Mt. Umunhum (possibly meaning "Hummingbird" in Ohlone Indian, pronounced UM-un-um) is a major landmark in the south Bay Area and a truly unique peak. A mere three feet higher than its neighbor, Mt. Thayer, most people recognize it from the huge "box-like structure" that stands on its summit. This structure is sometimes referred to as "The Monolith", or "The Cube", yet is more commonly known just as "The Box". This was an 80 foot tall AN/FPS-24 radar tower. Between 1957 and 1980, the infamous Almaden Air Force Station, which occupied the summit area, housed many radar and transmitting equipment as lookouts for enemy planes coming in from the Pacific. The "box" at one point had a large radar dish on it until the closure of the station. When the Air Force abandoned the station due to better radars being built elsewhere, they left behind asbestos and lead-contaminated buildings. Thus, the summit is strictly off-limits to the general public. In other words, if you are a law-abiding citizen, do not attempt to climb this mountain, for going there simply means trespassing. The summit sits in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, however, almost all approaches to the top go through private property owned by very isolated folks who do not like company. The open space committee are trying to open Mt. Umunhum to the public, but it might take several years to do so. Mt. Umunhum would be considered class S10 on the "Sneak Peak Climbing" scale.

The summit as seen from McQueen Ridge

Mid Peninsula Open Space Page on the Sierra Azul. Also check out what is going on with Mt. Um's future on the Master Plan page.

Here is a forum that answers many questions about Mt. Umunhum and the surrounding area.

A very detailed .PDF map of the Sierra Azul and Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserves that shows land ownership, property lines, etc.

Getting There

Mt. Um from Mt. Um Road.

The most direct way to get to Mt. Umunhum and the closest you can get to the summit in a car is Mt. Umunhum Road. From Camden Ave. in San Jose, make a right onto Hicks Road. Go past Shannon Road and Guadalupe Reservoir. After some elevation gain, you'll come to a rest area and Mt. Umunhum Road to the right. Take the right and travel to gate SA-08 about 1.6 miles up Mt. Umunhum Road. There is about 3 parking spaces. Walk up Mt. Umunhum Road, and in 1.3 miles, the road enters private property, with the "Armed Guards On Patrol" sign. If you're feeling lucky, continue up the road. Soon you will arrive on the south end of McQueen Ridge. Keep following the road until a yellow gate. At this gate, there is a camera that is avoidable. Sneak past through the brush, out of the camera's sight and hop the gate. There are two options from here. Either continue on Mt. Umunhum Road to the left if you want to check out Almaden Air Force Station, or veer right, up onto McQueen Ridge. If your goal is mainly to get to the "box", McQueen Ridge is your best bet. Hop the gate on the right and head up past the large weather station that looks like a soccer ball. Past that, the road turns into an unpaved narrow trail. Soon, a small fence marks the bounday of the Open Space Preserve. By now, the summit is clearly visible. Follow the trail until it ends as it dumps onto Mt. Umunhum Road. Turn right and walk up to the summit. Consider yourself lucky if you make it to this point. Follow your tracks back.

For directions to Soda Springs Road, see the Soda Springs Road Route.

For the safest route in terms of trespassing issues, see the Guadalupe Creek Route.

Red Tape

It is illegal to climb this mountain. One must be very determined and willing to take chances to get to the summit.

The first set of intimidating signs on Mt. Umunhum Road say "Armed Guards on Patrol", but these signs were left behind from the air force when they abandoned the station, so don't let them scare you. On Soda Springs Road, "No Trespassing" signs aren't as plentiful. There are a few people who live around Mt. Umunhum, and they are the type of people who you would rather not meet. There is a small trailer park-type of encampment where some people reside. This is located just off of Mt. Umunhum Road about 1/4 mile before the first "No Trespassing" signs. As long as you don't venture into the trailer park, you should be fine. There are some residences located on the ridge that connects Mt. Umunhum and Loma Prieta. This isn't a problem if you head right (toward the summit) when Mt. Umunhum Road reaches the ridge. If you go left, you'll end up at the trailers. In the event of an approaching vehicle, it is best to abandon the road as fast as possible and hide in the brush, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. It's either that, or receiving a hefty $ 300 fine and an escort back down the hill. Remember, even though you are just a few miles away from a large metropolitan area, it is basically anarchy up there. Your rights may or may not be applicable.

