El Sombroso Peak

Picked december 30th to go mtn biking. Wanted to ride the generic loop trail around Almaden's Quicksilver Park (11 miles). It was raining and cold, but I wasn't worried because the ride begins with two miles of climbing. However, when I pulled into the parking lot, the trails had been closed to horses and mountain bikes, which is ridiculous. These are fire rads and the rangers drive trucks over them in all weather tearing the trails up more than a 100 riders ever could. It puts me into "Big Brother Mode". That what the trail closure is really about is protecting "Us" from ourselves.

Nature in areas around San Jose have been made to reflect the cities themselves, large open aired Malls, to be visited only in good weather when safety os at the maximum. If you want to hike at night or trail run under a full moon forget it. So, for a non-standard experience you have to be a law breaker, fine.

Regardless, I didn't want risk the ticket or be burdened by the disapproving looks of the hikers.

Opted to drive up to Hicks to look around. Discovered the trail there was open, cold and miserable...perfect. The ride is initially rolling, but soon turns into a grinding climb up a fire road. Large over looks and trailside cliffs, make it a little more interesting than a standard fire road. Had to walk some of the steeper sections. Even at full power, it is unlikely I could have grunted up the grade. My frame geometry almost excludes really steep terrain, because of the front end coming off the ground constantly.

The trail had a fair amount of fallen debris here and there and the winds blew the temperatures into the mid-thirties, but there were nice vistas and views of Mt. Umunhum.