Ascent of Montara Mountain on 2021-01-15| Date: | Friday, January 15, 2021 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Peak: | Montara Mountain | | Location: | USA-California | | Elevation: | 1898 ft / 578 m |
Ascent Trip ReportPrior to making the trip I wasn’t sure precisely how difficult gaining the summit might be... there is a lot of hubbub online about fencing and signage preventing access to the summit. Even overheard someone in the parking lot afterwards complaining the top was no longer attainable. Turns out this only applies to city folk, as what is present is basically a nonevent for any peakbagger... a class 0 in terms of private property limitations. It is clear some hop the gate, on either side, and others slide under the barb wire fence to the left. We opted instead to go back further left and north to the lower tower below the summit. Here you duck under a run of electrical cables and wrap around the tower to turn back to the summit.
The barb wire fence is cut partially open here, more so than elsewhere, and while not a use trail the vegetation makes it clear many have taken the same path. Though the brush looks thick it is not even enough to call a bushwhack... just pick your way and the easiest route presents itself.
The summit has been flattened for the new tower apparently soon to be built. The top now a few feet lower and the highpoint at the moment on the north side of the flattened area, apparently a very short distance further north than in the past. It seems access is a complete non-issue, unless workers happen to be on top constructing the new tower, but no signs of that currently underway and it would be obvious if it was.
After returning we went to Peak Mountain for a spot to eat. Not many other options with views as once you sit down the surrounding vegetation is too high to see over. Peak Mountain was a nice spot, however.
We returned back to San Pedro Valley Park. It is apparently common to park outside on local streets and walk in to avoid the entry fee, which is exactly what we did. I should note the very beginning of my track was cut off due to a phone malfunction. Also the lower portions of the trail from the park are currently one way to prevent the spread of Covid, the west option up and the east route down. This must be very effective at fighting the virus as San Mateo County apparently now has only a tiny fraction of rates of infection relative to the rest of the country due to this trail restriction. |
| Summary Total Data | GPS Data for Ascent/Trip
 GPS Waypoints - Hover or click to see name and lat/long
Peaks:  climbed and  unclimbed by Chad Thomas
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Note: GPS Tracks may not be accurate, and may not show the best route. Do not follow this route blindly. Conditions change frequently. Use of a GPS unit in the outdoors, even with a pre-loaded track, is no substitute for experience and good judgment. Peakbagger.com accepts NO responsibility or liability from use of this data.
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