CAMPING AT COYOTE LAKE
Mummy Mountain
- Part 6 (of 7) -
Headed Toward Mummy Mountain
Today we will explore the Mummy Mountain Trail. That's Mummy Mountain straight ahead.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Beginning the Climb
The trail up Mummy Mountain is long and steep, but well worth the effort. The views are spectacular and there is a "surprise" near the top.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Camp Sites in the Valley Below
About half way up the mountain is a view of the camp sites and we could see our spot. That tiny red truck at the bottom center is our rig. The muddy water is where the creek (now a river after all the rain) feeds into the lake. When we first arrived for this camping trip there was no lake there yet, just a small creek.
A closer view of the campsite will be displayed when your cursor is over the image. The original photo will re-display when your cursor moves away. (Touchscreen: touch the original photo image to display the detail image, touch outside the detail image to re-display the original photo.)
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Wild Pigs in the Valley
Those tiny spots are a group of wild pigs down in the valley. You can also see the "river" flowing toward the lake.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Valley View
About three quarters of the way up the mountain there is a large meadow with incredible views West over the Santa Clara Valley. I'm standing back far enough that only the far hills can be seen. A few hundred feet forward the view opens to the whole valley with Gilroy to the left and Morgan Hill to the right.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
The "Surprise"
Near the top of the mountain is a "surprise" stone stairway that suddenly appears as you round the corner. Someone long ago went to a great deal of trouble gathering and placing these rocks. There are also many stone walls and what may have been a building foundation. All are very old - moss covered, overgrown, and even partially encased in trees.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Getting Away
We startled a deer who immediately ran off into the woods.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Summit Views
There are lookout points at the summit that provide incredible views of the valleys below and the hills beyond. This is one of the views of Coyote Lake. Our camp site is out of the picture to the right.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Heading Back Down
Headed back to camp - some remnants of the old stone walls are on the left under the trees.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Morgan Hill and Beyond
This is one of the awesome Santa Clara Valley views. That's Morgan Hill way down there and San Francisco Bay is to the North, out of the picture.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Zorro Was Here
On the way down is a spot across the way where the trails and landscape appear to have a letter "Z", as if made by a giant Zorro.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Steep Trail
The trail up (and down) Mummy Mountain can be steep, with sheer drops on the side.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Back in the Flat Lands
Still headed back to camp, we've reached the relative "flat lands" part of the trail system.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Looking Back
The climb is over and we take a look back at Mummy Mountain.
Canon EOS 5Ds
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
