12/27 - Soup Day

We carpooled from Jeanne's house to the fire road off Saklan Indian which leads up to the labyrinth. Our return followed the ridge south to Shadowhawk Way then east on Grey Eagle back to Saklan Indian; 1.5 miles (+ the labyrinth). 

Back at Jeanne's we enjoyed nibbles, wine, soup and dessert along with lots of friendly conversation to close out another wonderful year of Wednesdays!
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/0B0618

12/6 Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve

A dozen of us returned to Sobrante Ridge for the first time since Feb. 2014. It was a bright, breezy day and the 3 mile walk was just right.  http://flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/dQK1NX will show what it looked like on our last visit. 

The population on the knoll circled by Manzanita Loop is showing signs of a major infestation by the sudden oak death pathogen...very sad.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/76YJXq

After the walk folks with large vehicles drove to Benecia to help Susan move boxes of belongings to her new home in Rossmoor. The movers will be coming tomorrow, so she will soom be an East Bay resident again!

11-29 Briones

It was a bright and beautiful day such as occurs after a storm. Very quiet and refreshing. We walked the section of the Old Briones Road from the Bear Valley parking area to Valley Tr and then to the intersection of the Valley and Yerba Buena trails. There the group split into three. 7 of us (including me) returned the way we came for a walk of 3.4 miles. The three hikers wanting a more vigorous outing continued up Valley Trail to the Briones Crest Trail, turned left and circled back to the Old Briones Rd at the "pass" and then returned to the cars. 5 miles.  The most adventurous group went up Yerba Buena to Crescent Ridge, then down past the archery range. But instead of returning on Ivan Dickson Tr, they took the Bear Creek Tr which parallels the road on the ESE. 4 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/KCd537

11-22 Springhill

A dozen of us took a pleasant pre-Thanksgiving walk from the end of Springhill Rd into Briones. 5 of the group went on up the hill above the oak glade; the rest explored a side spur which dead ends at the park boundary before returning to the junction by the gate and making a loop further up the canyon. Total mileage for the non-adventurous 7 was 3 miles; more for the gang of 5.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6jPo5p

11-8 Mt Diablo

This was a rare fall trip to Mt Diablo; a very good choice on a day when the forecast called for rain by early afternoon and the sky was very gray to start. But 9 of us made the 3+ mile loop out Knobcone Point Rd, down to Sycamore Creek, then up Madrone Canyon on the "Trail Through Time". There were occasional random raindrops and a brief shower as we ate lunch, but no real rain. The real excitement came as we scrambled down and across and back up the washed out creek crossing just at the junction of the Madrone Canyon Tr, the Sycamore Creek Rd and the Trail through Time.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Y1Bdu2

I just discovered that I never posted last week, so here is the report for 11/1, too:

We began at the Old Briones Road entrance to Briones park and made a clockwise circle past the lagoons and eventually down Toyon trail to the Alhambra Rd entrance where the Jacksons had left their car as a driver shuttle back up the hill. The larger group (6) did some off trail exploration between the fenced pond and Toyon trail; the smaller group returned to the fenced pond and then came down Toyon. Ulla said it reminded her of the "old days" when it was assumed that you would walk cross country and/or get lost. It would be nice if the cows made paths which were easierwalking for humans! Distances 3.5 to 4 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/5wo81t

10-25 Mitchell Canyon

After two missed Wednesdays (smoke from Wine Country fires followed by wind and closed open space) we didn't care if the forecast was for HOT, we needed to get out on the trail. Eleven of us walked from the Mitchell Canyon parking area toward the upper end of the canyon and back. Lunch was at the picnic table under the monster oak 2 miles in. This was a quintessential California fall day! pleasant in the shade, hot in the sun, lots of birds, long shadows and wonderful colors.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/2w67k3
(warning...lots of grape leaf pictures)

10-18 No Hike

Red Fire Warnings. Closed parks and open space. Wind. Heat. No Hike

10-11 No Hike

This has been quite a week in northern CA. The terrible wildfires in the wine country have sent incredible smoke into the entire Bay Area. Warnings are constant to avoid outdoor activity. Public lands have been closed as a response to the high fire danger.

