Mount Umunhum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mount Umunhum
Mount Umunhum from the Northeast
Elevation	3,486 feet (1,063 metres)
Location	California, United States
Range	Santa Cruz Mountains
Coordinates	37°09′38″N, 121°53′51″W
Topo map	USGS Los Gatos
Type	Sedimentary rock
Age of rock	Oligocene
Easiest route	Road (restricted access)

Mount Umunhum (Ohlone, possibly meaning hummingbird resting place) is the second highest peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California (after Loma Prieta Peak). The mountain is located in Santa Clara County, southeast of Los Gatos and south of South San Jose. The peak can be easily recognized in the South Bay Area by the large concrete box that sits atop the summit.

The summit of Mount Umunhum is the site of the former Almaden Air Force Station, an early warning radar station that operated from 1958–1980. Most of the mountain is located in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, although the summit is closed to the public due to lead and asbestos contamination of the former Air Force site, as well as access issues with local property owners.

Each year, Mount Umunhum is dusted with snow a few times.

Even though the mountain is off limits, some make the risky ascent to the top for the adventure. Hikers are routinely arrested in the attempt, and those who are found on the grounds of the old Air Force base may face an additional fine. Due to the area's restricted nature, many rumors about its residents have spawned in the local hiking community.

In the fall of 2005, local Los Gatos teenager David Alexander saved the summit area from a grass fire he saw on one of the webcams (now restricted) near the summit.