Sonoma County Highpoint Trip Report
Cobb Moutain west rim (4,480 feet)
Date: January 2001
Author: Adam Helman
I attempted this from the east side of Cobb Mountain as per the description in Gary Suttle's book.
After driving my rented car north through Middletown on SR 175, I approached the hamlet of
Whispering Pines and parked
at the Whispering Pines Tavern (which is mentioned in Suttle's book) at 6 AM.
It had been snow over SR175 for the last few miles so I knew this would not be a walk in the park.
I planned on meeting Edward Earl at 6:30 AM who'd be arriving from south of the Bay area.
One may locate the hamlet of Whispering Pines on Acme.com as well as in Gary Suttle's book.
Edward never showed up by 7 AM (which is a separate story) so I walked alone
up a side road that led west and uphill past many private residences.
The relevant street names coincide exactly with Suttle's description
(Maple Shadows Road etc...). The road was covered in snow and ice.
I reached a locked gate on the road after perhaps 1/2 mile
and simply walked around it. This left me alone in a gorgeous winter wonderland spectacle without
a trace of humankind - since the road was invisible owing to snow cover and all property had
been left behind.
I was trudging through 6-8 inches of fresh snow
for 2,000 vertical feet to the summit of Cobb Mountain with the radar/microwave equipment on top.
At these summit towers I resigned myself to no chance
of finding the liner on the west slope, that is, the actual highpoint of Sonoma County - "impossible"
with so much of the white stuff.
Returned the route of ascent with a total time of 4-5 hours round trip including lunch break.
Addendum: I am planning a return visit this Fall season 2001 - possibly with Edward Earl.