Team Sugarloaf benefit hike in Sonoma Valley

Hike from the Los Alamos entrance to Hood Mountain along the Napa County line to Sugarloaf, where a barbecue dinner awaits.|

Ever since they took over the operations of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, in 2011, the assemblage of nonprofits known collectively as Team Sugarloaf has been faced with finding the money to run the 4,020-acre park. That challenge has been made all the more imperative since the October fires swept across over three-quarters of the park’s landscapes, campgrounds and trails.

Their fundraising frustrations have been particularly marked recently, as their big spring fundraising event – “Brunch on Bald Mountain” – had to be canceled from its March 17 date due to weather; a March 24 reschedule was also rained out. It has yet to be rescheduled.

“It takes about $500,000 to run the park operations,” said park manager John Roney. “We get the money from camping fees, day-use fees, donations and special events like this one.”

So they have high hopes for next weekend’s fundraiser, on Saturday, April 28, especially given that hikes organizer Bill Myers says, perhaps accurately, it’s “a very rare opportunity to hike from Hood Mountain Regional Park to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park via the historic McCormick Ranch section of Sugarloaf.”

Two things make it such a rare opportunity – the first being that Hood Mountain Regional Park was even more burned over than Sugarloaf, approaching 100 percent, and some parts of the park remain closed.

The other is that the hike route, which spans the headwaters of both Santa Rosa and Sonoma creeks in a “grand tour of the Mayacamas Mountains,” as Myers puts it, passes through private property to reach deep into the Mayacamas to the Napa county line. “The route will take participants through some of the wildest and most beautiful sections of Sonoma County filled with massive trees and lovely wildflowers,” said Myers.

He and his colleague David Chalk run hikes almost monthly under their Bill & Dave’s Hikes partnership.

As well as the natural features of the route, it’s one that probes the deep history of the Sonoma Valley, transecting the 19th century homesteads of the McCormick and Hurd families on its 11-mile route, with elevation gains of about 2800 feet.

The Headwaters-to-Headwaters hike makes use of the so-called “Sugar Shuttle” to meet participants at the Sugarloaf visitors center, by 8:45 on the morning of Saturday, April 28, for the 20-minute drive to the Los Alamos Road access to Hood Mountain.

From there, hikers will follow the Hood Mountain Trail to Homestead Meadow, then cross into the McCormick addition of Sugarloaf. They will then follow the Quercus and Grandmother Oak Trails to overlook the former Spaulding property, with a brief rest stop at Red Hill.

Continuing up Maple Glen Trail, with permission from property owner Jim Perry, the hike will follow southeast along the county line to enjoy lunch at the top of “Hill 2530” (named for its elevation).

From this point on the hike is in Sugarloaf Ridge, proceed up to the Bald Mountain summit at 2,729 feet and finally back down to the day use area at Sugarloaf, with an expected arrival at about 4:30.

Tired limbs and sore feet will be forgotten when the barbecue begins, which includes beer, wine and the satisfaction of having contributed to the on-going maintenance and secure future of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.

Tickets include transportation, snacks, drinks and barbecue, though hikers should bring their own water and lunch. Cost is $45 general, $20 for “intrepid hikers between 13 and 18.” Sponsorships are also available online, at brownpapertickets.com/event/3363393.

And keep an eye on the weather, just in case.

Contact at christian.kallen@sonomanews.com.

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