INCH Hike: South Chalone Peak

610. South Chalone Peak (03/22/08)

Hikers (16): David, Diane, Eric F, Eugene M, George, Harvey, Helen, Iyad, Janice, Nani, Peter, Sandy, Sparky, Stacy, Steve, Travis
Distance: 20 miles
Rating: 5 difficulty, 9 beauty
Park info: Pinnacles National Monument south of Hollister

Write-up by Peter -- Pictures by George

It was a beautiful hike on a beautiful day ... after considerable confusion about the carpool meeting time, which Linda was supposed to be at the carpool spot, which exit to take for the Pinnacles (ladies, you know who you are), and the starting point of the hike, we hit all the high points at the Pinnacles, including the High Peaks, North Chalone Peak, and South Chalone Peak. Here's the route we took.

Details will follow at some point in the future, but these were the results:

Dark Gray Leaf of Incompetence to the hike leader for causing confusion about the starting point of the hike.
Brownie Leaf of Extra Credit to Eric, Eugene, and Harvey for going off-trail to the "real" South Chalone Peak.
Pink Leaf of Weakness to Helen, Janice, Stacy, and worst of all, Dave, for getting a ride back from Bear Gulch to their cars, parked a couple of easy miles down the hill. I was tempted to give George and Iyad a similar leaf, but they only hitched a ride on the back of Jeff's truck for a couple hundred feet at the start of the hike, and they generously drove everyone from the carpool spot, so I had to cut them some slack. I was also tempted to pink leaf Sparky for aiding and abetting the other Pink Leafers, but she bought me off with a couple of beers (future delinquents - take note).
Honorable Mention (but no leaves) to Jeff, Gavin, and Sabine for doing a shorter loop with Sandy, who gets a leaf as promised in advance.

... and Chief lost her sunglasses in the caves!

Glad I didn't get lynched by the angry mob. As I often say, you get what you pay for -- remember that when you sign up for the next hike!

Milestones:
Peter's 380^th leaf
Travis's 1^st leaf