The picture was taken from my yard midday on Wednesday. The hills behind the school are barely visible and they are only a half mile away.

10-4 San Pablo Reservoir

This was a pleasant excursion for 13 Wednesday Walkers. We started at Kennedy Grove and picked up the Bay Area Ridge trail segment at the north end of the parking area. Most of us wandered thru the eucalyptus forest, crossed San Pablo Creek on adequate rocks and finally emerged to cross the entrance road just below the dam. From the crossing to the top of the dam was the only real "up". Once we were at lake level it was easy walking on the old paved road, in and out of the shade. We ate lunch on the deck at the marina and wandered back. It was a beautiful fall day for a 3.4 mile amble.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/77H54H

9/27 - Pine Canyon

Eight of us took a chance and walked on what was forecast to be a very hot day. And it certainly was hot by the time we got back to the cars, but the walk (2.8 miles) was leisurely, there was some shade and an occasional breeze. This turned out to be that dry time between summer and fall with very little "color". We had a nice morning with a snack stop at our turn around point (just before the trail enters MtD St Park) and ate lunch at the picnic area by the sports field before heading the final quarter mile to the cars.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9CWSq1

You might want to compare the color we here saw last September: https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7F2697

09/06 - Pt. Pinole

On a breezy/windy day with pleasant temperatures after the 100+ degrees over the weekend, 14 of us walked from the new entrance at the end of Atlas Rd to the recenty opened Dodsen marsh area. Lunch was enjoyed on nicely placed tables near the China Clipper spur trail. 4 1/4 miles.

For good information on the newly accessible marsh area, see: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/pt_pinole (scroll clear to the bottom of the page)

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/78C9aj

8/30 Huckleberry Preserve

There was a bit of a revision to plans for today's hike. We parked, as planned, at the Skyline staging area but then, instead of walking the west ridge of Redwood Park, 8 of us completed a 3.5 mile "lollipop" hike which took us counterclockwise around the Huckleberry Loop trail. With the heat promised for the weekend, it was great to spend time in the shaded woods. Fog had been extensive enough to leave damp patches on the trail and there was still water flowing in several drainages. We had lunch on one of the Manzanita barrens (#6 on the park map).

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9Kp040

Tilden - Inspiration Point to Lake Anza

We had a big group today...15 to start; tho Ron and Sylvia turned around when Ron felt his foot had had enough. We walked down Meadows Canyon Tr. to Wildcat Gorge Tr. then up to Lake Anza for lunch. We retraced our steps to the intersection with Curran Tr. and took that route back to the cars. 3.7 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/d0T27N

Caples week 8/7 - 8/11

This year the Caples group was split into two separate times. The early group went up the week of the 24th of July. Phred and Elaine went up Sunday 8-6 and left for further adventures on the east side of the Sierras on Wednesday, 8-9. Ulla and Karen arrived midday on Monday 8-7 and stayed until Saturday morning 8-12. The four of us hiked and had dinner together on Monday and Tuesday.

As always happens we saw some things we didn't expect and looked in vain for others. Missing this year for us were the flowers which grow really high (Alpine primrose, White Heather, the tiny alpine buckwheats, etc) as we did not go across the snow to Round Top Lake. We didn't see the washingtonianum lily on Mormon Emigrant, the white mariposas were finished blooming, we saw only leaves of the Dicentra uniflora, and the lovely Collomia grandiflora was absent entirely. But we saw blooming corn lilies for the first time in several years, there were plenty of iris,  the red heather was plentiful around Winnemucca, and fireweed was blooming just about everywhere.

8-7-17
Phred sent an e-mail suggesting this as a worthwhile stop on the way up...he was right!
Leek Springs on Mormon Emigrant Trail

 https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/E133Nr


Old Hwy 88 from Red Lake up toward the overlook



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/NZ99Q0

8-8-17
Big Meadow - Tahoe Rim Trail from the parking area on Hwy 89; a hike Shirley suggested. It would probably be more interesting earlier in the season.



