Wednesday, April 30, 2025

04/30 - Mt Diablo

 


There was a last minute change of plans as we had originally planned to go up Hetherrington and then loop over to Bruce Lee and return via Clayton Oaks. The consensus in the small (9) group was that they would prefer the Back Cyn/Tickwood loop. That turned out to be an excellent decision as the flowers were plentiful and the shade very welcome on an 80 degree day. 
We saw lots of Triteleia laxa, Dichelostemma congestum, wind poppies, Collinsia and even Clarkia, as well as fair number of the Calochortus pulchellus.
Altho the hills to the east of Clayton are gold, the grass, etc. was still green where we were hiking. Under 3 miles.
 





04/23 - Ring Mountain
Today was Linda's birthday and she had asked if we might do this hike. It was an excellent choice...a bright, cool day with plenty to slow our progress over the 2.5 miles. We started from the Westward Drive entrance and walked up the Phyllis Ellman Tr then made a circle of Petroglyph Rock, went up the steep trail to Turtle Rock then took the fire road out past the water tank. We had snacks in the spot where there is a great view of the Bay, chosen because it was out of the wind. Return was almost the same, but we took the small side trail which branches off from Phyllis Ellman and rejoins that trail at the spot where the small water course comes very close to the trail and we often stop to look at the Mimulus (Erythranthe).

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/FPM56BeLP8
 

 

Saturday, April 19, 2025

04/16 - Sunol

 


There was a group of 16. It was beautiful day for hiking and Sunol is a wonderful place to be out on the trail. Blue sky and green everywhere with lots of flowers, birds and other wildlife, too. The route (a clockwise circle up Hayfield Road and down Indian Joe Creek) was just under 3.5 miles and it took us well over 4 hours, but there was a lunch stop! We must not let seven years go by before hiking there again.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/dX3g7230P6

Thursday, April 10, 2025

04/09 - Lime Ridge

 


There were 15 of us (and two dogs) on a bright, warm day. We walked a clockwise loop from the Montecito entrance: out Paradise Valley Tr, down Lime ridge Tr to Blue Oak Tr and back Ohlone Tr. Less than 3.5 miles

Some folks were moving faster than others and went ahead to find the labyrinth. They didn't go far enough and declared to the rest of us that there was "nothing to see, folks". I had a nagging feeling they were wrong, but we were all ready to head back to the cars and birthday cookies for Donita, so that's what we did. Checking google earth at home I found that the labyrinth is a bit further (about 220 yards) on Blue Oak Tr.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/824u1ksP5t

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

04/02 - Chabot RP

 


Ever since the atmospheric rivers several years ago, Brandon Trail has been closed due to a collapsed culvert. Finally the alerts on the East Bay RPD web site indicated that the trail is now only closed to horses, so that is where we went today.

Our Route was CW from the Bort Meadows staging area on Redwood Rd., out Grass Valley Rd to the stone bridge and back Brandon Tr. There were 13 of us on a perfect day after storms. We watched birds (quail, hawks, jays, wrentits, towhees and more) and butterflies as well as botanizing. It was a great outing!! Just over 3 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/677Pc9099s