You know how Miley Cyrus sang “The Climb”?

Her main chorus goes:

” There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waitin’ on the other side
It’s the climb”

Those lyrics were on repeat the entire time Matty & I climbed Mission Peak in Frement, CA. I am sure those of y’all in the Bay Area have seen pictures of your friends climbing the iconic pole? Those people featured in the photos truly had to overcome many obstacles to get that one snapshot. Matty and I took a total of 2 and a half hours to get up to the summit and back on this 6-mile hike. We are regular hikers but for us, the struggle wasn’t the distance – it was the constant uphill climb and the terrain of Mission Peak. When we climbed up this trail, we were very grateful to have brought along TONS of water with us because we definitely needed it. The park’s guidelines actually recommend carrying 2 liters of water per person, and if you have dogs, extra water for them. If you have easily-burnt skin, make sure to apply sunscreen liberally or you will resemble a tomato (like Matty did after this hike). The reason for the sunscreen and the need for a lot of H20 is the fact that Mission Peak’s hiking trails and terrain offer no shade – the land is dry and whereas there are plants, they are of the dry grass variety.

While Matty and I were on the trails, we saw some VERY enthusiastic Mission Peakers. One of them was a biker whose wheels were literally 6 inches wide, supposedly to help him navigate through those
intense hills. In addition, we saw a couple of paragliders on their way up the hill, with their wings strapped to their backs. Mission Peak is a popular destination for the paragliders; the summit offers an optimal vantage point for these brave men of the skies as they scout for a place to land.
The iconic pole – “Mission Peeker” – at the top of Mission Peak has a backstory. The pole stands over 6 feet tall, and 2 feet deep, with 120 pounds of concrete as its foundation. It was sculpted by park ranger Leonard Page on December 27, 1990 to promote environmental awareness. Inside the pole’s steel tube, there is crystal, an Ohlone charmstone replica, a bottle of 1990 zinfandel wine, and five time capsules with articles and photographs, which were intended to be opened after 2090.

The best part about the Mission Peak hike, to be honest, is getting to the summit and looking down at the landscape before you. The skyline is amazing and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Mount Diablo even! Not to mention, you can look down at some of the people struggle-bussing to get up to the top, just like you were!! Teehee! 🙂 If you are up for a challenge, and like THE CLIMB, then make a quick trip to Mission Peak with some friends and get those calves to BURNNNN~~~~