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/CcU447


8-9-17
A morning hike from Woods up to Winnemucca is our favorite!



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/3Z66T3


8-10-17
We took several short walks as we both felt a bit achy from the previous hike.



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/0B5951


8-11-17
We went up to Meiss Saddle from the Carson Pass parking area and then just wandering about looking at flowers and views! It really impressed us how important it is to look closely at areas which, from a distance, look barren. We had explored the east side of the valley first before climbing toward the crest following the line of posts. Looking back across the valley the lush gardens we had visited were totally obscured.



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/b94fJz


8-17
Caples Lake Resort has seen some real improvements this year under the management of John's kids. Son Joe is doing an especially great job and was never too busy to talk to guests. The deck is in good repair and the dining area and lounge on the ground floor of the lodge are open. Ulla and I took our dinners down to the dining room Thursday and Friday and enjoyed eating out of the wind but with the same marvelous view.



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/hwq9wp

7/26 and 8/2

8/2 HEAT WAVE
It was 89 at the summit of Mt Diablo at 8am.
Shirley. wisely, didn't even bother to plan an outing which would require a cancellation.

The 7/26 hike was along the east shore of Lake Chabot toward Honker Bay. The trail is shaded with rolling ups and downs, with choices on distance:  3.5 miles to the bridge and back. or 4.5 around to the point where we have had lunch before, or if needing a pre-Caples workout --- add a mile by doing Cameron's Loop --- up one wooded canyon and down another to meet us for lunch.

I did not hike as my foot still objects to such distances on pavement.

7/19 Redwood RP

With the closure of the Canyon Rd bridge, access to Redwood Park is easiest from Skyline. 14 of us walked out the East Ridge Tr, down Prince Tr. and returned via Stream Tr. A 3 mile hike. It was lucky that there is so much shade. By the time we were back to the cars the temperature was into the 80's. Down in the canyon it was very pleasant, but the sunny parts of the uphill sections were quite warm.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/3P53rE

7/12 from Rancho Laguna Park

13 of us did a yo yo hike from Rancho Laguna Park along the EBMUD Kings Canyon Tr.  San Leandro Reservoir was much lower than we expected; maybe in anticipation of excess snow-melt run off. It was quite warm in the sun and we were glad to eat lunch in the shade back at the park. The group didn't all make the entire path shown on the map. Some stopped at the Bench, others before the steep-ish ascent which precedes the last westward straight section. Distances ranged from 3 miles to about 4 1/4.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/5ihpEW



LAST WEEK
7/5 Joaquin Miller

Altho we started from the same trailhead on Skyline that we have used in the past, we tried a different route: Palos Colorados Tr, then Sunset Trail to Chaparral Trail and up to the horse arena. However instead of immediately crossing Skyline, we took Bayview and Castle Park trails to the West Ridge Tr. and back below Chabot Observatory. We dropped into the Redwood Bowl for lunch. After following the Ridge Tr to the Roberts entrance road, we crossed Skyline and came down Big Trees Tr as in the past. Once on big Trees Tr I thought we were "home free" as we have hiked that way several times. But I goofed and turned right where I should have turned left and we ended up making a circle back to our starting point on Skyline. A second try was successful, especially after a dog walker told us the trick was to keep left. The trail we took was not marked on any of our maps and on Google Earth it doesn't show at all since it is under the trees. I'm guessing we added another 1/3 mile. We did, however, find a short cut back to the cars as we neared the bottom of Big Trees and that saved us a 1/10 of a mile :-)

There is one steep up...300 feet in a quarter mile on Chapparal Tr; after that it was just undulating and finally down to the cars. Mileage just over 3.6 as planned, closer to 4 as executed.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9r7996

06/28 - Tilden

There were 16 of us today on a hike which started in thick, drippy fog and ended in beautiful sunshine. There were many more flowers than we expected (lots of monkeyflower, clarkia and wonderful salvia as well as berries on the red elderberry) and some beautiful views  This was a partial circle starting from the Steam Train parking lot on Grizzly Peak, heading north on Vollmer Peak trail, Lupine trail up to Sea View Tr and return along Lower Big Springs Tr starting from just above the Quarry. Juanita shuttled drivers back up to get the cars. The hike was just under 3.5 3.5 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/sTxH81

