The Bay Area Women's Midweek Hiking Group embarked on a 7.7-mile hike to the summit of Mt. Umunhum, one of the highest peaks in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. Driving to the trailhead, the sky was dark with heavy clouds, but when we arrived, blue skies stretched above – a perfect backdrop for our midweek hike.

The trail has a steady elevation gain of 1200 feet, but it's a pleasant, easy, gradual ascent that allowed us to take in the scenery and enjoy the camaraderie of each other. The trail is well-maintained and winds through oak woodlands and chaparral. Wildflowers—poppies, lupines, and yarrow—were still in bloom.

At the summit, the 360-degree views were absolutely stunning, with the entire Santa Clara Valley spread out beneath us, the distant Pacific Ocean to the west, and the peaks of the Diablo Range to the east. The summit is home to a historical radar tower, once part of a Cold War-era Air Force station, now an iconic structure that adds a unique touch to the otherwise natural landscape.

After grabbing a quick snack and soaking in the views, we made our descent. With its easy-to-moderate terrain and incredible summit rewards, Mt. Umunhum is an ideal first hike of the Bay Area Six Peaks Challenge.