When To Climb

Anytime. Summer temperatures can get into the 100's. Winter can bring snow, but no more than a few inches. The summit can get quite windy, and 50+ mph gusts aren't uncommon.

Mt. Umunhum looms over south San Jose at dusk.

Camping

Camping isn't allowed in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. It would take a brave soul and A LOT of courage to spend a night at or near the summit.

What's Up With Them White Albinos? -Rumors and Stories

There are many weird stories and rumors that pertain to Mt. Umunhum, mainly due to the fact that its off limits. Most of these rumors are of false nature, but some are partly true. This section to inform of what is true and what is not true. Feel free to add info if you have it.

One rumor says that Almaden Air Force Station is still in operation. I don't know where this came from, but if you see the place today, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the place is very much abandoned.

There are also stories of marijuana plantations around Mt. Umunhum. This is true. In August of 2005, a raid was done on a marijuana farm on the north western slope of El Sombroso, not far from Mt. Umunhum, that left one grower dead. On July 24, 2006, there was another raid closer to Mt. Umunhum in the Herbert Creek drainage, south of Mt. Umunhum Road. On July 10, 2007, the DEA eradicated even more pot plants in that same creek drainage. This is something to take into consideration when hiking Mt. Umunhum. I have no doubt that more marijuana farms linger in the hillside somewhere, and the growers obviously don't want anybody in there. It's best sticking to main routes to keep from accidentally stepping onto one.

Another rumor is that the people who live around Mt. Umunhum carry guns and will fire at you. This has never happened to me, but countless people all over the net claim that they have been threatened with firearms. I have found bullet shells on the road near the summit, so this is something to think about.

This rumor is a pretty weird one, and I have my doubts about it: somewhere around Mt. Umunhum, there is a enclave of hostile albinos that will kidnap you if you venture into their territory. This sounds like the stuff of legend. A while ago, I crossed paths with a land owner at gate SA-08 (not on private property) who mentioned to me something about "white albinos". I was also talking to a ranger for the Mid-peninsula Open Space District, and he said that there were some hard-core naturalist type of people living on the slopes of Mt. Umunhum. I don't know if he was serious or not, but it is an interesting idea I guess. Nevertheless, as it turns out, the "White Albino" rumor has circulated all around the Santa Cruz Mountains for many years. There has also been numerous reports of albinos living in Alum Rock Rock Park in the East Foothills. So, chances of there being crazy, hostile, cannibalistic white albinos near Mt. Umunhum are low...but one can never be too careful. The talk of albinos certainly is the most mysterious thing that surrounds the mountain, as well as the area. People talk of an "albino farm", which I believe is the trailer park off of Mt. Umunhum Road just before the "line of death". Another possible location for this alleged albino farm could be in the small Swedish retreat of Sveadal, a bit southeast of Umunhum. No albinos live at either location, as far as I know. I have heard stories of people on Hicks Road who inform the teens looking for albinos that "there is only one albino who lives up here, and he wants to be left alone." So, the legend is still open for debate.

External Links

Mr. Goose Skin
Just a little thing on Umunhum.
Emily Rettner's Story
Very descriptive tale of one trip up Umunhum that went awry.
Care for a bushwhack? - Dec 6, 2005
Communications and Control
Here is the camera located between Umunhum and Thayer.
Mt. Umunhum page at Wikipedia.
Radomes: Good Photos
Mid-Pen Tour Photos
Almaden Air Force Station 2006 Reunion Photos.
Yes its been done. The Box's Myspace. (This was not my doing. I don't like Myspace.)
Article from Los Gatos Weekly Times here.
Box Photos

Fair Warning-READ THIS!
This page contains information about hiking on private property and closed areas of land. Any entanglements you get into while hiking around Mt. Umunhum is your fault, not mine, so don't blame anything on me. I just inform. If you are cited or arrested, you must assume full responsibility. Also, do not vandalize any of the buildings on the Almaden Air force Station. You are already up here illegally, the worst thing you can do is make the area more damaged, in turn possibly hindering any sort of public access. Trespassing on the Almaden Air force Station is punishable by a misdemeanor along with a $300 fine. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Happy Hiking,
David.

An exquisite view of the ground at Tomita Hill

Other cameras located here.

(Try refreshing the page if camera doesn't show up. Some plug-in is required to view the image.)
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