Ventana Wilderness : Vicente Flat / Cone Peak
October 25-27, 2002

This is a trip I led in the Ventana Wilderness, for the Loma Prieta 
chapter of the Sierra Club, specifically the Backpack Section and 
the Gay & Lesbian Sierrans.  My original plan was to hike in from 
China Camp to Pine Valley, but the weather seemed iffy, so instead
we went for plan B and hiked into Vicente Flat from the Hwy 1 on
the coast, since I didn't want to risk driving up Tassajara Road.

Day 1 : 5 miles, 2000' elevation gain.
Our sturdy band of three started up the Vicente Flat trail from Kirk 
Creek campground (100') at about 10:45 and was greeted with periods
of drizzle.  The precip stopped as we climbed, though it was still 
overcast.  On the way to the top of the ridge where the trail enters 
Hare Canyon, we spied a black tarantula making its way down the trail.
We passed through groves of redwoods, bay laurel and various oaks,  
several times seeing Cone Peak from the trail.  Along one stretch 
the sound of an inaccessible waterfall drifted up the deep gorge.

We had a late lunch on arrival at Vicente Flat camp (1600'), and looked 
over the handiwork of past residents, who had fashioned a dragon-like maw 
from some sharp stones and the gaping opening of an overturned tree trunk.
The creek at this end of the camp flowed underground, but we followed it 
upstream further into camp to where it ran above.  We then set up 
for the night.

The weather soon cleared and sun greeted us as we set off on the 
Stone Ridge trail, where douglas fir and oak grew among the open grassland.
In one meadow we spied a large white spider, and joked about whose 
tent had been left open.  After about a mile, the trail looked a bit 
sketchy, and I made a mental note to come back and explore this area 
more completely later.  So we set off back towards camp, ate a hearty
dinner, and gazed at the stars twinkling out over the coast.

Day 2 (layover) : 13 miles, 3500' elevation gain.
The morning was clear and chilly.  We ate quickly and began our 
day-hike up Hare Canyon to Cone Peak Road at 9:15.  The several creek
crossings were easily rock-hopped, but the soil somewhat loose on the 
steep ascent, 2000' in less than 2.5 miles.  In several areas we were 
treated to more dramatic sights of the deep rock-walled canyon.

From Cone Peak Road we observed the sea and well-watered coastside 
ridges on one side, and the drier eastern ridges on the other.  
An owl, fox, and red-tailed hawk made their appearances as we approached 
the Cone Peak trailhead.  The last 2 miles to the summit we climbed 
through chaparral, oak, pine, and healthy specimens of Santa Lucia fir,
an indigenous species of this mountain range.  

Finally at the top (5150'), we broke out our tasty snacks and sat in 
the sun near the old fire lookout, gazing at distant peaks, ridges, 
and the sea.  By 2 we decided to head back down, and made good time towards 
Hare Canyon.  The fog had rolled in from the sea again, making for 
a picturesque scene atop the coast ridge, and we descended the canyon 
into the redwoods, returning to camp by 4:15.

That evening we ate well, and again treated ourselves to a show of bright
stars in a clear sky.

Day 3 : 5 miles, 300' elevation gain.
The clear morning was crisp at first but highly welcome, since overnight 
we'd heard the eerie, piercing screams of a mountain lion.  We were now
back on standard time, and thus felt no qualms about cheating a bit on our
departure schedule.

The canyon's marble finery greeted us again as we ascended to a viewpoint
where the trail starts to descend back to the sea.  Here we could observe
the entire coastline for miles around.  Along the way back we spotted 
another tarantula, and numerous hawks, calling to each other, 
wheeling on thermals.

Finally back at the cars, we headed 5 miles down Hwy 1 to Sand Dollar
and cleaned up, then drove up to Big Sur and dined at Nepenthe's cafe,
overlooking the sea.  Contented, we departed the "south coast", thinking
wistfully of our next adventures.