19.3 Miles in the San Mateo Wilderness

[greatshaitan]

Finally got a chance to take a weekend and see what this place is all about. I have hiked to Tenaja Falls a half a dozen times but I have not seen the rest of this canyon. So I convinced my buddy Patrick to join me in an overnight trip.

More pictures can be found on my website.
http://drunkreddragon.com/images/adventures/SanMateoCanyon/index.html

Here is the trip we took, camping at the red pentagon in Oak Flats.


Not a lot of water flowing but some. Lots of stagnate pools.


The trail to Fisherman's camp was well defined and beautiful.




3.7 miles later we came to the split for the Blue water Trail that heads up into Oak Flats. The trail has a section that is less than a mile but gains about 1600ft, steep to say the least.


Eventually you get to Oak Flats, beautiful!


Found a nice spot and setup camp for the night.


Ah camping with your buddies..... I need not say more....


On our way out we ran into about a dozen cattle. They looked at us but were more interested in eating grass then defending their turf.


Patrick schlept this 115L backpack the entire trip. The view is great from this side. This is heading down the 5.1 mile Tenaja Trail. Great views of the canyon that I didn't get a good picture of.


Finally on our way back going over our original path. We took the "High Trail" back to the Tenaja Falls trailhead. Did I mention this canyon has lots of poison oak! Be warned...

[Rck]

Thanks for the TR and the Pics. Looks like you had a good outing!

[Andy]

Thanks for the great report. I'm amazed at how green everything looks down there. That's a great remote area to explore.

[zippetydude]

I agree with the previous posts, really cool TR. I especially like that Oak Flats area. It would be a great area to spread out a blanket at night and look at the stars.

z

[Ellen]

Howdy Greatshaitan

NICE!!! Love your trip reports.

As I look at the tent picture, I think I know what happened to my missing flask of single malt Scotch JK.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[greatshaitan]

Howdy Greatshaitan

NICE!!! Love your trip reports.

As I look at the tent picture, I think I know what happened to my missing flask of single malt Scotch JK.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

I didn't think you could see my flask in that picture! I believe we had Glenfiddich 15 that night.

[zippetydude]

I can't see any flask...Ellen, were you just going from the looks on their faces?

z

[Sally]

Great TR, greatshaitan! Back before I realized that one could hike in snow, the San Mateo Wilderness was one of my default hikes when there was too much snow in the "big" mountains.

I know what you mean about the poison oak! One time it was so bad that after trying to avoid it for a long ways I finally got impatient and just started barreling through it. Afterwards, I scrubbed with Technu and went straight to my doctor for my cortisone shot and prednisone. That stuff works miracles!

[greatshaitan]

Poison Oak Avoid it or else you will look like me..... Click the link to see, warning, not pretty

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10157400_10152110084243155_8980975792479893521_n.jpg

[Sally]

I'm telling you, go get the shot and prednisone (it's too late for Technu, but it works great if you can use it within 24 hours.) When I get poison oak, it lasts for months if I don't nip it in the bud.