Butt Buster #1 for 2002
A Sunny Saturday From Livermore to Sunol

The famed Ohlone Wilderness Trail was the Butt Buster goal for our first ride 2002. Pat Dallam did a check out ride previously, extolled its virtues, and whetted our appetites for this adventure. Then, a week before the ride her new horse Tawny pitched her into a fence so that she became walking wounded and could not make the trip. She graciously guided us telephonically as we planned the assault without her. Pat had ridden Sunol to Livermore (the direction that the sign posts lead), but strongly recommended going the route in reverse since the eastern escarpment is much steeper and best to get done early in the day. Her husband Mike Harper provided us with GPS maps of the area, for which we give thanks.

Our wonderful rig schleppers were Josh Hatcher (and picture taker!), Fred Fuechter and Bob Morin. They duly deposited us at the horse camp at del Valle (580 exit south on Livermore Blvd, right on Mines Road to the park. Pay entry fee and buy Ohlone Pass=map, turn left over bridge for horse camp). Trailhead is .1 mile from the horse camp. Don't forget to sign up on clipboard attached to bulletin board shortly up the trail. The trail is well marked with posts for the entire route. The only place that got a bit confusing was near the backpack campground where the McCordle Trail becomes the Ohlone Trail. The trail actually passes through the Hawks Nest campsite. There are lots of gates that need open/closing, as this is active cattle country. Most gates can be managed from horseback. In spring there is water along the trail from creeks, but also from periodic stock ponds and troughs, so you don't need to carry water for horses. Stinging nettles by some creeks and lots of poison oak are the only problems we confronted. Carry Technu and sun screen. Looks like typical rattlesnake country too, though we saw none. This trail is probably best done in Spring, Fall or Winter to avoid heat issues with the considerable climb.

This trip's Busted Butts belong to Cathy Hatcher, Sharon Slattery, Edie Morin, Lyndall Erb and Adda Quinn. The respective trusty steeds were Mistral (Arab), Nugget (QH), Sheriff (QH), Tucker (QH), and Cocoa (Mo. Fox Trotter). All had just completed the previous weekend riding at the Pacheco Pass State Park and were in good shape for such an early year long haul. Cocoa had spent the early part of the week at the Dru Barner Horse Camp riding the Rock Creek area (Georgetown CA) and only had 1 day of rest.

Remember, there is only one criterion for doing a Butt Buster Ride: No Whining. You obviously need a tough butt or good seat-saver, and both you and your horse must be fit to ride tough terrain for long times. Ask us about Sharon Peters sometime.

We rode out at 10am. Ascending the eastern side of Rose Peak is a tough uphill haul. We took many "breathers" on the way up, but thanked Pat for the good advice. Near the summit the terrain becomes more rolling. These are fabulous oak and grasslands. Wild flowers were everywhere thanks to the late April rains that fell. California poppy, purple paintbrush, larkspur, goldenfield, fiddle neck, penstemon, wild roses, lupine, the ever-present mustard, cinquefoil, monkeyflower, mountain violet, mule ears, wind poppy, buttercups, shooting star, Mariposa lily in a wonderful hue of ornage, blue-eyed grass, vetch and many more that we did not identify by name. Oranges, golds, pinks, yellows, blues, lavenders, purples set against a backdrop of lush green grasses of the eastern slope.

We had nice, cooling offshore winds for the ascent and a mild, kindly sun out all day for the adventure. Did I mention the views? WOW! Rose Peak (elev. 3817) is only 10 feet shorter than Mt. Diablo, fabled for its views. The assent brought vistas of the Livermore and San Ramon Valleys. The descent presented views into the Sunol and Santa Clara Valleys, of the Coyote Hills, and the San Francisco Bay. Emerald green stock ponds were set like jewels in pockets of the golden grasses on the western slope.

The trail alternated between single-track and road. No bikes were allowed. There were a surprising number of hikers given the distances involved. The entire 28 mile Ohlone Trail runs from del Valle (sign post #40) to the Bay side of Mission Peak at Stanford Ave. (Sign post #1) We opted for the slightly shorter 20 mile segment, in deference to the 3400+ vertical rise involved to get to the summit. With frequent stops to blow, lunch, and a detour to explore the very primitive (and not very appealing) horse camp near the summit, the trip took exactly 6 hours.

Arrived in Sunol Regional Park at 5pm. No whining again this trip, except from Adda wondering why she couldn't have had the black half chaps instead of the brown ones that she had to borrow from Lyndall, because she stupidly left hers at home. She owed Edie big time for the loan of a hat since she equally stupidly forgot the helmet that she never rides without. She promised to make a list and check it twice before the next ride!

Rigs were visible at the horse rental concession as we descended the hill. Amazingly, the horses still had tons of energy to spare even at the end of the trail. What fabulous beasts they are!!! Cleaned up our horses and set a feast on the table for dinner. Smoked salmon, ham, anchovies with peppers, breads, dips, artichokes, condiments, wines…yummy! The guys had convinced the Ranger that they should not have to pay again for use of the park. We signed out on the clipboard at the bulletin board as we exited the horse staging area onto Geary Road. Turn right onto Calaveras Road northbound then connect to either 680 or 84, depending on your destination.

Consensus was that this trail is another "winner".

Happy Trails from the Butt Busters!