January 22, 2019 - East Entrance to Henry Coe State Park

Title: January 22, 2019 - East Entrance to Henry Coe State Park
Hike Info : Description :  Background

Trail head: Dowdy Gate

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Destination: None-walk for an hour or so

Distance:  2.3 miles

Start Time: 11:25

End Time:   12:45

Travel Time:  1:20 (1.72 mph)

Moving Time:  1:11 (1.94 mph)

Elevation Rise:  926'

Descent: 527‘

Maximum Elevation: 947'

GPS Tracks

Description:

We are on our way to Mountain View. But first we stopped off at San Luis State Park to pick up a Senior State Pass-I sort of enjoy this getting old thing. Being able to get into parks-national and state for free is great. Then we go over Pacheco Pass and go off of highway 156 at the Bell Station turn off. This leads us up to a picnic area/outhouse and parking area. The gate is closed after this so we park here.

We have a minor debate about the closed gate, but decide there is no sign so we climb over the gate and are on our way. Our route is a road which is used by various ranches to access their land. We are about seven miles away from the Dowdy Ranch Visitor Center-no way are we making it that far. The first eighth of a mile has a slight slope. Picturesque trees line the road and we do pretty good.

Oak and Sky

 
But then we see a sign saying Speed Limit: 25mph. But then the other sign says Hill. Wondering how much of a hill can this be? We quickly find out. It is about at 20-25% grade and goes on for about ¾ of a mile. We rise up over 500’ during this time and can tell it. A lot of time I have my head down just concentrating on the climb.

Pond on the way down

We are past by a young woman in a pickup truck-she waves and goes on. I guess we are OK, at least we did not look menacing.

After about 40 minutes of walking we need to turn around as we have an appointment this afternoon in Mountain View. Coming back downhill, I see things which I missed going up. 


There was as small pond framed by some oaks. Then there was a cow high up on a ridge. And a marshmello growing in a muddy pot along the side of the road.

We go down a bit slowly. There is scree on the road and with its steepness, we are being a bit cautious. But then we get to the flatter spot close to the gate and our hike ends with us reclimbing the gate.

While we walked slowly than when we are in shape, it is good just to be out walking like this. With the climb, we can start get into shape.

Background

Dowdy. There is several ranches around Henry Coe State Park. One of them is the Dowdy Ranch. Around the visitor center, which is inside the park and is only open during weekends during the summer, the area is similar to how it was when the Spanish explored it. Also the area around it is considered an ecological sensitive area. There are also roads in the area used by private ranches to access their land.