Ventana Wilderness : Pine Valley
April 18-20, 2003

This was a 3-day backpack trip I led with Steve Sergeant, a leader-in-training
for the Loma Prieta chapter of the Sierra Club.  Friday morning the three of us 
headed up Tassajara Road in Steve's jeep, which was useful since the unpaved road 
was not in great shape after recent rains.  The weather was a bit cloudy, misty, 
and we thought we saw hail coming down the road from Chew's Ridge towards 
China Camp.


Day 1: 5.3 miles, 300' gain
--
We started out from China Camp around 11:30 wearing rain pants to avoid a soaking 
from the wet brush.  Near the high point on the ridge (4800') I noted that the 
hail was actually ice falling from the fog-enshrouded Coulter pines - it was 
a winter wonderland for a few hundred yards.  After descending the ridge we 
got out of the clouds, and the weather cleared enough for a pleasant lunch.

Enroute, we noted the wildflowers, which seemed a bit subdued this year, and 
continued down the ridge towards Church Creek Divide (3650'), where someone 
had left a deep purple head of cabbage.  I made a note to pack it out if it 
was still there on Sunday.

We arrived in Pine Valley (3140') about mid-afternoon, and found a nice spot
to camp, before the weekend crush, which turned out to be rather light.  
None of us had gotten much sleep, so we chatted briefly after dinner 
and turned in early.


Day 2: Layover, about 15 miles, 2300'
--
The morning was chilly but clear.  My thermometer read about 30 degrees.  
Steve and Jean were going to do some exploring.  I headed out immediately 
after breakfast and hiked up the Pine Ridge Trail (the cabbage head was 
still there at the Divide).

West of Divide Camp I did some sawing and removed a few deadfalls.  Continuing 
on to the Black Cone Trail, I turned south briefly, then climbed up through 
low chaparral and the remains of scrub oaks charred in the '99 fire, then 
ascended the south (true) summit of South Ventana Cone (4956') via some steep 
cross-country bushwhacking.  Admiring the views, I had lunch and signed 
the register.  Weather was sunny, clear, and pleasant.

On my return to the Black Cone junction I noticed that the Bear Basin trail
had some new flags, so I followed it.  To my delight, the trail was almost
completely clear.  Shortly I encountered a flat spot with incense cedar, 
ponderosa pine, volcanic-looking rock, and views north.  I continued on down 
the ridge to Bear Basin camp, which was pleasant and showed signs of recent use.
Then it was back up another ridge, some more sawing, and down into Pine Valley, 
where Steve and Jean were heading up the ridge for some views.  Steve warned
me that the falls were very steep.  Hmm...

I continued back to camp, refilled my hydration reservoir, and went to
explore the falls nearby.  The use trail made a few wet crossings and then 
got narrow, rocky, and steep in places.  Getting down to a place just to 
see the falls required rock scrambling with hand- and foot-holds.  Jeffrey
Schaffer's book says these falls are about 50' down to the base.  Someone 
had rigged a rope about halfway down, and at that point I decided that 
discretion is certainly the better part of valor.  My return took a slightly 
different route to avoid the wet crossings, over some low sandstone bluffs, 
which held some interesting Indian mortars / grinding holes.

We enjoyed a quiet dinner and a slightly warmer night.


Day 3: 5.3 miles, 1500' gain
--
We awoke to gathering high clouds with occasional sun, packed up, and headed 
back to Church Creek Divide, where I packed out the cabbage head, but not 
before some silly photos.  Nearby we spied Indian Warrior growing in the shade 
near some tan oak.

The hike back up to the trailhead was pleasant, and we swapped stories about past
hikes and future adventures.