For the first time in a quarter century, the annual hike up
Murphy’s Peak, otherwise known as El Toro mountain, has been
canceled. What a shame.
For the first time in a quarter century, the annual hike up Murphy’s Peak, otherwise known as El Toro mountain, has been canceled. What a shame.
Every year, about 600 or so adventurous residents gather at the Morgan Hill Library early on a Saturday morning in April. They listen to geologist Peter Anderson discuss the origins and history behind the iconic mountain.
But this year, trouble arose. A longtime property owner discovered the fence adjacent to a trail used by climbers was not the correct boundary line. The actual property line was yards east, meaning hikers were trespassing and subjecting the property owner to liability.
“It came to our attention, where we were hiking in the past, we were encroaching on private property,” said Morgan Hill Historical Society member Roger Knopf.
It’s perfectly reasonable for Mark Good and his family, which owns about 70 acres and whose property hikers traverse, to not want to be held liable should something happen and, it’s perfectly reasonable for the MHHS, a nonprofit that organizes the annual trek to be apprehensive about taking on that responsibility.
So where does that leave us? Right now, in limbo. There’s not enough time left this year, between the end of rainy season and before fire season begins, to organize a hike.
It’s highly unlikely anyone gets hurt, and no one can recall any injuries occurring in the past, but would you want to take that chance?
There are ways to resurrect the hike.
In the short term, the community needs to come up with some ideas. What about charging everyone a nominal fee that would pay the insurance for one day?
In the long term, the property owners, the city and the Open Space Authority are all in agreement that they’d like to see a segment of the 70 acres where the trail sits purchased and made into a city park. The city plans to build and maintain a safer trail on El Toro as part of its parks and recreation plan, according to Morgan Hill associate engineer Dave Gittleson. If the privately owned property atop the peak can be acquired for public use, the city will include it in the trail plan. Gittleson said the city has not yet talked to Good or the other property owners to begin negotiations. Let’s make it happen.
In the meantime, there’s a beautiful view atop the peak we’re all missing.
