Rob and I hiked the Oat Hill Mine Trail today (part of it, anyway) on the Northern end of the Napa Valley in Calistoga. THIS is why we live in Northern California! We hiked half of the 8 mile trail; 4 miles up and 4 miles back down. We realized afterward (since I am amazingly consistent in my map forgetting abilities) that, had we gone another .25 mile, we would have seen the Holmes House, or the ruins of it anyway. Dang it! Also, had we gone the entire way, we would have ended up at the Robert Louis Stevenson Park trail head on the top of Mt. St. Helena where we would have been enveloped by the beautiful shady pines and fern groves that we drive through on our way to Clear Lake. Although we would have to hitch hike back to our car, given the condition we were in after just 8 miles. Next time!
Let me just say, between the sweeping views of the Napa Valley below, and the "Volcanic Wonderland" above, this hike is amazing! It's pretty steep. Not as steep as my local hikes, but much longer. It took us 5 hours from start to finish with a 1/2 hour stop for lunch. I got a good tank top sunburn too (way to go, strapless wedding dress girl!). Ah, there's still time.
The trail is pretty rocky, and there are a LOT of underground springs that make the going a little treacherous at times, but it's worth it! The first few miles are Fir, Oak, and Pine shaded. Eventually that gives way to Manzanita, scrub whatchamacallit, and it gets really rocky. The ridge of the mountain is made up of spiny, volcanic formations known as "The Palisades". Pretty spectacular!
Five hours after we started, we gimped back down to the trail head. My "Mio Drive" work out/heart rate monitor watch calculated a calorie burn of about 2300. And I believe it, let me tell you! We considered going out for burgers and beers, but why un-do all of that hard work?
Now, please excuse me while I pour a glass of wine and grill some salmon (basted with equal parts honey, mustard and soy sauce, dipped in a yogurt-garlic-dill sauce, with some wild rice and roasted asparagus on the side).
*Disclaimer - After the hike, we DID stop at a gas station/mini mart, where I procured a healthy sized bag of Flamin' Hot Cheese Puffs. 375 calories of the 2300 total can kiss my ass.
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My feet still hurt...and the salmon was delicious! Beautiful hike!
Next time park one car up at the top of Mt St Helena where this trail ends, and another where you started, then make the decision which direction you want to hike, primarily up hill, or primarily down hill.
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