First hike of 2024! Instead of parking at the Bald Mountain lot, I started at Jacques Ridge, the first of the three lots on your way to the summit. It was much farther than I had anticipated. I've done this hike in the summer months and liked how it has a lot of shade, but in the winter I needed my hat and gloves. It had rained the day before and the woods were freezing in the shade.

I paused for about 20 minutes at the top. The summit displays are interesting and beautiful, and so is the view of Silicon Valley. I chatted with Tom, who proudly showed me a sweatshirt he was wearing with an artful picture of Mount Umunhum on it. He didn’t know where it came from, but I liked it 🙂

Out and back, it took me a good six hours and 17 miles.