Picture this. The weather is perfect (sun for many of us; clouds
or even a light drizzle for others); perhaps you need some
exercise; perhaps your soul is crying for peace and quiet; perhaps
you just want to get away. Whatever the reason, you hop in your car
and drive from Morgan Hill to Henry Coe State Park Headquarters at
the end of East Dunne Avenue, or up Gilroy Hot Springs Road to the
Hunting Hollow entrance to the park. You get out of the car,
register as a day-user, and start walking on one of the park
‚s many scenic hiking trails.
Picture this. The weather is perfect (sun for many of us; clouds or even a light drizzle for others); perhaps you need some exercise; perhaps your soul is crying for peace and quiet; perhaps you just want to get away.
Whatever the reason, you hop in your car and drive from Morgan Hill to Henry Coe State Park Headquarters at the end of East Dunne Avenue, or up Gilroy Hot Springs Road to the Hunting Hollow entrance to the park. You get out of the car, register as a day-user, and start walking on one of the park‚s many scenic hiking trails.
Sometimes that works. But other times, you find that something is missing. The thought comes: if I had only paused a few minutes before leaving home, I would have brought along (fill in the blank), and enjoyed this hike a lot more.
Let me give an example. Each spring, volunteers at Henry Coe lead various hikes and share their knowledge and appreciation of the park. One of those recently offered by another volunteer was a 10-mile hike up Middle Ridge, down to Poverty Flat, and back to park headquarters.
All week I looked forward to the hike. Unfortunately, there was heavy rain on the scheduled morning. I called the park to see if the hike had been cancelled. It hadn’t. (Some of those volunteers never quit.) I made a quick decision to chance the weather, grabbed my raincoat, and drove to park headquarters.
The hike turned out great. The wildflowers were beautiful, fresh leaves and grasses were brilliantly green, the sun made periodic attempts at breaking through, and the route was just the right challenge for my winter-rested body turning 56 that day.
But, and here’s the moral to the story: I might have missed all this for lack of preparation. With the rain belting down as we began, the trip leader wisely pointed out that, in my blue jeans, I might be very uncomfortable should we get a four-hour soaking. I noticed that, in addition to his raincoat, he wore rain-proof pants, gators to keep his ankles dry, and Gortex boots. I came close to missing a terrific outdoors experience.
It was this small incident that started me thinking about the short list I should check before heading for the trails of Henry Coe, or any other park.
First: water. Even on hikes in rainy weather, our bodies cry out for water. In the summer months, the need can multiply many-fold, especially on Henry Coe’s steep slopes. I’ve been told by one park volunteer that, if you feel thirsty, you’ve waited too long for that crucial sip. Another park volunteer noted that the body can only absorb one-fourth of a cup of water every 15 minutes (i.e., don’t go for the big gulp every hour). And perhaps the most important hiking recommendation you’ll get from park officials is this: start heading back when you’ve used up one-third of your water.
Next, proper clothing. For me, layers remain the name of the game. Temperatures can vary considerably at Henry Coe from hour to hour and at different elevations. In addition to layers for the upper body, I like those hiking pants that, with a zipper on each leg, can quickly become shorts. Layers help with weather changes, and also provide needed protection near patches of poison oak or among unwanted insects.
Shoes: About 25 years ago, my brother and I debated the merits of tennis shoes versus hiking boots. He argued that tennis shoes, being lighter, spared a hiker’s legs the heavy lifting required with each step of a boot. I advocated boots because of their ankle support and traction. Who’s to say? During that recent wet hike in mid-March, we encountered another hiker crossing Coyote Creek barefoot to keep his boots dry. So, on the topic of clothing – if the shoes fits, wear it (or don’t; your decision).
In my young and stupid hiking days (before the middle-aged and forgetful ones), I abstained from all sun protection: sunblock; hat; long sleeves. Although the sun does wonderful things (such as making life on earth possible), we now know it’s not always our friend. SPF-15 or 30 sunblock and protective clothing: Don’t leave home without them.
Obviously, a crucial “be prepared” hiking item is a first aid kit. I wish I had a dollar for every time I haven’t taken one along. I wish I had five dollars for every time a blister or cut needed cleaning, or covering, and I had nothing.
Walking sticks: I used to think these were canes, and I wasn’‚t ready for a cane. Wrong again. On the steep trails of Henry Coe, walking sticks can be a gift to one‚s knees and ankles. They provide terrific support as you balance your way across a stream, especially if you‚re wearing a pack.
Most trails at Henry Coe are well-marked. Still, I’ve always had better hiking experiences when I take along a park map. (Pick one up in the Visitor Center.) Distances can be deceiving in this hilly country. It helps to check those contour lines before making a decision at a fork in the trail.
Henry Coe is your park. Come as you are, and enjoy it. Come slightly more prepared, and enjoy it more.
Jim Wright is a Coe Park volunteer.
