Warning: This is harder than you think!

Let’s just say I underestimated this hike. And probably overestimated myself for this type of trail. (Or we can blame it on a bad day.) Needless to say, it was tougher than anticipated.

I read beforehand that there was an extremely steep section on this hike as you work your way up toward Sizer, but I didn’t account for the hike down into the valley, then the hike up to Sizer, hike back into the valley, and back up to the start at Henry Coe headquarters. What is different about this loop? The climbs are, essentially, all STEEP inclines on fire roads that just seem to go up and never end. This isn’t a series of switchbacks that gradually take you up to the top. This is a “grab your trekking poles and lean into it” kind of grind up 1,500 ft in about 1.3 miles kind of day. Now I am all for stretching out the calves on my way up but there were sections that my heels didn’t touch the ground. (Entertaining side note: Upon reaching the top of this stretch, I may have muttered some sort of incoherent expletive aloud, only to be followed by the applause of 2 unseen backpackers sitting off to my right. “You made it,” they said laughing at my compliments to the mountain.)

I do have to say, I had no idea there was anywhere in the bay area where you can disappear from society like this. When you hike back into Henry Coe there is nothing but mountains and trees for as far as you can see. Though the creek beds were dry, the leaves were beginning to change color, and it was a beautiful fall sunset at the finish. I hiked the recommended clockwise loop, but found the busiest section near the end of my hike. Far more people were backpacking in counter clockwise from headquarters to the several campgrounds on that side.

There is limited parking at the top, but a lower lot has a short trail back up to the start. If possible, drive all the way up and pay for your day pass before heading back down to that lot, if necessary. I muscled through this hike, only stopping once to eat, and managed it in 6 hours and 8 minutes. But it seemed the few I talked to while there were making it an 8-9 hour day, or camping overnight and splitting it into 2 days. I was a little jealous of the latter. I had over 5 liters of fluids and went through it all. There are spots to refill, but you need to filter/purify, as others have noted.

This was a great hike that hurt and made me reevaluate my own strengths and weaknesses on the trail. It's also a path that I never would have attempted without signing up for the Six Pack. Thank you Mr. Hester.