Up the short trail to the Christmas tree farm at the top of Mt. McPherson, the trees broke up the rays of a dawning sun.

Mt. McPherson, CA

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Here are photos from a solo hike on Mt. McPherson that I did to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Mt. McPherson is the highest point in Santa Cruz County, at 3234 feet (986 m).

After hiking up to the top of Mt. McPherson, I returned to the car to drive 15 minutes over to Long Ridge, the highest point in San Mateo county.

Edit 2024-12-18: Apparently, Mount McPherson is also called Mount Bielawski. The latter may now be the more prominent name nowadays. It was called McPherson in Gary Suttle's California County Summits book.

To celebrate the Winter Solstice, I returned to the mountains for some summit bagging. Today my willing partner was Elaina, who was pure rhapsody on the winding tree-lined roads of Highway 9!
To celebrate the Winter Solstice, I returned to the mountains for some summit bagging. Today my willing partner was Elaina, who was pure rhapsody on the winding tree-lined roads of Highway 9!
Up the short trail to the Christmas tree farm at the top of Mt. McPherson, the trees broke up the rays of a dawning sun.
Up the short trail to the Christmas tree farm at the top of Mt. McPherson, the trees broke up the rays of a dawning sun.
The entrance of the Christmas tree farm. When I explained to the tree seller that, no, I was not here to buy a tree but was a CA County Summit seeker, he joked, "We are a TREE farm, not a tourist company!"
The entrance of the Christmas tree farm. When I explained to the tree seller that, no, I was not here to buy a tree but was a CA County Summit seeker, he joked, "We are a TREE farm, not a tourist company!"
A poignant reminder of the preciousness of life: a note reading, "Climbed in memory of Bradley and John Hecox, by their father."
A poignant reminder of the preciousness of life: a note reading, "Climbed in memory of Bradley and John Hecox, by their father."
The note was by this marker of the U.S. Coast and Geodedic Survey, denoting the summit.
The note was by this marker of the U.S. Coast and Geodedic Survey, denoting the summit.
Never mind the blank expression on Felix's face; he was actually very happy today.
Never mind the blank expression on Felix's face; he was actually very happy today.