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.
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
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