12/02 - Albany Bulb

 

Eight of us (plus a brief "hello" visit with Delia) and 3 dogs spent a pleasant morning exploring new and re-imagined art work at the Albany Bulb. Just two miles but my legs can feel the effects of some of the scrambling.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8i31Bs

Not very many pictures from earlier years...sometimes it was a matter of weather (rain!!) and in 2018 it was our luncheon at the McDougalls
    2011    Briones Reservoir, North shore
    2013    WCOS:  Acalanes Ridge from Sousa Dr
    2015    Briones RP: Valley Trail, then Crest Trail to Crescent Ridge Trail and Seaborg Trail
    2017    Sobrante Ridge:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/BP76R8

11/25 - WCOS from Borges Ranch

On the day before Thanksgiving a dozen of us and three dogs enjoyed a glorious autumn day in the foothills of Mt Diablo. For the first time, as far as I know, we started from the Borges Ranch parking area, walking clockwise up to Ginder Gap and then back to the cars. Just under 3 miles,

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/nz4yAo

We did not hike last week because the weather was too uncertain.

11/11 - Shell Ridge

 

It was a very gray morning as a big group made a counterclockwise loop at Shell Ridge, starting from the Sutherland Drive entrance. There were 14 of us plus Oscar and Obi. At Ginder Gap the group split with half making the hike up to the ridge and half completing the loop along the valley on the north side. Distances about equal - 3.1 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7P82ZG

And here are some photos from past years. The 2016 pictures show that sometimes, even if rarely, we have early rain.

    2011    Briones
    2012    Phoenix Lake
    2013    Shell Ridge (from Snyder Ln entrance)
    2016    Briones Reservoir, south shore
    2019    Benicia

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/f2B117

11/4 - Mitchell Canyon

 

There were 10 of us today on about as perfect a fall day as could be. Warm in the sun, but nice in the shade and an occasional breeze. No tarantulas this year, but a rafter of turkeys at the start. Some of the grapevines were still fully green, some of the leaves had simply dried up, but a fair number showed the colors we have come to expect. However we didn't see any rose hips or berries on the Hollyleaf redberry (look at the Retrospective for those!). We walked out the Mitchell Cyn fire road just past the table under the big oaks; about half went on a bit further. 4+ miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/w4Ja0s

Prior years:

    2014      Tennessee Valley
    2015      Marina Bay and the Rosie Museum
    2017      Mt Diablo: Curry Pt Rd then down to the Trail Thru Time
    2018      Pt Pinole
    2019      Mt Diablo: Mitchell Cyn

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/261073

10/28 - Canal Trail

 

After days of wind, power shut offs, high fire danger, park closures, etc. We opted for the urban rather than the wild. The walk was one we had done in Dec 2015, from Heather Farms to Larkey Park along the Contra Costa Canal Trail. 10 of us and Oscar enjoyed the 4+ mile walk.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/4x1168

10/07 - Wlldcat Marsh, Richmond

There were 10 of us today on a cool, overcast day with moderate air quality. Elaine discovered a section of the SF Bay Trail which is on property managed by the West County Wastewater District and Republic Services (think a garbage facility). The trail makes a circle, but the northern portion is temporarily closed. Even so, we walked just over 3 miles on an out and back. Everyone felt it would be worth a return visit.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9K7m8f 

And a look back at former 1st week of October hikes:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/451G79

9-23 Dotson Marsh, Pt Pinole

It was wonderful to be back walking after 6 weeks of heat and smoke. 11 of us walked an out and back route from the Atlas Rd parking lot to the end of the Cordgrass Jetty Tr. I mis-read my prior walk (2017) information. The distance I had noted was one way, so we walked close to 4 miles instead of the advertised two.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/C100z1

During the weeks of heat and smoke I kept up the "retrospectives". Here are those links:

8-19:       https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/ZB6c5X

8-27:       https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/39FAGt

9-3:         https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7277G0

9-10:       https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/a308aR

9-17:       https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/yH915B

Here is a picture taken from my back door at 8am on Apocalypse Wednesday,  9/9; it stayed pretty much the same all day, getting darker rather than lighter.

08/19 no hike

I am so glad we didn't try to walk today. As if the heat was not bad enough*, the smoke from lightning caused fires is dreadful.

