Please make sure someone knows your route and when they should expect you back. Take a SPOT tracker if possible. If you head down the Black Cone a Trail, make sure to fill up on water at Pine a Ridge before you start. Just a short detour but well worth the trouble. Have a great hike!

I intend to include a few details here when I'm done.
I have done a couple of backpacking trips with groups and by myself in the Ventana and Silver Peak Wilderness.
A women recently completed the Condor Trail, even more impressive.

I am now even more impressed. I realized you were not going to Vado but even on that trip I struggled quite a bit and that is actually a short trip. Please give a report when you return. How much wilderness backpacking experience do you have?

Thanks for the info.

I will not be going to Vado Camp. I will be going from Bottcher's Gap to VDC, down Puerto Suello Trail to the Carmel River Trail. From the Carmel River Trail I will make my way to Pine Ridge Trail from either Bear Basin connector or to Divide Camp. Then it's either Black cone Trail to Marble Peak Trail or continue along Pine Ridge Trail to Terrace Creek Trail. Up Terrace Creek Trail means more fire road walking but I'll also be closer to water. And if for some reason I want to bail out the Big Sur Station is that way.

I understand Puerto Suello is out of shape but that some flagging may exist and that with some route finding, I'll get down the little connector.

The North Coast Ridge Road looks like a fire road. The North Coast Ridge Trail looks a little over grown in some spots.

From North Coast Ridge Trail I'll get to Cone Peak via Gamboa.

From Cone Peak I have a few options.
I'd like to walk down either Vicente Flat Trail or Stone Ridge Trail/Vicente Flat.
I could get water at Trail Springs, go down to Kirk Creek Campground, Highway walk to Mill Creek, go up Mill Creek to the ridge, and then walk South Coast Ridge Road to Willow Creek Trail. WCT to Alder Creek and take Buckeye Trail to Salmon Creek Trail, to Dutra Flat, and out.

Or I walk the road from Cone Peak to Willow Creek. The way is a lot less mileage, a lot less singletrack, and not a lot of water on the ridge. And a lot more fire road walking. There's a chance of getting some water by asking around Kirk Creek Campground or some locals I know through a friend around Mill Creek.

wow I was thrilled to get to Vado. It is five dollars a day. I do not believe there is any max time. I would look at all the trail reports, It sounds like you are experienced, I found some areas were taking me hours more than what I was expecting to get through.

Hello
What are the options for extended parking at Bottcher's Gap?
I was looking at the Forest Service website and it mentions there is a $35 Annual Day Use Parking Pass but on the website for the passes it appears there is no longer a $35 option.
There is a $10/day option but that seems steep.

I plan on parking there for 8 nights, maybe 9.

Squaring up the details of my itinerary. I am hoping to hike from Bottcher's Gap to Ragged Point Inn and hitch hike back. It looks like there is a window in the weather with a few dashes of rain.
Biggest concern is trail Conditions between VDC and Marble Peak along Puerto Suello, Black Cone, and Marble Peak and the boogeyman.