INCH Hike: Rooster Comb and Robison Peak

1323. Rooster Comb and Robison Peak (04/27/24)

Hikers (0):
Distance: 17 miles
Rating: 4 difficulty, 9 beauty
Park info: Henry Coe State Park near Gilroy

Write-up by Steve -- Pictures by Jarda, Kendra and Steve

Jackrabbit Lake before the hike

This year's hike didn't look too bad, so decided to start it later. But that didn't stop most people from getting up soon after sunrise and chatting excitedly. It's true that when you backpack, there isn't too much to do after the sun sets, so you have the opportunity to get plenty of rest.

People cross Orestimba Creek at different locations depending upon their preparedness

Had to hold some people back until the clock struck 9am. We picked up Jarda, Kendra, and Bill on the way out. They had to camp slightly outside Jackrabbit Lake since they didn't get permits.

Rushing along the flat part of the route. . .

There was quite a bit of water in Orestimba Creek--and quite a few crossings of that creek--so we soon spread out as a function of preparedness and/or tolerance for wet feet. We regrouped at the unsigned turnoff up to Rooster Comb.

Then up the steeper part to Rooster Comb

Steeper still

Rooster Comb summit area

I'd been up to Rooster Comb in the past, but never to the summit. It looked sketchy at the time, but after reading other write-ups, I realized I'd not tried hard enough. We had no problem finding a route around the big rock before the summit. The summit itself is easy and broad. As soon as the last person arrived, we were heading back down.

Rooster Comb summit area

Returning from Rooster Comb, which turned out to be not so treacherous except for the poison oak

Next was the ridgeline route toward Mt Robison. It wasn't hard to follow, but we stopped many times to regroup.

There used to be a route from Rooster Comb to the creek below the highest point on Mt. Robison. While we couldn't always see it, the ridgeline route it followed was easy enough. We were pretty ashy from the fire that burned out the route many years ago but not too beaten up. Much better than the official route to the summit we'd taken two years prior.

During one of the breaks, received an update that Mihail had decided to turn back. He'd done Hamner Hill the day before as a bonus peak and, since he'd done Mt. Robison before (and Grass BM isn't on any "list") he decided recouperation was more important than peak bagging.

Continuing onward to Mt Robison

Chilling on Mt Robison

Occasional was the first and possibly last this year

We headed back down from the peak and onward to the old route that leads to Grass BM, another peak on the same isolated mountain ridge. This was much easier--brush-wise--than when I'd done it in 2016. Compared to that time, the first 0.8 miles barely overlapped and the final 1.7 miles was identical. So it is indistinct at the start but all routes work eventually. We had some parties take different routes on this visit as well, but we were together for the last 1.5 miles.

A fine example of Blainville's Horned Lizard

Soft grass valley where we began the harder (to find) cross country route to Grass BM

Grass BM in the distance

Chilling at Grass BM, the last peak of the day

Knowing it was all downhill from here, many were in a rush to get going, even though we were well ahead of schedule. The bushwhacking had be minimal and continued to be that way all the way down. But there was a second motivation: Hong had been low on water for a while and others were running out as well. Thus there was more enthusiasm about reaching the creek far below than reaching the tents.

Unexpected reference marker pointing to official Grass BM. . .

Heading back along Red Creek, just after the group stopped to filter water.

I was far behind everyone after finding the prior reference marker (accidentally). Passed Jeff and Bill near the bottom of the trail that heads to Grass BM from Red Creek, not far from the above picture. Tried to make good time after that, expecting to catch the lead group. Turned out they were all out of sight, getting water, and I passed them. So after getting to camp, cleaning up in the lake, and changing clothes, only Mihail was back. I concocted a theory on where they went. . .but turned out it just took a while to filter water for everyone.

Eventually everyone made it back and we had a post-hike party

Later that night