Here are pictures from previous years when we had better hiking weather:

     2013    Tilden: Inspiration Pt to Lake Anza

     2014    Sibley from the Tunnel Road entrance

    2015    Valle Vista to St Mary's College

    2016    Redwood:  out Stream Trail, up Mill and French and down Chown to the Bridle Tr.

    2017    Tilden: down Meadows Canyon Tr to Wildcat Gorge Tr. then up to Lake Anza
                for lunch; back Curran Tr

    2018    from Skyline Equestrian Center to Bort Meadows

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/ZB6c5X

*Friday 107, Saturday 108, Sunday 106, Monday 99, Tuesday 104, and 98 as I write this at 1pm on Wednesday

08/12 - Sibley

We started just as the fog was lifting. By the time we reached the ridge it was clear and getting hot. So it was good that we were going to be in the shade, mostly, for the rest of the hike.

Starting from the Tunnel Rd entrance, we went up the open grassy slope, viewed the larger labyrinth, walked down the shaded south side of the Round Top Loop Tr; regathered at the Skyline parking lot and headed down the canyon trail which is our usual ascent. 3 mile or a little more.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/dN03dX

and a few from prior years:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/49fv99

08/05 - Briones Reservoir, North shore

The weather was gray, cool and breezy as 14 of us headed out Oursan Trail along the north shore of Briones Reservoir. Distances varied as some turned around before others, but credit most with 4 miles. There were many comments about how it looked and felt like early autumn.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/T48j77

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Xef988 for a few retrospective pictures

07/29 - Tilden

There was a big group today -16 hikers and Oscar. We started at Inspiration Point, went down The Meadow Canyon Tr and returned via Wildcat Gorge and Curran Trails. We started in the fog; the sun came out and we were lucky to have shade coming back up the
hill. 3 Miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6T8993

And a few pictures from past years...
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8Hn7ao

07/22 - Kings Canyon Loop trail from Valle Vista

We are lucky to be in one of those summer patterns with morning fog to moderate the temperatures. There were 13 of us plus Oscar and Obi today. We did an out and back along the Kings Canyon Loop Tr for a total of 3.25 miles (John went much further!). There were a surprising number of interesting things to look at.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/vvG388

Only a few pictures in the retrospective. Late July is beginning to look like fall in many years:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Cn9n08

07/08 - Pacheco Marsh

There were just 8 of us  (and 2 dogs) today. This was an introduction to an area which adjoins the JMLT/EMRPD/Central San restoration project. It was very warm with no shade, so we were glad to amble a mile and a half and call it a morning.

For more information on the restoration project see: https://www.jmlt.org/pacheco_marsh.html

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/U526i3 

07/01 - Redwood

11 of us started from the main parking area in the valley at Redwood RP. We walked out Stream Trail as far as the picnic area by the junction with Fern Trail. 6 of us retraced our steps while the other 5 went up Fern Trail and, I believe, made the loop  back via French.  2.75 miles for the valley out and back; more like 3.5 for the upper loop.

There were so many comments about the dead vegetation along Pinehurst Rd. that I stopped on the way back to investigate. I'm fairly certain it is broom which has been sprayed in an attempt at control.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7YgCon

And another retrospective...This one includes the very first hike I made with you (Marin Headlands on 6 July 1911)

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/14S2o4

06/24 - Pt. Pinole

This is the time of year when it can be sweltering inland and barely 60 on the coast. We aimed for the middle ground, so to speak, and walked at Pt Pinole Regional Park. The fog was just beginning to lift as we started out and it was quite pleasant. I forgot to check the tide tables and we were lucky to be there just at low tide. That gave us views we don't usually get.

Very few flowers, but plenty of birds...gulls, of course, but also a great blue heron, egrets, cormorants and even an osprey! No picture of that one from me; I rarely carry a long lens.

This was another morning walk. 13 masked hikers and Oscar and Obi, who may breathe freely, enjoyed the fresh air and mild temps. We made a CW loop from the Atlas Rd entrance. Those who walked to the end of the pier registered about 3.2 miles; the rest of us less. The pier is 1/4 mile long.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/970PT8

06/10 - Briones

It has been 13 weeks since we walked together. There is enough loosening of restrictions now that Idecided to try for a hike this Wednesday. Things will, of necessity, be quite different: no pink wall carpools, physical distancing including splitting the group into smaller sub-groups with extra space between, masks (to hand if not actually on), any dogs on leash 100% of the time (new EBRPD rule).

My plan is to meet at the main Bear Creek staging area at Briones (where we met for last year's picnic) at 9am and make a loop of about 3.3 miles up Briones Crest Tr and down Abrigo Valley Tr. If we do the up first while it is still relatively cool we will have the shade for much of the return. This is a relatively short hike, so water and a snack should be sufficient. Remember that 1) the forecast for tomorrow is HOT so bring plenty of water and 2) all restrooms are still closed!

