We did this hike for maximum points.  Of course, we wanted to “bag” Mission Peak to help fill our SixPack.  But, we are also working to circumnavigate the whole Bay Area Ridge Trail.  We'd already hiked this last year, but since then they added new pieces at both ends, so we decided to hike the whole thing to get those little pieces.  Thirdly, this is a segment of the 2021 Ridge-To-Bridges event, so we needed to get that, too!

Starting at the Ohlone College parking structure is a pretty standard way to hike Mission Peak, but then we took YSC trail North-Northwest _backwards_ to get to the start of the new section of the Ridgetrail at the most Northern boundary of the park – right at a fence looking down deep towards Mill Creek.  From there we wound our way South, stopping frequently to spot the many wildflowers on display in the fields.  Stopped for a snack amongst a mellow herd of cows.  Summited Mission Peak and got our obligatory IG-worthy picture with (on) the pole.  Then, continued South to lunch near Monument Peak before taking Monument Peak Road down to Ed Levin park.  Once in the park we started on the new section of trail there that includes a meandering trip back and forth in one parcel to reach the ridge-line and get the SF Bay Views that characterize the Ridgetrail before dropping the other side to where we staged a car.

Almost 16 miles in total!  Phew.  My 2 hiking friends got better pictures and more of me.