INCH Hike: Coit & Kelly Lakes

1222. Coit & Kelly Lakes (06/28/20)

Hikers (28): Adam, Alan, Biz, Brad, Christina, David, Ellen, Fred F, Gela, George, Giulia, Hong, Jarda, Jeff, Jolly, Karl, Manfred, Mihail, Mikael, Milon, Peter, Praveen, Qi, Rainer, Rudi, Sandy F, Sophie, Yipeng
Distance: 18 miles
Rating: 4 difficulty, 8 beauty
Park info: Henry Coe State Park near Morgan Hill

Write-up by Peter -- Pictures by Biz, George, Jarda, Karl, Mikael, Praveen, Qi, and Sophie

I planned a Sunday hike because the weather forecast said it would be about 15 degrees cooler than Saturday's high, which was predicted to be around 100 degrees. It was cooler all right -- in fact it was downright chilly at the start with high winds blowing along the top of the ridge (freezing at Coe in late June -- what are the odds?). That suited me just fine, but everyone else seemed pretty unhappy, which made me feel even better!

We met at the Windmill to avoid having a large gathering in the parking lot

The Windmill

And they're off!

Starting to get a little separation as we head up the ridge

The Middle Ridge Trail looks endless

Getting closer to the peak as the wind and clouds intensify

Jolly is looking jolly at Willson Peak!

Meanwhile, Adam and Biz got a late start and were motoring to catch up

Heading along Grizzly Gulch (keep the separation, people!)

Of course there's always another climb at Coe, this time up Tule Pond Trail

Who are all these people? Aren't you supposed to stay home?

Karl left an hour early but Mihail caught up to him at Mile 8!

Mihail approaching Kelly Lake

Meanwhile most of the group was still back at the Coit Lake lunch spot under the famous slats (Rainer stood on the side and was rewarded by getting stung by a wasp)

Who wants to jump in?

INCHers giving the thumbs up (sort of) at Coit ...

... and Kelly Lakes

Was victory in sight or just airing out the armpits?

The route was a little different than last time, with the last leg taking us along Grizzly Gulch towards the Coyote Creek entrance, then up the Spike Jones trail and back down Steer Ridge. I had given people the option to bail out at Coyote Creek and walk along the road back to Hunting Hollow, but I am proud to report that nobody took me up on it, and no Pink Leaves of Weakness were handed out (a few people cut the corner from the top of Spike Jones over to Steer Ridge, but I let it slide).

Cool unique sign on the Spike Jones Trail -- it's easy to make a mistake and do a Blair Witch loop involving the Spike Jones and Timm Trails

Shortcutting over to the Steer Ridge Trail

The only thing I hate more than going up Steer Ridge is coming down Steer Ridge

The only good thing is that when you reach the end of the Steer Ridge Trail, you're at the car

Subdued post-hike party under social distancing rules

All in all, we got 18 miles distance and 1 mile elevation gain on the day. Happy Sunday!

Mikael's notes: I did it even though I got lost for 2 miles after Mt Willson. As you can see I went down to Willson Camp as I was lost in the chilly and dense clouds. Then I caught up with Sandy on Wagon Road before Coit Lake. Finished at 6:26p. I suppose everybody finished 2h earlier!

Milestones:
Fred F's 1^st leaf
Jolly's 10^th leaf
Karl's 330^th leaf