⛰️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.
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