Things changed from when I sent out the notice on Tuesday. The heat and the available shade were plenty of reason for a last minute revamp of the route. Nine of us walked out Abrigo Valley and looped CCW up to the ridge and then came down Deer Creek Tr. The steep south end of the Briones Crest Tr, in full sun, just didn't appeal to any of us. It was hot, but there were occasional breezes and it was wonderful to be "on the trail again". Instead of the advertised 3.3 miles we walked 3.7

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/STksn3

And since I took so few pictures today, here are some bonus retrospective ones from the 2nd week in June:

    6-12-2012     Redwood (but nothing worth sharing)
    6-12-2013     Ring Mt (but I was out of town)
    6-10-2014     Ring Mt
    6-10-2015     no hike - rain!
    6-08-2016     Mt Diablo: Green Ranch
    6-14-2017     Fernandez Ranch
    6-13-2018     Ring Mt
    6-12-2019     Pt Pinole

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/74bmG9 

A long 3 months

Ever since the middle of March, we have been under shelter in place orders which precluded our normal group hikes. Now, 13 weeks, later restrictions are easing and parks are reopening.

While we were locked down, I sent weekly links to retrospectives for the week; just to remind everyone of the wonderful places we have been and the variety of things we have seen:

3/18     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/YWQ2v7
3/25     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/3NQ100
4/01     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/X3m0np
4/08     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/v9Gb0x
4/15     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/423J6P
4/22     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/5Jvx54

4/29     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8pn5Z7

5/06     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6Ni4J8

5/13     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/4y9vQM

5/20     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9759q5

5/27     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9GY8bG

6/03     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/3x2Be8

03/11 - Albany Hill

12 of us were treated to a guided tour of Albany Hill Park with Margot Cunningham (a member of the Albany Parks and Recreation staff as well as a lead volunteer in the restoration of the native habitats on Albany Hill). This was a short walk (about 1.25 mi) with lots of stops to look, listen and learn. Thanks to Elaine for arranging this special outing.

After the tour, Delia invited us to eat our lunches in her garden. It has been a long while since the Wednesday folks were there an there have been lots of changes in the 10 years they have been working on the back yard. It was wonderful to look at and talk about the plants and how the garden has developed over the years.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/19J3Fd

Here is a repeat of some of the links I put in the hike announcement:

The Friends of Albany Hill (check the plant list on the Plants tab)
https://friendsofalbanyhill.org/history-of-friends-of-albany-hill/

For History of the fight to keep the hill as open space and a page of related resources:
https://tendancienthill.org/history-of-albany-hill/

and a bit about the cross and associated controversy:
http://albanyhill4all.weebly.com/faq.html

03/04 - Walnut Creek Open Space

This was a day that felt more like May than March...bright and clear, high 70's with a gentle breeze. The grass is still mostly green, but drying already where the soil is thin. There were very few flowers. But in places the buttercups were thick. The few fiddlenecks were taller than the ones we saw last week at Rockville Hills, but still stunted. There were a few patches of mustard. That was about it for bloom except for a few bunches of CA poppies. But green grass and new leaves provided a wide variety of colors. There were a dozen of us if you count Oscar. We made a CCW loop of about 3.7 miles from the Whitecliff TH.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/LN7868

02/26 - Rockville Hills

A good choice for today! A dozen of us visited Rockville Hills for the first time in three years. The effects of low rainfall were obvious in the short flowers, drying grass and low pond levels. However we timed the trip correctly to see the Scarlet Fritillary in bloom! It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the high 70s. And it was Susan's birthday which called for celebration. After the walk (only a bit over 2.5 miles for most of us) we headed to Little Knopp's for ice cream before the drive home.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/ET1K66

2/19 - Huckleberry

Susan and Geoff led 15 of us on today's hike. There was a great deal of damage from the wind storm 2 weeks ago which was very discouraging. But we did see some flowers and it was an altogether lovely day to be out and moving. About 2.6 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/889odT

02-12 Black Diamond

The majority of the group of 11 walked a clockwise route up Chaparral Loop Tr to the Ridge and then down to the bridge and up Manhattan Canyon. The other 4 hikers went counter-clockwise up Chaparral Loop directly to the bridge and up Manhattan Canyon. We met at the rocky knoll just past the gate on Black Diamond Tr (fire road) for our lunch. Then we started off together on the return. Some intended to take Canyon Tr down while the rest of us continued the loop to the Nortonville Trail and the cemetery. But the trail marker was missing and everyone went down past the cemetery. That was fine since it gave us a good view of the herd of sheep which included many varieties and lots of lambs.

