davidsanger - Apr 18, 2016 1:00 pm Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2015
via Barlow Road
From new Bald Mountain parking lot on Mt. Umunhum Road via Barlow Road and Woods Trail. Met a Midpen ranger twice, going on and going out.
calipidder - Nov 1, 2015 6:46 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2015
Halloween Candy
Needed to use up leftover halloween candy, what a perfect trailfood peanut M&Ms are. Parked at Bald Mtn lookout, hiked Bald and then over to Sombroso via Barlow and Woods Roads.
Larry Laverty - May 16, 2015 12:45 am Date Climbed: May 15, 2015
Priest Rock TH
Traveling on the Alma Bridge Road, from the spillway for Lexington I drove 1.2 miles to a two-car turnout across the street from a fire road. The fire road turned out to be the Priest Rock Trail. Up, up, up. Going deeper into the Sierra Azul. Mountain lion tracks. Solitude. And finally, there she was. Mt.Umunhum. :)
iditarod81 - Apr 4, 2015 4:04 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2009
Really hot day
Nice hike, great view of Mt. Um. Insanely hot though, and saw a couple of rattlesnakes along the way.
trexkerry - Feb 9, 2014 8:46 pm Date Climbed: Feb 9, 2014
Up Priest Rock, return via Limekiln
Lots of mist and clouds on a winter day - enjoyed everything but the half hour I spent trying to make sure I actually tagged the true summit among the forest of poison oak coming at me in every direction. I say it was worth in now, but I may change my mind in a few days...trip report is HERE.
labgloves - Mar 31, 2013 11:19 am Date Climbed: Mar 30, 2013
Up via Priest Rock Trail, back via Limekiln trail
Up via Priest Rock Trail, back via Limekiln trail.
Not much of a peak . . . but the park looked fun/challenging to run/bike in. Good views before the summit of Mt Hamilton.
calipidder - Feb 24, 2013 7:33 pm Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2013
Kennedy Road
Four hours round trip from Kennedy Road. Nice day.
calipidder - Feb 24, 2013 7:33 pm Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2013
Kennedy Road
Four hours round trip from Kennedy Road. Nice day.
AlphaRomero - Dec 24, 2012 1:05 pm Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2006
Feel the burn!
One of my earlier "death marches" as the Geocachers call them. I've been back since, given that it's not far from home
unspectacular, but decent hike from both Hicks and Lexington resevoir
LincolnB - Dec 11, 2011 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2010
Mountain Lion
Have done this several times, by bike and on foot. The 9/26/10 date was memorable because it's the only time I've seen a mountain lion -- a small one, we ran into each other coming around a corner, he took off and I followed until I lost sight of him. Or her.
Several times in the mid to late seventies. Used to do a loop up Rincon and down Reynolds Road. I believe much of this was private property at the time, but I was never harrassed. (Luckily!) I quit doing the loop while I was still ahead. Now, thirty-something years later, I'm planning to hike up the peak with family on newly opened public lands. Cool!
calipidder - Feb 28, 2011 4:58 pm Date Climbed: Feb 20, 2011
Snowy hike
Wanting to visit the recent snow but not wanting to drive up into the mountains with a bunch of morons, I decided my best bet was to hike to it. So I parked at the Kennedy Road trailhead and walked up to the peak. Snow dusted the ground starting at 2000' and by the time I reached the final junction before the summit it was several inches deep. I broke trail for the final ~1/2 mile in 8 inches of snow. Should have brought my cross country skis!
GPS track and some pics:
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=981630
RichAromas2 - Dec 23, 2009 12:33 pm Date Climbed: Nov 15, 2009
From Almaden Quicksilver to Lexington Reservoir (Woods Trail / Kennedy / Priest Rock)
What a difference the side of the mountain makes! Starting at Hicks Road, the climb up El Sombroso is largely shaded, well-graded, soft underfoot, and through woods with lots of running water. Not so on the backside drop to Lexington Reservoir! VERY steep in places, loose surface with difficult footing, no shade, and a surprising amount of steep climbing to accompany the descent.
Watch for the unmarked spur trail (at a saddle) to the highest transmission tower - which is near the El Sombroso summit. Coming from the Hicks Road side, this is *after* a short drop, a curve to the left, and a final climb - don't attempt to cross-country to the top from the curve! Only if you have views of the valley off to your RIGHT, *and* you have been descending for a while (more than 5 minutes) should you be concerned that you might have missed the spur.
11.8 miles total covered (with a car shuttle).
iditarod81 - Jun 29, 2009 12:04 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2009
Brutal heat.
Lesson learned: do not hike this hill in the summertime. Temperatures over 100 degrees; 64 oz H2O not enough. Great views of Mt. Um and a beautiful hummingbird sighting, though.
chrismarks - Oct 7, 2007 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2007
Woods Trail
It really does not really feel like a mountain at all, just a nub on a ridge. In fact El Sombroso itself is one of the least impressive parts of the hike. Overall though the trail offers some magnificent views of Um and neighboring peaks. Prepare for a great trail with a very unimpressive and dull summit.
lakenyon - May 14, 2006 9:11 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2005
Woods Trail
I've done this a number of times, but can't remember when. It really isn't a "mountain."
Scott Fulton - Mar 18, 2006 10:55 pm Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2006
Limekiln trail
Nice good Saturday morning workout, probably around 12 miles roundtrip. Not the most satisfying or spectacular summit, just the top is marked by the highest tower along a long string of powerlines.
