La Vereda del Monte – San Benito Mountain – May 1, 2021
Tires on the ole chariot were holding up fine, I was a bit road rattled, driving since early morning in a giant u, up Clear Creek, along Joaquin Ridge, dropping in elevation, heading east, back toward Coalinga. This geography becomes important, as we get into the night, but for now, the sun is still high and just around the corner I come to the gate. No sign saying: Joaquin Rocks thata’ way, no trailhead posted, just a locked gate across the road and a turnout. I sit for a moment on the picnic table to take it all in. At this elevation the landscape had changed, oak knolls and grassy slopes, much like the hills near where I grew up – Briones, and the Berkeley hills are part of the same mountain range to the north, where the Mountain Path begins – and I think about this as I look up the trail and try to imagine Murrieta on his sorrel, driving a herd of 300 wild horses through the some of the most remote parts of California, ending up here, probably under the very tree I’m leaning against.Ranger Tom said it was a good 3 miles to the rocks from the gate, although he wasn’t too exact. There was 3 hrs of light left, give or take, so I decided to go for it. I cooked up a quick coffee on the single burner, hydrated a half quart of water, and downed some boiled eggs, 6 miles, I’d be back by dark, and if if I was on the trail after sundown, no worries, it looked like a good road, what could happen? I packed light, only my camera and a pocket full of trail mix –
I was about to find out.