill from the campsite. And it's in the shade, which is nice in hot weather like this.
Date: August 27, 2007, 13h00
Views: 33
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Heading down the trail away from the Sierra View campsite.
The trail to the Sierra View campsite passes through a shady area, which is where the spring is located.
Date: August 27, 2007, 13h01
Views: 38
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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.
It's easier getting across this time since I'm heading downhill and don't have to lift the heavy bike up a couple of feet.
Date: August 27, 2007, 13h05
Views: 52
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After descending that little steep piece of Hobbs Road, I ride down Manzanita Point Road across the meadow.
It's a mostly gentle downhill across this meadow, which is painted in a typical Henry Coe late-summer palette of yellow, blue and green. I do most of my visits to Coe Park in late summer, when the landscape it at its driest.
Date: August 27, 2007, 13h15
Views: 37
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I just descended 1000 feet in 1.7 miles down the steep Poverty Flat Road to the bottom of the canyon.
At the bottom of Poverty Flat Road is this dry-at-this-time-of-year crossing of Coyote Creek.
Date: August 27, 2007, 13h39
Views: 38
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