5/25 - Shell Ridge (WCOS)

Shirley had planned to walk the Green Ranch Rd on Mt Diablo, but the morning started very foggy with no mountain even visible. The thought of walking in wind blown fog was not very appealing so we changed course and hiked at Shell Ridge (WC Open Space) which was below the fog. The group of 11 were treated to donuts by the McDougalls which was a wonderful way to start.

From the Sutherland Dr. entrance to Shell Ridge Open Space we walked clockwise around the "balloon" on the map: Fossil Hill Tr, Corral Springs Tr, Deer Lake Tr, Upper Buck Loop Tr, back to Corral Springs Tr to Ginder Gap then up Ridge Top Tr. with lunch in the shade of oaks below the ridge and finally down the single track on the north side of the ridge to rejoin Fossil Hill Tr.. 4.65 miles.

It really is turning into summer, with dry grass and lots of  Clarkia.

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5/18 Pt Pinole

It was a good group today: 14 humans and Meadow, the lab. Shirley chose Pt Pinole to avoid the inland heat and it was a great idea as the Bay breezes were pleasantly cool. We walked a clockwise route with lunch in the eucalyptus grove just south of the fishing pier. Most of us walked about 4.25 miles. There was real pleasure of seeing flowers we didn't expect: Calochortus luteus and Brodiaea elegans.

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5/11 - Briones

A warm day welcomed Ron and Sylvia's return after a month long trip to Israel and Jordan. Ten of us hiked us out the Seaborg Tr., up to Crest Tr and down Valley Tr to Old Briones Rd. Our lunch stop was on the far side of the gate where Yerba Buena Tr starts up the ridge; this gave us some shade as well as freedom from cow "pies". It was a bit over a 5 mile circle with an elevation change of about 700' up then down.

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5/4 - Sunol

10 of us started from the Green Barn parking lot on a very overcast, hazy Wednesday. We made a clockwise loop up Indian Joe Creek Tr to Cave Rocks Rd, then up to Cerro Este Rd. Most of the group returned via McCorkle Tr, but Ed, his friend Larry, Ulla and Karen took Cerro Este Rd down to Little Yosemite and then Camp Ohlone Rd back to the parking lot. Each group saw flowers the other didn't: Calochortus luteus on Canyon View Tr vs. C. venustus and Clarkia elegans on Ohlone Rd. We all saw lots of butterfles; it seemed as if the checkerspots had just emerged as many were very easily approachable, especially on the upper section of Indian Joe.

Distances were 5.2 miles (the big group) or 6.2 miles (the 4) with elevation gain (and loss) of 1330'

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