For the last 10 years I've gone for a new year hike, this year was epic on a small scale. I looked at the clouds covering the local high peaks and thought about the hordes of people driving up there and thought no way do I want any part of that mess. So I went to Potato Mountain, a prominent but small peak just above Padua Hills. To make it a bit harder, I went from home rather than driving to the Wilderness Park. I got to see plenty of terrain and lots of named trails and locations. I headed up to the Thompson Creek trail, went up Sycamore Canyon, cruised a bit through Johnson's Pasture, cut across the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park Burbank Canyon portion, turned onto Palmer Motorway and finally met up with the Palmer/Evey road. On the way back down I saw the Cobol Canyon section of CHWP and the rest of Thompson Creek trail.
My AllTrails app quit recording a little less than halfway up, so I laboriously plotted the whole route on Map My Run which calculated 16.6 miles and a little over 2400 feet of elevation gain. I figured it would be around 16 so that's close enough.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037809/IMG_3560.jpg)
Always good when the trails are open.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037810/IMG_3562.jpg)
The Sycamore Canyon trail was a big city project and I fear it won't last through too many wet seasons since drainage is poor.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037812/IMG_3566.jpg)
Junction to the Johnson's Pasture section. Left here goes toward Claraboya and beyond that to Webb Canyon.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037813/IMG_3571.jpg)
I took the lesser-used sections where I could, the Park Rangers always get upset if they spot people doing this. Picture looks over the CHWP, I also went up that very steep section on the left.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037814/IMG_3578.jpg)
Topping out on the highest point of CHWP, not part of the official route.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037815/IMG_3582.jpg)
Turning up the Palmer Motorway from CHWP.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037816/IMG_3583.jpg)
The stunning profile of Potato Mountain comes into view. I was happy that it was not in the clouds.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037817/IMG_3588.jpg)
Junction with the Palmer/Evey road that intersects Baldy Road. Near here is yet another sign saying we are leaving CHWP.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037818/IMG_3589.jpg)
Steep ridge up the side of tater tot hill, yes I took this one too. As kids we used to go up the fire break on the SW side.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037819/IMG_3592.jpg)
Wide, expansive summit. The cement tank is full of water right now.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037820/IMG_3604.jpg)
Looking down at Baldy Road from the summit. The parking area is just below Schinn Road. Cars were barely crawling through here, both on the Claremont and Upland sides.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037821/IMG_3606.jpg)
Local art. There are frequently spuds here. Someone always cleans them up, I also met people who carried some just to take pictures.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037822/IMG_3607.jpg)
The view out to the ocean was great, I counted 13 container ships waiting to get into the ports.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037823/IMG_3609.jpg)
I also brought my old pal John Walker along.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037824/IMG_3610.jpg)
Walking down the fire road just below the summit. That little mesa ahead used to have a big group of bee hives.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037825/IMG_3612.jpg)
Rejoining the CHWP, this time I went left rather than simply backtracking. I didn't want any more uphill for the day.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037826/IMG_3614.jpg)
I really like the Live Oaks that are on so many of the fire roads and slopes around here.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037827/IMG_3615.jpg)
Upper part of the Thompson Creek trail, just across from the overflow parking at Mills and Baldy Road.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037828/IMG_3616.jpg)
Later on I walked on the dirt, much easier on the knees. That's the $100K bathroom up ahead.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037829/IMG_3617.jpg)
Almost home. Lots of pavement over the last three miles.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/2037894/BP Loop.jpg)
The whole route.