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Sonoma Mountain, September 2019
Through Jack London State Park: A Photographic Log
11 September, 8 miles
Over the last few days I've made a point of taking the Ogre on trails in some of our parks in Sonoma County along Highway 12. That means in the Sonoma Valley, in the Mayacamas Mountains on the east side of the valley, and the Sonoma Mountains on the west side.Today's destination? The summit of Sonoma Mountain at 2463 feet via Jack London State Historical Park. The mountain is a long loaf shape bisecting much of the county from north to south. From the valley on the east side, the park lies a few miles above the town of Glen Ellen. The lower portion of the park encompasses the decaying remains of London's old Beauty Ranch. The upper portion of the park extends up the side of Sonoma Mountain almost to the summit.
In addition to the scenic old ranch buildings, the steep trail up the mountain passes through an interesting mix of redwoods, pines, oaks, and open meadows with good views of Mount St Helena in the north all the way around to San Francisco Bay and beyond in the south.
As with the other two parks I've visited in the last few days, beyond the ranch itself the trail seemed nearly deserted. Above the old pond, I saw only one other person, a mountain biker. On my way back from the top I encountered him dragging his bike up the very steepest part of the trail as I was gingerly walking the Ogre down. We both burst out laughing. By sheer chance we met on the part too difficult to ride up, too difficult to ride down.
See also:
- Jack London Trails, November 2017
- Jack London State Park, April 2016 (Opens in new window/tab)
PS: Three days after this ride, the trail was temporarily closed due to mountain lion activity.
One of the old buildings on Jack London's fascinating Beauty Ranch.
It's a very photogenic location. I wanted to take more photos around the ranch, but trucks, gear, and crews setting up for a special event spoiled all my shots.
From the trailhead, looking across vineyards and woods.
The nearby ridge hides my destination at the considerably higher summit of Sonoma Mountain. I'll have roughly 1800-2000 feet of climbing in a little under four miles.
In Jack London's day, this was a pleasant pond for swimming and paddling.
Not much left of it now.
An old log outbuilding by the pond.
The Ogre poses in the center of a fairy ring of redwoods.
The new trees grow in a circle around the stump of an old-growth redwood.
Hello, Monsieur Garceau.
Typical view of the trail to the summit as we transition out of redwoods, through pines, and into oaks.
A few seeps from higher ground trickle across the trail.
Stopped to catch my breath.
The Bay now coming into view through a clearing.
Farther along, another stop to catch my breath.
This bench, strategically placed just above the steepest segment of the trail (where, on the way down, I encountered a mountain biker plodding up), comes in very handy.
Now I'm mostly above the oaks, into the meadow near the summit of Sonoma Mountain.
This view looks across Sonoma Valley—also known as the Valley of the Moon—toward the southern end of the Mayacamas Mountains.
At center and left, that's Suttonfield Lake and Sonoma Valley Regional Park, where I bicycled a couple of days ago.
Another view down from the meadow.
I surprised myself while trying (without success) to set up a timed shot of me and the Ogre with my little tripod.
That's better.
A flat spot after steep push up the golden grass.
One more steep climb to the summit.
The barbed wire fence on the left marks the park boundary, with the true summit of Sonoma Mountain on private property slightly off to the left.
Made it!
This and the next four photos taken from the bench at the edge of the park by the summit of Sonoma Mountain.
Looking northeast toward (from the left) Mount St Helena, Hood Mountain (where I rode a few days ago), Red Mountain, and Bald Mountain.
Looking south along the mountain and across Jack London State Park with the Bay in the distance.
I ate lunch on the bench at the top of the trail.
Behind me, a crew toiled on the cell tower at the summit of Sonoma Mountain.
Looks like difficult, dangerous work.
As for me, the ride down the mountain proved, as expected, much easier than the ride up.
Summary
Date: 11 September 2019
Time: 10:00 - 1:30
Weather: 65 - 85° F, sunny
Route: Jack London State Park to summit of Sonoma Mountain
Distance: 8 miles
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
Tags: Jack London State Historical Park, Jack London State Park, Jack London Park
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