Water on Mt Hamilton

[bobonker]

I see many Mt Hamilton threads and apologize if this has been answered many times already.

Where does one get water on the climb up Mt Hamilton? If I can get a day off this week, I want to give it a shot. I usually consume 2 bottles pretty easily on the Mt Diablo climb and this one is longer. Camelbak?

Thanks,
Bob

[bigbenaugust]

Grant Ranch County Park... and at the top.

That's it as far as I know.

[ericm979]

I've only used the water at the top. Where's the water at Grant?

There's a spring on the back side around mile marker 3 but I haven't been desperate enough to drink from it.

At the top there's water from the spigot in front of the cafeteria, which is the small building you'll see right in front of you, at the interesection where you'd turn right to go up to the main observatory.
If you go up to the observatory and go around to the other side and go inside there is a water fountain that has cold water (nice in the summer) and there's bathrooms and a couple vending machines.
The building is heated in winter so it's a good place to hide when it's 35 degrees and foggy.... but you'll still have to go out and keep riding.

There are also portapotties across from Grant Ranch (in the valley after the first climb) and in the parking lot at the top of the second climb.

It takes me about 50% more time to go up Hamilton than Diablo.

[bigbenaugust]

I've only used the water at the top. Where's the water at Grant?

I thought there was a spigot right off the road on the right as you're heading up, between the road and the ranger kiosk. I can't tell from Google Maps, so I may be crazy.

There should still be actual restrooms with a drinking fountain off to the right a few hundred yards, too. Turn right at the first driveway after Quimby.

I never stop there because I'm a bit of a camel and save all of the water for the big climb after Grant. But this is what I remember from hiking trips with my wife.

[ericm979]

I'll have to look for it. I haven't needed it so far but it's always good to know where there's water.

BTW, if you're planning on going up the mountain note that it takes a while to descend. I can get down Mt Diablo to south gate in about 20 minutes but it's closer to an hour for Hamilton (and I'm a faster descender than most people). The corners are tighter so you're going slower, and those descents on the way up are now short climbs on the way back, which you get to do with stiff cold legs.

[bigbenaugust]

The three times I've been up (twice in the fall, once in the spring), you can basically budget a couple of hours to get up and an hour to get down (I am a bigger chicken than you).

The last time I went up, I think we spent an hour at Grant trying to regroup and changing a tire on the sag wagon... my penalty for being a better climber than the group, I guess. I will never go with a group again.

[CaptainCool]

I thought there was a spigot right off the road on the right as you're heading up, between the road and the ranger kiosk. I can't tell from Google Maps, so I may be crazy.

There's one on the left just after you pass the main park entrance on your way up. There's a trailhead with a small parking lot, a portapotty, and a bare fountain, all close to the road.

[ericm979]

Cool, thanks!

Also, the mt ham observatory has a weather station and its on line:

http://mtham.ucolick.org/techdocs/MH_weather/pub/

also the hamcam:

http://mthamilton.ucolick.org/hamcam/

The weather page is handy for figuring out what to wear.

[bobonker]

Thanks for all of the info. I rode it today. There is indeed water at Grant Ranch. In the exit lane right near the road is a spigot. So glad I stopped or I would have run out before the top. It was my first time up so I tried to take it a bit easy on the lower half since I knew the climb was pretty long. That last 3 miles seemed to go on forever. lol

Good ride. Diablo is a bit more fun overall (fast descent), but Hamilton is fun, too. Click pics for larger versions.

Bob

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[bigbenaugust]

That last 3 miles seemed to go on forever. lol

So many turns, so many false summits... ugggh...