Henry Coe State Park Bikepacking 2008
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Bikepacking in Henry Coe State Park 2008
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The road I can see from here is on private property outside the Park, but is a piece of County Line Road

The road I can see from here is on private property outside the Park, but is a piece of County Line Road

Date: September 04, 2008, 15h20

Bikepacking in Henry Coe State Park 2008

Bicycle camping in the backcountry of Henry Coe State Park in early September can be a hot, desert-like experience—brutal, but beautiful. It hasn't rained here in four months.

The thermometer rose above 100 degrees F several days in a row during this one-week trip and I didn't see another person for six days.

The trip started at Henry Coe's Hunting Hollow entrance. I camped three nights at Paradise Lake, three nights at Pacheco Camp and the final night at China Hole, before the ride back home to downtown San José. Two days were used for day hikes.

Though I commute to work by bicycle, I've hardly done any longer bike rides since my last Mojave National Preserve trip four months ago, so I could be in better shape. No worry, this adventure will whip me into shape soon enough...

Date: August 31, 2008, 14h00
Size: 8 items (307 items total)
Day 1: Hunting Hollow to Pacheco Camp, Henry Coe State Park

Album: Day 1: Hunting Hollow to Pacheco Camp, Henry Coe State Park

For the first time, I start a Henry Coe bicycle-camping trip by getting a ride to the Park entrance. The boy leaves me at Hunting Hollow and I "ride" to Pacheco Camp, meaning that I drag the bike up some long hills. 14.4 bicycle miles.

Date: August 31, 2008, 13h41
Size: 26 items
Day 2: Central Henry Coe day hike from Pacheco Camp, including Willow Ridge Road, Walsh Trail and Pacheco Ridge Road

Album: Day 2: Central Henry Coe day hike from Pacheco Camp, including Willow Ridge Road, Walsh Trail and Pacheco Ridge Road

I decide to stay camped at Pacheco Camp and do an afternoon hiking loop over White Tank Spring Trail, Willow Ridge Road, Center Flats Road, Walsh Trail and Pacheco Ridge Road. 12.5 miles with 2250 feet elevation gain (not including rollers).

Date: September 01, 2008, 12h11
Size: 54 items
Day 3: Pacheco Camp to Paradise Lake by bicycle, Henry Coe State Park

Album: Day 3: Pacheco Camp to Paradise Lake by bicycle, Henry Coe State Park

Today I ride over a couple of ridges to Paradise Lake in the northeastern part of Henry Coe State Park at the Orestimba Wilderness. I'll camp there for the next three nights. The temperature reaches the high 90s. 11.1 bicycle miles.

Date: September 02, 2008, 10h40
Size: 34 items
Day 4: Hike from Paradise Lake up Rooster Comb Trail and Orestimba Creek Road to Robison Creek and back

Album: Day 4: Hike from Paradise Lake up Rooster Comb Trail and Orestimba Creek Road to Robison Creek and back

A very hot afternoon, over 100 degrees. My original plan is to hike up Robison Mountain, but by the time I realize that I've missed the trail, I'm starting to get low on water and tired from the heat. 14.3 hiking miles.

Date: September 03, 2008, 10h07
Size: 44 items
Day 5: Mountain-bike ride up Red Creek Road to Upper San Antonio Valley and back from Paradise Lake

Album: Day 5: Mountain-bike ride up Red Creek Road to Upper San Antonio Valley and back from Paradise Lake

Red Creek Road is far away, but offers a bit of everything for the mountain-biker who can make it this far, except single-track. Despite some heat-exhaustion much of the day, today turns out to be a highlight of my trip. 21.3 bicycle miles.

Date: September 04, 2008, 10h23
Size: 46 items
Day 6: Bicycle ride from Paradise Lake back to Pacheco Camp, the beginning of my route out of Henry Coe State Park

Album: Day 6: Bicycle ride from Paradise Lake back to Pacheco Camp, the beginning of my route out of Henry Coe State Park

The heat is catching up with me today and I'm having a hard time sustaining a decent energy level as I plod back up Orestimba Creek and over Mississippi Ridge and then Pacheco Ridge. 11.2 bicycle miles.

Date: September 05, 2008, 07h41
Size: 32 items
Day 7: Pacheco Camp to China Hole by bicycle, Henry Coe State Park

Album: Day 7: Pacheco Camp to China Hole by bicycle, Henry Coe State Park

I followed this route along Coit Road, Mahoney Meadows Road, and China Hole Trail for the first time on last year's bicycle-camping trip here, and liked it. The day ends with a scary yellowjacket sting. 12.2 bicycle miles

Date: September 06, 2008, 09h56
Size: 42 items
Day 8: China Hole, Henry Coe State Park, to home in downtown San José by bicycle, via Coyote Creek Trail

Album: Day 8: China Hole, Henry Coe State Park, to home in downtown San José by bicycle, via Coyote Creek Trail

The swelling on the bottom of my foot makes hiking the bike for a few miles up out of the canyon at China Hole really awkward, but I limp along and enjoy the ride back down to Silicon Valley. 43.7 bicycle miles.

Date: September 07, 2008, 08h41
Size: 21 items
 
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Other bicycle camping trips on drycyclist.com:
  • Mojave National Preserve Lanfair Valley Loop Bicycle Camping, Fall 2012 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2012 (15 days)
  • Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2011 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve and Area Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2011 (15 days)
  • Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bikepacking, Fall 2010 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Camping, Spring 2010 (14 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Fall 2009 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2009 (16 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping and Day Hikes 2008 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2007 (one week, Xmas-New Year's)
  • Henry Coe State Park Mountain-Bike Camping 2007 (eight nights)
  • Death Valley Bicycle Camping 2007 (two weeks)
  • Henry Coe State Park Bicycle Camping 2006 (four nights)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2006 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2000 (11 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 1999 (one week)
Contact henrycoe2008 at priss dot org