rallison

I'm sure most of you are aware of Hicks/Umunhum. For those who aren't familiar, this climb is 4.1 miles long, gains 2,199 ft, averages 10.2% and maxes out at 17%. Ridiculous, quite possibly.

Anyway, I got the chance to climb this last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the suffering.

Full ride report: San Francisco Bay Area Cycling – Santa Cruz Mountains – Hicks Road North/Mt. Umunhum Climbing

And, some pictures along the way:











Happy to be descending..

silentben

Nice pics! Some of us were out there just last weekend although we didn't make it all the way up Umunhum due to running low on water.

ps I think that's great your mom climbs these crazy hills with you!

Ygduf

Very cool report. Is it really the 4th highest "peak"? I thought there were sections of 35/skyline that bump up over 3k? And Ham/Diablo/Tam have to be the other counted 3 peaks, right?

crimsonblood

Says "#4 Highest Elevation Attained Climb (2,846 ft)" which I think is to mean total change in elevation without descending. North gate road climbs Mt Diablo for 3400ft or so without descent, so it should be one of those 3. Not sure about the others.

rallison

The highest elevation attained peaks list only counts the peaks of climbs listed in the book. So, while there is a section of 35/Skyline that hits about 3200 feet, it is not a listed climb in the book (probably because the grade is too shallow climbing to that point), so it is not included in the list.

Additionally, Tam is listed in the Northern California section of the book, instead of the Bay Area section, so it doesn't get to be in the Bay Area lists I disagree with that part - Tam should have been put under the Bay Area section.

Here is the Bay Area list for highest elevation attained climbs:

1. Mt Hamilton (4172 ft)
2. Mt Diablo (3849 ft)
3. Soda Springs Rd (3172 ft)
4. Hicks Road/Mt Umunhum (2846 ft)
5. Fremount Peak (2821 ft)

Hopefully that clears that up.

She is usually game for trying most any climb. And she lives in Santa Barbara - so that means lots of climbing when I visit

Rumpled

Definetly on my eventually to do list.
I grew up in Santa Clara and we used to go shooting and hunting in the area, got chased off a couple times by the Air Force security.
Can't wait until it is all open to the public.

Ygduf

hm. fremont peak, eh. why haven't I been down there..

spingineer

It's actually down by Hollister, but yeah, we should plan a trip down there.

spingineer

rallison,
Next time you are in the Bay Area, let us know. Isn't it ironic ... the weekend you are in my neighborhood, I am in your neighborhood.

msincredible

That is awesome!

rallison

Will do. The only problem is that I am usually visiting family when I am up in the area, so I rarely know when I will actually be riding (and often those times end up being in the afternoon...aka the hottest part of the day). With that caveat, I'll definitely let you all know when I am up next. Always fun to tackle some steep hills with others to share in the suffering

It is! She's the one who got me into cycling in the first place. And, now that you have a little boy, you'll have to get him on the bike in a few years.

bam

yeah. that road goes up to 3400' or so. would be pretty nice. hope that when/if it opens up the cleanup will include some road repair, and maybe a water fountain..

rallison

That is what I am hoping for as well - sounds like they expect to finish cleaning up the site in 2013. Even now though, it sounds like there is a lot of controversy over how far along Mt. Umunhum Road you can legally travel. Is it to that first No Trespassing sign (with the painted line on the road)? Or is it to the gate a bit further up with the security cameras? I only went as far as the former, but was curious. Anyone know more?

bam

i live reasonably close to hicks (30 min ride) so i go up there pretty often. probably just missed the two of you on 7/25. i can confirm from speaking to the locals and rangers that you can't go past the painted road / no trespassing signs. and don't make plans to go up there on 7/4.

rallison

Why not?

rallison

Oh yeah, meant to comment on this earlier...hope you enjoyed your riding down here! Sounds like you got to climb Chantry..of all the riding I have done out here, I still have not tried Chantry. How was it?

spingineer

Chantry was nice, but having to hammer out with the Montrose group before the climb made it that much more difficult. Traffic wasn't too bad, but there were a lot of cars parked along the side of the road. It's a nice little 1/2 hour climb (for me, it's 1/2 hour anyways), and the extra climb up to the chopper pad is worth the view. I used to live in Pasadena, so that was a nice little climb whenever I venture out to Arcadia.

Rumpled

I'd imagine the no going up to the top of Mt U on 7/4 would be increased security. It would be a good place to watch fireworks all over the South Bay.

bam

i don't know the specific reason, although i've heard and speculated on a couple. the guys blocking the road weren't exactly an informational kiosk. but i can tell you they close it down on 7/4 a short distance above hicks. at least the last few years that i've been up there.

ericm979

If I lived up there I'd worry about idiots setting off fireworks and setting everything on fire. It's dry there and there's a lot of chapparal vegetation, which burns fast. Closing the road would keep them out as it's well known that idiots won't walk far, especially up hill.

BigSean

bam

that makes sense. but it may also have something to do with it being a private road.

from https://www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_sierra_azul.asp

During daylight hours only, Mt. Umunhum Road is open to public vehicle traffic up to the point where it is blocked by gate #SA08, located 1.6 miles from Hicks Road. After-hours (from 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise), Mt. Umunhum Road is closed (from its intersection with Hicks Road) to all public use except for resident and authorized vehicles.

At gate #SA07 on your left, on your way up Mt. Umunhum Road immediately before reaching gate #SA08, there is roadside parking for two or three cars on the right side of the road. The Bald Mountain Trail trailhead is on the left. Public hiking and bicycling access continue up Mt. Umunhum Road for 1.3 miles past gate #SA08, to the point where the road enters private property. Although it is not gated, this point is well marked with private property signs on the sides of the road, as well as symbols on the road surface. Do not travel on Mt. Umunhum Road beyond this point. The land is private property and entry is trespassing.