⛰️Trail Recommends | The Complete 10-Hour Hike to the Bay Area's Highest Peak

🏞️ Exploring the Bay Area's Highest Peak: A 10-Hour Hike ⛰️ 🌟Route Introduction: - Take on the Six Peaks Loop, a challenging 15-mile trail with a 4600ft climb. - This trail is recognized as a preparation route for Half Dome. - A group of us started the hike at 7:30am on December 24th and finished at 5:30pm, totaling 10 hours. - While I felt okay after the hike, my teammates, who don't exercise as much as I do, found it tough but rewarding. - Next year, we're planning to challenge Half Dome and Mt Whitney, and we agree that the Six Peaks Loop was excellent training. 🌟 Parking: - I recommend parking at Mountaire Parkway due to the parking lot at Mitchell Canyon opening at 8am and closing at sunset. - Slow climbers might risk being locked in if they park at Mitchell Canyon. - On our day, the sun set at 4:50pm, and we ended up running back to the car with flashlights on our cell phones. - Parking at Mountaire Parkway allowed us to make it back in time. 🌟 Climbing Process: - I highly recommend going counterclockwise on the loop (more on that later). - The first three peaks were not too difficult and we enjoyed them with laughter and jokes. - Diablo summit was more tiring, but the picturesque mountains along the way and the promise of ice cream at the summit kiosk kept us motivated. - Resting for half an hour, we continued to the last two peaks, which presented a challenge. - The route between North Peak and Mt Olympia is narrow, steep, and slippery, with overgrown vegetation. Be prepared to bend down to avoid tree branches frequently. - Hiking poles were essential in preventing slips, and we don't recommend doing the loop clockwise as the conditions for the second half are not as pleasant overall. 🌟 Lazy Route: - If you prefer a less challenging option, you can drive up to the summit. - The view from the top is average, but you can walk down towards the Devils Pulpit neighborhood for some beautiful photo opportunities. #BayAreaHiking #HikingAdventures #OutdoorExploration #SixPeaksLoop #MountDiablo #ScenicTrails #HalfDomePreparation #MtWhitneyChallenge #HikingTips #NatureLovers