2/23 - Rockville Hills

 

There were only 5 of us today, with 3 dogs. The morning started out with heavy frost (31 in Orinda) so we were all bundled in multiple layers, regular California wimps. But it was nice for walking and warmed to the mid 50s by the time we finished. There was water in the ponds and most of the grass was still green. Plenty of flowers, too. We saw the scarlet fritillary (tho not as easy to photograph as in prior years), butter 'n' eggs, a single sun cup, the dirty behind the ears violets and lots and lots of blue dicks, popcorn flower, fiddle necks and buttercups.It was a lovely day!!

Our CCW loop included a stop for snacks at the picnic table by the big pond and a detour around the north end of the pond before heading down the valley to the smaller pond. Just under 3 miles.

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02/16 - Briones

 

Susan and Geoff led a group of 16 plus 3 dogs on a great hike on the NE side of Briones. We met at the Alhambra Creek staging area, carpooled to top of Briones Rd, and hiked a CCW route back to the cars. Some of the trails were familiar, but there were great sections of single track which none of the rest of us had hiked. The short spur leading to lots of hound's tongue and milkmaids was a real treat. A great day!! 3.6 miles.

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02/09 - Black Diamond Mines

 

Lee led twelve of us and 4 dogs on today's hike which started from the Somersville Rd entrance on a day more like April than February.

The first stretch was up the long incline of the Stewartsville Trail to the viewpoint overlooking the townsite. At that point Ron and Sylvia turned around. The next segment was on an unmapped trail which more or less parallels the north side of the Ridge Tr. This is one to remember!! At the junction of the Ridge Tr and The Chaparral Loop Tr, Joan, Ulla and Polly headed back down to the cars. The trail Lee had hiked in the past was fenced off and signed against entry so the rest of us took the western extension of the Chaparral Loop down to the bridge in Manhattan Canyon. There Nick and Jeanne headed down while the rest of us went back up the canyon to the gate on Black Diamond Tr. After a brief snack we headed down and picked up Manhattan Canyon Tr again for the final return to the cars. Even with all the stops for plants and pictures (I took over 125) we were back to Lamorinda by 2.

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02/02 - Crockett Hills

 

It was good to be out on such a lovely day. We were almost too late for the Dirca, but there were plenty of Ribes blooming and blossoms beginning on the Oso berry.  It was much too windy to venture thru the tunnel and out onto the open hillsides to the east of Cummings Skyway. Even in the canyon there were times when we had to grab hats. Under 2.5 miles

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