INCH Hike: Vista Point

516. Vista Point (07/22/06)

Hikers (26): Abhishek, Brian R, Carissa, Edita, Eugene, Gavin, George, Harvey, Helen, Janice, Jeff, Ken, Keysha, Matthew, Mikael, Nancy, Nik, Nina, Padraig, Paul, Peter, Rudi, Sabine, Scott, Steve, Sue
Distance: 8 miles
Rating: 3 difficulty, 8 beauty
Park info: Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve in Cupertino

Write-up by Peter

On a day with temps expected to easily top 100 degrees, 26 crazy people showed up to hike. The Ranger even stopped by to question our sanity (actually he just wanted to see if we had permits and to check out Nancy's fruity umbrella).

1, 2, 3 ... INCH!

Fatherhood must be making me soft. I had a golden opportunity to send the group up the middle trail which offers no protection from the brutal sun, but instead I took them along the beautiful Wildcat Loop (there was even water running in the creek) and up the well-shaded PG&E Trail. Some were grumbling about the heat, but I threatened to downgrade the hike to a Level 1, and that seemed to do the trick.

But when we got to Vista Point, my faith in INCH was renewed as almost a third of the group, led by Sabine, decided to press on and go up the unmaintained trail to Black Mountain. Have fun, kids! I'm heading home to sit naked in front of the AC and down a few cold ones.

p.s. Both George and Sabine wrote me to say they all made it back OK. Temps were in the 106-108 range when they got back to the car. Those guys earned that leaf today!

Milestones:
Eugene's 310^th leaf
Janice's 120^th leaf
Paul's 60^th leaf