We chose to start at Del Valle as the park opens at 7 (vs 8 at Sunol) and we wanted maximum light.  As it turned out (due to one missed turn) we needed it!

We got to the park about 7:30 but by the time we got organized we got on the trail about 7:45.

Although both of us are in decent shape we had to stop quite a few times on the way up to catch our breath.  The climb is fairly gradual but except for going down to the creek (which is pretty but then you have to cross it and come back up the other side 😢) you are climbing up for about 10 miles. Of course we had read all this going in but until you are in the middle of it you don’t realize quite how challenging it is.

Anyway, we reached the top about 12:30.  We met 2 people about 10 minutes before the peak who had made it successfully and another 2 gentleman at the peak who had come from the Sunol side.

We signed the log in the stump (loved finding it there) and had a quick lunch but did not linger as we knew time was of the essence.

The park signage and map that came with the Ohlone permit had served us well thus far.  However mile marker 36 became our cryptonite.  We convinced ourselves to keep going straight instead of taking a right turn; this route dead-ended on private property and round trip added on 1-1.5 miles and more importantly cost us many minutes of daylight.

We were happy to see the creek again but not so happy to have to climb up out of it after already walking around 19 miles.

We were still on the trail in nearly full darkness at 5:15.  I had a head lamp and my friend had her phone light but it was dark!  Luckily we made it back to our car about 5:30 as the park closes at 6.

We were very happy to have Rose Peak in the books! We are glad we did it, but one time is enough.