My first attempt (December 19, 2000) of this highpoint met with failure, as the summit itself was fenced off and patrolled by a dog. I had hiked a nice trail from the Skyline Highway (CA-35), which wiggles across much of this small range, called the Santa Cruz Mountains. In fact, the Santa Cruz county highpoint is just a few miles to the south. Anyway, I hiked the trail in about 2 miles to the main ridge, at which time I came upon the fence, with the highpoint just a tantalizing 100 feet or so away, in full view. I debated a stealth run to the top but a dog in the area made that a bad idea. Defeated, I returned back to my truck and went on my way.

As I was planning another Bay Area trip for the Holidays, I figured I'd make another attempt to bag this peak. I made arrangements with the landowner well in advance and we made a "date" for me to meet him at his property on December 22, 2001. I left my sister's place in San Francisco amid a very wet and powerful storm and made my way south on Interstate-280 about 50 miles to the town of Saratoga at the foot of the mountains. As I was early, I poked around Saratoga a bit, had a nice lunch and tried my best to stay dry. Finally, I started the drive up to the ridge. The landowner gave me directions to drive to his property so that I wouldn't have to hike it again, especially in the rain. I arrived, and he was very nice. I made a quick dash to the top, then a quick dash back, where we chatted a bit in his temporary quarters, a trailer. He is planning to build a home in the future, hence the fencing. Funny thing, he doesn't own a dog and has no idea whose dog it was that was patrolling his land a year ago. Oh well. We talked for about 20 minutes, and he was very friendly and congenial. Like all landowners, he appreciates advance notice for people planning to visit the highpoint, and does not appreciate trespassers.

With the hike finished, and my trip in the Bay Area done as well, I started the long drive home. Last year I did it all in one very long day, but this time I drove 420 miles to the town of Mojave and stayed in a hotel. I made the final 450-mile drive home the following day.