Our main impression was that the flowers were suffering from lack of moisture. There were few Shooting Stars of any variety blooming and most were very short, the Indian Warriors were stunted and sparse, we saw no Milk Maids. However, the Manzanitas were in full bloom and absolutely lovely.

Altho various fitness tracking apps carried by walkers gave much higher mileages, the map total adds up to just over 3 for the longer route and about 2.6 for the others.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/gzk58v

Compare pictures from almost the same hike 3 years ago...3/1/2017
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/j6HMHY

02/05 - Crockett Hills

There were a dozen of us today on a brisk morning which featured blue skies and NO wind (after days of a nasty, cold blow). We hiked up the Edwards Creek Tr, turned on Wood Rat to enjoy the display of Dirca, wound our way to the tunnel and ventured out onto the grassy east side of the park. A few turned back at the tunnel and some went further, but most of us found a grassy spot with wide views and had an early lunch.  Only about 2.5 miles, but it felt like a bit more.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/r11067

1/29 Strawberry Canyon to UC Botanical Garden

This was our annual pilgrimage down Strawberry Canyon then back up to the Botanic Garden for the Plants Illustrated exhibit of botanical art in the Garden’s Julia Morgan Hall. This year, the members of the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists presented works on the the theme of rare and endangered plants of the world. Lee, a member of the Society, gave a brief introductory talk. After we (a dozen hikers + Jeanne and Delia who met us there) enjoyed the art work there was time to wander in the garden before Jeanne and Delia shuttled drivers back up the hill. The walk from Grizzly Peak/Centennial Dr to the Bot Garden is 4.1 miles with additional distances in the garden.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Gg8nxG

02/22 - Mt Diablo

A dozen of us headed to Mt Diablo, hiking our usual route along Knobcone Pt road as far as the gate just past Balancing Rock. John and Monique went further-to the utility tower; Shirley stopped at the picnic table hidden in the manzanitas and I only went as far as the start of the last uphill before returning to join Shirley. Mileage to the gate and return is about 4.25 miles.

We will have to make a return visit as the manzanitas were only beginning to open.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/5oiH38

We talked at some length with a worker for Rural Pig Management who was out to bait traps. He said the pig problem was the worst he has seen it. They caught over 150 in the park in December alone. There are lots of totally uprooted areas along Knobcone Pt Rd and again as we left the park via Northgate Rd.

Bay Nature Article on feral Pigs
https://baynature.org/article/ground-invasion/

The pig meat was previously donated to area food banks. However, recent regulations enacted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have required meat inspection before slaughter, making the program impractical. Then for a while, carcasses were taken to tallow plants, but no plants are now accepting them. So the remains are left in remote locations for turkey vultures and other carrion eaters.

(https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/11/08/park-it-district-tries-to-control-pig-population/)

01/15/2020 - Carquinez Regional Shorelinre

15 humans and 5 canines (Oscar with the McDougall's; Nick's Mojo and a big black lab whose name I didn't hear and Obi and Bacchus with Bob) walked on the Carquinez Scenic Road and George Miller Trail on a chilly, gray day. It was clear but only 37 when we met at the pink wall. No one checked the temperature as we started walking, but hats and gloves and scarves and jackets were the order of the day. The fog, which only appeared as we drove into Martinez, made it seem even colder. But the good news was "no mud". Distances varied but for most was 4.6 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/824CH1

01/08 - Redwood Regional Park

A dozen of us started from the Skyline entrance and made the East Ridge/Prince/Stream loop on a day which started with fog after overnight showers and ended with sun and clouds. It was seasonable for January, mitts and hats felt good. The moisture had brought out all sorts of mushrooms; the ladybugs were waking up; the mud was of the slick, stick to your boots sort. It was a good walk of about 3.5 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/07LKGP

01/02 Soup Day at Jeanne's

Fourteen of us started at the fire access road on Saklan Indian Dr. We all walked up to the Labyrinth, many paced its winding path. Nine walked back to Jeanne's and the other 5 rode back (Shirley took two drivers back to get their cars later). There the group was increased by 3. We had all sorts of delicious food from "befores" to soup to sweets, and lots of good companionship. The full hike was about 1.5 mile; I have a gimpy leg and only did the short bit (.3 mi) so you will need to wait for Phred's pictures to see the remainder of the hike

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/360879

Happy New Year to the Wednesday Walkers, even tho this was Thursday!