[Bloated Chipmunk]

Sheephead Mtn. is a good choice for a 1/2 day summer hike w/some shade, or @ least it's shady for the 1st part. It's also not crowded @ all, even on a weekend, likely due to the unmarked trailhead & proximity to private ranches. Lastly, a little bit of routefinding is involved & even though I'd been to this pk. 3Xs previously, it was STILL a little tricky picking up the trail that leaves the ranch rd. & heads steeply up the peak. We parked @ the gate off of Kitchen Creek Rd. & headed into the trees.

TH

Though we saw evidence of cows, no cows were seen on the trek in. No one got stung by bees this time either.

After hopping a barbed wire fence & continuing a bit further, I spotted the turn off for the peak. It was easy to follow @ 1st but then we got a little mixed up when it moved away from the drainage & then crossed back over it.

Turn left here

Overgrown a bit

Soon the trail turns steep & slippery.

Steep slippery section

Once past the slippery section, the incline eases a bit but the trail is still overgrown & the bushes were covered in ants. Naturally, we wound up w/ants on ourselves.

Nice valley below

Who's got loppers?

We were in full sun now, since the chaparral isn't yet tall enough to provide any shade. Heavy breathing was interspersed w/cursing as ants attached themselves & bit. Eventually, we reached the top w/its 2 distinctive rocks.

Summit pano

Summit pano

Looking south from highest summit rock

Summit register

I climbed up the rocks & my companion stayed below & accidentally sat in "a pile of ants". She eventually had to drop trou to get 'em out. Once again I texted a pic of us to our trainer (w/pants on), took various other photos, had a snack, signed the register, etc., then we headed back down before it got too hot. We did see a few cows on the way out.

Butterfly

Butterfly

Mtn. mahogany

Pine

Almost back to the car

Stats

Rt.

Post-hike marg