FISKE (2,868') 5X December 26, 1999

The forecasts of continued dry, sunny winter weather led me to repeat, for my fifth ascent, this relatively easy coastal range summit hike starting from the Cache Creek Canyon Regional Park along Highway 16. I started at 11 a.m. to take the dirt road over the low water bridge, and then left onto the trail constructed by the local Sierra Club and the Boy Scouts.

The trail ascends steeply along grassy and chaparral-laden hillsides. It takes many a short, steep dip through rocks and around trees as it climbs up to the main Blue Ridge. The elevation gain to the peak is over 2,000 feet. Many hikers will consider this "rough."

The summit area is defined only by two benchmarks. The vistas extended today to Mt. Shasta to the far north, and Lassen Peak and the Northern Sierra to the east. Many Coast Range peaks are seen to the north and west. The Sutter Buttes rose above the Central Valley fog. This is a nice place to view golden eagles, being prime nesting habitat.

It took me 2 hours and 12 minutes to complete my ascent, then some time to look through the register. It took about two hours to return to the car, including time to talk to other hikers. This area is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and is considered by some a prime candidate for wilderness designation.

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