6/14 Fernandez Ranch

There were a baker's dozen of us hiking on a clear and warm but (thankfully) breezy day. The John Muir Land Trust opened a new section of Fernandez Ranch at the beginning of June. This was likely the last practical chance we would have to hike there until the cooler weather of fall. We hiked up Windmill Trail to the gate where we have often had lunch, then followed the new section of trail to the north and west through open grassland before circling back eastward via Woodland Trail and then south to rejoin the Windmill Trail. Distance about 4 miles (thank's Monique, for your iPhone GPS data) tho Google Earth says only 3.7.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/M0808y

06/07 - Rush Ranch and Spring Luncheon

Twenty two of us today! And the weather cooperated. It was cool and windy with an approaching front, but that is far better than hot. However it was hazy and the views not as great as they had been when Jeanne, Elaine, Phred and I scouted the area in mid-May. You will see some pictures from that earlier trip as well as the ones I took today. Anything with a very blue sky is from the earlier trip!

We convened at Rush Ranch, a Solano Land Trust property that is part of the San Francisco Bay National Esturine Research Area. The larger group split in two with the one group setting off for an approximately two mile loop along the marsh and back across the open grassland. The others opted for a stroll out to a rise overlooking the marsh and back, just under 1 mile. Reports from the first group of hikers was that the trail is very overgrown and they had to do a good deal of bush whacking.

It is a short drive back to downtown Suisun City and our lunch location at the Athenian Grill. We had one of the covered porches which nicely held our group. After lunch some of us walked about looking at the public art and some went down to the Suisun Wildlife Center before heading home.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/48ibJ8

05/31 - Ring Mountain and Old St. Hilary's

Eleven of us made a two part Tiburon excursion on the first sunny day in ages.

Part one was Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve. One group headed off briskly for an extended walk not shown on the map as I was with the second group which was more intent on looking at the flowers. The shorter hike was just over a mile.

Part two was a visit to Old St. Hilary's in Tiburon proper. After lunch on the steps enjoying the view we wandered about looking for the rare Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. niger - Tiburon Jewel Flower. Luckily Phred knew where to look or we would have never noticed it.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/22z0DG

5/24 Pine Canyon from Castle Rock RP

There were 17 of us today. We all started together from the Castle Rock Park, but split into three groups by the big rock at Sulpher Spring. 5 stayed in the canyon; 7 made a loop via the Buckeye Ravine Tr; and 5 made the long loop up to the Briones Diablo Tr and down Little Yosemite Tr. We all met at the tables just before the Mt Diablo SP boundary. After lunch we all returned along the canyon. There were 4 stream crossings which required balancing on rocks. And there were plenty of flowers including a "first" for us: Salvia spathacea blooming on the slope to the west side of Stage Rd. Susan provided the following quote: The Bowerman/Ertter flora says: Subsequent to the 1944 edition, in which it was noted that “No exact record of the station is extant, It was (Bioletti’s) custom to climb the mountain from the north and to descend on the west side,” a hiker brought the Pine Canyon population to Bowerman’s attention. Several localized colonies have subsequently been verified in Pine Canyon. No other East Bay localities are currently known.   A lovely day!!!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8g99N1

5/17 - Mt Diablo

There was a big group today - 18 to start. We walked from Juniper Camp out the Deer Flat Rd, then took Burma Rd down to the spring fed fish pond. Most of us went on the additional third of a mile to Moses Rock Spring and the second pond. After lunch we trudged back up the hill. Just under 4 miles, round trip.