Hiking Metal Maniac - Dec 20, 2020 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2020
A speed run!From the north via Kennedy Trail
davidsanger - Apr 18, 2016 1:00 pm Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2015
via Barlow RoadFrom new Bald Mountain parking lot on Mt. Umunhum Road via Barlow Road and Woods Trail. Met a Midpen ranger twice, going on and going out.
calipidder - Nov 1, 2015 6:46 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2015
Halloween CandyNeeded to use up leftover halloween candy, what a perfect trailfood peanut M&Ms are. Parked at Bald Mtn lookout, hiked Bald and then over to Sombroso via Barlow and Woods Roads.
Larry Laverty - May 16, 2015 12:45 am Date Climbed: May 15, 2015
Priest Rock THTraveling on the Alma Bridge Road, from the spillway for Lexington I drove 1.2 miles to a two-car turnout across the street from a fire road. The fire road turned out to be the Priest Rock Trail. Up, up, up. Going deeper into the Sierra Azul. Mountain lion tracks. Solitude. And finally, there she was. Mt.Umunhum. :)
iditarod81 - Apr 4, 2015 4:04 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2009
Really hot dayNice hike, great view of Mt. Um. Insanely hot though, and saw a couple of rattlesnakes along the way.
trexkerry - Feb 9, 2014 8:46 pm Date Climbed: Feb 9, 2014
Up Priest Rock, return via LimekilnLots of mist and clouds on a winter day - enjoyed everything but the half hour I spent trying to make sure I actually tagged the true summit among the forest of poison oak coming at me in every direction. I say it was worth in now, but I may change my mind in a few days...trip report is HERE.
labgloves - Mar 31, 2013 11:19 am Date Climbed: Mar 30, 2013
Up via Priest Rock Trail, back via Limekiln trailUp via Priest Rock Trail, back via Limekiln trail.
Not much of a peak . . . but the park looked fun/challenging to run/bike in. Good views before the summit of Mt Hamilton.
calipidder - Feb 24, 2013 7:33 pm Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2013
Kennedy RoadFour hours round trip from Kennedy Road. Nice day.
calipidder - Feb 24, 2013 7:33 pm Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2013
Kennedy RoadFour hours round trip from Kennedy Road. Nice day.
AlphaRomero - Dec 24, 2012 1:05 pm Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2006
Feel the burn!One of my earlier "death marches" as the Geocachers call them. I've been back since, given that it's not far from home
Ze - Jun 2, 2012 11:54 pm
from both sidesunspectacular, but decent hike from both Hicks and Lexington resevoir
LincolnB - Dec 11, 2011 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2010
Mountain LionHave done this several times, by bike and on foot. The 9/26/10 date was memorable because it's the only time I've seen a mountain lion -- a small one, we ran into each other coming around a corner, he took off and I followed until I lost sight of him. Or her.
boyblue - Mar 30, 2011 7:50 pm
From Rincon CreekSeveral times in the mid to late seventies. Used to do a loop up Rincon and down Reynolds Road. I believe much of this was private property at the time, but I was never harrassed. (Luckily!) I quit doing the loop while I was still ahead. Now, thirty-something years later, I'm planning to hike up the peak with family on newly opened public lands. Cool!
calipidder - Feb 28, 2011 4:58 pm Date Climbed: Feb 20, 2011
Snowy hikeWanting to visit the recent snow but not wanting to drive up into the mountains with a bunch of morons, I decided my best bet was to hike to it. So I parked at the Kennedy Road trailhead and walked up to the peak. Snow dusted the ground starting at 2000' and by the time I reached the final junction before the summit it was several inches deep. I broke trail for the final ~1/2 mile in 8 inches of snow. Should have brought my cross country skis!
GPS track and some pics:
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=981630
RichAromas2 - Dec 23, 2009 12:33 pm Date Climbed: Nov 15, 2009
From Almaden Quicksilver to Lexington Reservoir (Woods Trail / Kennedy / Priest Rock)What a difference the side of the mountain makes! Starting at Hicks Road, the climb up El Sombroso is largely shaded, well-graded, soft underfoot, and through woods with lots of running water. Not so on the backside drop to Lexington Reservoir! VERY steep in places, loose surface with difficult footing, no shade, and a surprising amount of steep climbing to accompany the descent.
Watch for the unmarked spur trail (at a saddle) to the highest transmission tower - which is near the El Sombroso summit. Coming from the Hicks Road side, this is *after* a short drop, a curve to the left, and a final climb - don't attempt to cross-country to the top from the curve! Only if you have views of the valley off to your RIGHT, *and* you have been descending for a while (more than 5 minutes) should you be concerned that you might have missed the spur.
11.8 miles total covered (with a car shuttle).
iditarod81 - Jun 29, 2009 12:04 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2009
Brutal heat.Lesson learned: do not hike this hill in the summertime. Temperatures over 100 degrees; 64 oz H2O not enough. Great views of Mt. Um and a beautiful hummingbird sighting, though.
chrismarks - Oct 7, 2007 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2007
Woods TrailIt really does not really feel like a mountain at all, just a nub on a ridge. In fact El Sombroso itself is one of the least impressive parts of the hike. Overall though the trail offers some magnificent views of Um and neighboring peaks. Prepare for a great trail with a very unimpressive and dull summit.
lakenyon - May 14, 2006 9:11 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2005
Woods TrailI've done this a number of times, but can't remember when. It really isn't a "mountain."
Scott Fulton - Mar 18, 2006 10:55 pm Date Climbed: Mar 18, 2006
Limekiln trailNice good Saturday morning workout, probably around 12 miles roundtrip. Not the most satisfying or spectacular summit, just the top is marked by the highest tower along a long string of powerlines.
Al Pine - Nov 13, 2005 7:27 pm
Route Climbed: from mt. umunhum rd and from kennedy/limekiln trails Date Climbed: can't rememberThe summit is kind of dumb- it's just the end of a ridge with a power line tower on top. There are good views to the south and east, however.