Joanna On The Trail

Featuring Pipeline Road Trail and the river I didn’t cross

A big week with lots of ups and downs (literally and figuratively). I logged my longest-ever hike — 16.7 miles on the Bay Area Ridge Trail — and got some serious miles in ahead of the MammothMarch, but I’m also struggling with some footwear/blister drama.

I’ve been training in my Meindl boots, which I’d planned to wear on the UK Coast to Coast (based on blog recommendations). The problem is, they keep giving me blisters, even after at least 100 miles of break-in time. This week I tried switching to my Altra boots, tested out new La Sportiva boots, and hiked in trail runners. All the gory details below.

Spoiler alert: I won’t have a full Week 4 post because of the blister situation. Only the MammothMarch next week, which you can read about here.

---

Saturday, May 30 — Moderate/Elevation
Pipeline Road Trail (with detours), Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (AllTrails for the base Pipeline Road Trail)
9 mi / 1,463 ft elevation gain

See featured hike below!

Sunday, May 31 — Long
Pescadero Creek Trail / Old Haul Road, Pescadero Creek County Park (AllTrails)
11.8 mi / 1,043 ft elevation gain

No cars in the lot when I arrived — unusual for any Bay Area trail on a beautiful weekend day, even one that’s way up mountain roads. A mild panic when I spotted a sign saying “This area closed” — but on closer inspection, only the side trails were closed for forest health and fuel reduction work. Relieved, I headed out.

I hiked this one in my Altra boots rather than the Meindl boots, hoping to give my blister a break. Bad idea: the Altras are well-cushioned but the sole is so flexible I could feel every rock, and the bendiness was putting serious strain on my feet. I don’t think I’ll be wearing these again.

The trail itself was wonderful. Walking among giant redwoods, almost entirely alone (four trail runners on the way out, a family of five on bikes near the end). It’s an out-and-back that ends just after the trail crosses into Portola Redwoods State Park, at a bridge with a no trespassing sign and the name of a real estate developer on it. It would be a real shame if this area were ever developed.

I’ll definitely be back and I’m looking forward to exploring the side trails when they reopen.

Monday, June 1 — Easy
Saratoga-to-the-Skyline Trail to Viewpoint, Quarry Park (AllTrails)
6.1 mi / 1,171 ft elevation gain

Returned to this old standby, this time in my Topo trail runners, the most blister-friendly option I currently own. On the way home I stopped at REI and spent about 90 minutes trying on nearly every boot in the store. I landed on the La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX — lighter than the Meindls, with solid support, good traction, and cushiony insoles.

Tuesday, June 2 — Active Rest
Taking the day off from hiking to give my blister a rest.

Upper body strength + lower body strength + stretching on the Peloton app.

Wednesday, June 3 — Long
Bay Area Ridge Trail / Skyline Trail, Richards Rd to Spring Board Trail (AllTrails)
16.7 mi / 2,805 ft elevation gain

My longest hike ever and in hindsight, probably not the best idea with a blister that needed rest. But I wanted to get a solid long hike in before the MammothMarch, and the trail delivered.

After meeting Willow, a sweet yellow lab, and her owner at the trailhead, I didn’t see another person until mile 14. It was a lovely, mostly solo day in the trees, with consistent ups and downs and a few trees down, but nothing too challenging. The new La Sportivas felt better than the Meindls, but the blister was still painful and definitely getting worse. I ended up switching into my Topo trail runners with about 7 miles left.

Would love to do it again, with a healthier heel.

Thursday, June 4 — Rest
Travel to Massachusetts.

Friday, June 5 — Rest
Trying to let my blister heal as much as possible before tomorrow’s MammothMarch.

Week Total: 43.6 miles / 6,482 ft elevation gain

---

Featured Hike: Pipeline Road Trail (with Detours), Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

This one didn’t go exactly as planned, but it ended up being one of the more memorable hikes of my training so far.

My first choice trail had no parking and no cell reception to find an alternative, so I fell back on a familiar spot: Pipeline Road at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. It’s a paved out-and-back, and one of the only dog-friendly trails in the park which meant plenty of pups to pet along the way. 🐾

At the turnaround point I instead turned left onto Powder Mills Trail, which added some proper ups and downs and a small creek crossing. After the trail crossed back over Pipeline Road I spotted a sign: “Caution: Steep inclines and no bridges at river crossings.” I’ve crossed plenty of (shallow) rivers and never met an unmanageable incline, so I continued unfazed.

It was a seriously steep descent — 500 feet in half a mile — that convinced me to get out my hiking poles but I made it down to the river. A sign advised crossing to a sandbar first, then crossing again to the far bank to resume the trail. The first crossing was no problem, but the second crossing appeared to be about mid-thigh deep — this is why the sign made a big deal about there being no bridge. It was flowing gently so I could probably make it through but I’d be soaked. I scouted further up the sandbar and found a slightly shallower knee-height section. After some consideration, I decided I wasn’t up for hiking another 4-5 miles in wet boots that would surely make my blister worse.

After exploring the remote area a bit more, I headed back up the steep incline and took Pipeline Road back to the van. My blister hurt, it was getting late, and we had dinner plans with friends. While my ego was bruised — I’d never had to turn back on a trail before — it was the right call.