The views were grand and the weather about perfect for that hike.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/jLL68V

5/10 Mt. Diablo

The before lunch walk was the flower rich trail to Devil's Elbow and on to Prospector's Gap. Ten of us started and were joined by Susan shortly after we turned along the east side of the mountain. The full out and back is roughly 2 miles; several turned back sooner. The trail is even more slippery than it was the last time we were there; lots of loose gravel. But it was well worth the effort!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/k0mP38

After lunch we made a counter-clockwise loop of the Mary Bowerman Trail for another mile...YES the Lewisia were in bloom!!!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/tY1659

5/3 - Chabot Regional Park

Starting at the Clyde Woolridge Staging Area (where Skyline Blvd meets Grass Valley Rd) we followed the mostly shady Cascade Trail to the junction with Columbine Tr and then returned. About 2.75 miles was plenty on a hot, muggy day.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/215648

4/20 Mitchell Canyon

15 of us walked from the Mitchell Canyon entrance in various groupings. Everyone went as far as where Red Rd up White Canyon meets the Mitchell Canyon Fire Rd. Then things got scrambled. Jeanne and Karen stayed in the canyon and had lunch on a log a bit over 3/4 of a mile further on. John, Susan, Delia and Monique went furthest (to the edge of the park up on Olofson Ridge). Of the remaining 9, Sylvia turned around part way to the ridge and the others went as far as the junction of Olofson Ridge Rd and Red Rd. The return was complex, too, as a big group took the Globe Lily trail and others stayed on the fire road. All agreed that there were plenty of flowers and that it was a great outing. Distances ranged from 3 1/4 miles to nearly 6.

4-5 Tilden To Sibley

This is the segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail that includes the "Skyline Gardens", an amazingly rich area of natives which Glen Schneider has been weeding and nurturing for a number of years.  Skyline Gardens is the section of EBMUD land between Tilden’s Steam Trains and the Caldecott Tunnel (Hwy 24).  This is the most botanically diverse area of its size (about 250 acres) in the entire East Bay.  237 native species have been identified so far.  There are more native species here than at Huckleberry Preserve (166 species), Claremont Canyon Preserve (177 species), Mitchell Canyon (127 species), and even the Mt. Diablo Summit zone (125 species).  170 native plant species are found along a mile-and-a-quarter of trail.

Thirteen started from the parking lot for the Tilden Steam Train and followed the trail south to Sibley. Karen, Jeanne and Donna only went as far as Fish Ranch Rd where my car had been left. Lunch was scheduled for Sibley and a driver shuttle was arranged so that the return only went as far as the south end of Fish Ranch, About 4 1/4 miles for the full distance; only a mile and a half for the three. It was wonderful to be back on the trail!

Obviously my pictures only cover the first segment, you will have to wait for Phred's posting to see the Fish Ranch to Sibley part.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/vq1281

3/29 - Rockville Hills

This is Shirley's report; foot issues kept me from hiking.

The 13 of us were scattered all over but managed to get together for lunch.  Something was lacking in the leadership for sure.  At one point I called it Independence Day.  It was nice to show off the park to first-timers, Bob and Nick, and maybe Monique was new to it too.

Lots of water everywhere, even found bunches of tadpoles in the trail around the over-full lake.

I only took 14 pictures.  All the expected flowers showed up, except there were no sightings of the pipevine, red fritillary, or clematis.  It was a butter-'n-eggs and goldfields kind of day, very warm, with enough lupine and  poppies to have someone shout "California".

3/23 Mt Tam

We made a clockwise loop from the Rock Springs parking area, going out Simmons Tr to Barth's Retreat (lunch) then returning via Benstein Tr. This was a Thursday hike...rain Wednesday morning and a desire to see the Calypsos dictated the change. There were nine of us for the 2.5 mile jaunt.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/0WS7c3

3/15 - Lime Ridge Open Space

17 of us walked at clockwise loop of a bit over 3 miles at Line Ridge Open Space. We didn't take the exact route which Shirley had planned, but were very happy with the walk. We took a short single track trail to the Paradise Valley Tr; the return was via Buckeye Tr to Ohlone Tr. The black sage was in full bloom and the white ceanothus, too. But we also saw lots of other spring flowers.

I've been walking with the group for almost 6 years and this is the first time we have hiked at Lime Ridge in all that time. It is a great spring walk!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/N483x2

3/8 - Lafayette-Moraga Trail

After a week much more rain, hail, (even snow on Diablo) Shirley thought a paved route would be advisable.  15 of us walked from the parking lot opposite the St Mary's soccer fields to the Lafayette Community Center and back. Nine then braved mud and looped behind the center and around to the playing fields before crossing back to the trail. The others retraced their steps, avoiding the muck. This was short, 2.5  to 3.7 miles. Coffee afterwards at Si Si in Moraga.

For a map of the trails around the Lafayette Community Center:
http://www.lovelafayette.org/home/showdocument?id=963

For pictures of today's walk:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/54nVqt

3/1 - Black Diamond

There were 12 of us today; we started together going up the Chaparral Loop Trail (the sandstone is badly eroded in places), then across the ridge and down to the footbridge in Manhattan Canyon. The group split there with some heading back down and the rest of us going up.  It wasn't a long hike for either group - 2.5 miles for the shorter loop and 3.5 for the longer - but there was plenty of rough UP to challenge the unused leg muscles. 

It was a beautiful day! The group of 7 saw plenty of flowers, too. The most impressive had to be the field of Indian Warriors adjacent to the Black Diamond Trail (same place we saw them last February between the lower junction of Manhattan Canyon Tr and the gate at the upper junction). And birds! lots of vultures and some other hawks. I heard red wing blackbirds, but didn't see them. Bush birds and jays, of course and I spotted a pair of bluebirds (brilliant) by the now FULL ponds below the cemetery.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/j6HMHY

2/22 Iron Horse Trail

An even dozen of us (amazingly half men and half women!) took advantage of the first no-rain day in a week to walk along the Iron Horse Trail from Livorna Rd to Hap Magee Park in Danville. One way distance was 2.68 miles. Some walked further and the group split with some returning directly and others enjoying lunch at an Alamo cafe.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/M119r2

Hap Magee has a storied past. A barn façade at the park entrance commemorates the park’s former life as a ranch for longhorn steer. Before the cattle called it home, the site was a summer camp for San Francisco orphans, known as Camp Swain. 

http://danvillesanramon.com/square/2005/09/09/who-was-hap-magee

2/15 - Strawberry Canyon and UC Botanic Garden

We started from the parking area at the corner of Grizzly Peak and Centennial Way and walked down the canyon. In spite of all the rains, there were only a few really muddy spots. We saw lots of early spring flowers in the 4 1/4 miles to the Botanic Garden. After lunch, Lee gave us an introduction to the Nor Cal Society of Botanical Artists  exhibit (art representing seeds and seed vessels) and then we were on our own to enjoy it! We had about an hour to wander in the Garden as well. A dozen made the hike and we were joined at the Garden by Pat, Polly and Jeanne. Depending on how you wandered in the Garden, distance was about 5 miles for the day.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8c8b10

2/1 - Crockett Hills

It was a very gray day with a nasty bite to the wind. But 9 of us took advantage of the "calm" before the storm to walk counter-clockwise along the Edwards Creek Trail - about 2.25 miles. We hoped to find Dirca, Oso berry and the white flowering current. Unfortunately trail crews had whacked indiscriminately and a good bit of the stand of Dirca we usually visit was cut down. We were probably a bit early for Oso Berry, but saw what might prove to be that plant beginning to push buds. The Ribes was blooming in the spots we have seen it previously. We were back to cars by 11;30, so took ourselves home to eat lunches where it was actually warm :-)

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/S0LsY0

1/25 Kings Canyon Loop

There were 13 of us on our first rain free Wednesday of 2017. The original plan was to hike in Redwood Regional Park, but storm damage had closed Stream Trail so plans were altered. The San Leandro Reservoir was higher than any of us remember seeing it, with water only a few feet under the Rimer Creek bridge. The trail was sloppy in places, nearly dry in others. Lots of birds and green growing things. A lovely day to be out walking! We went further than intended with the "short" group covering about 5 1/4 miles and the long group probably a half mile (or more) further.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Z597NL