There were 10 of us for a short, out and back, walk on what was forecast to be a hot day. We started from the Bear Creek trailhead. There were hints of fall in the leaves, grasses and berries. There were goats which looked like sheep from a distance (possibly angoras), bluebirds, hawks and jays. The morning was warm but pleasant and we were glad we were back to the cars before 11:30 as it was getting hot. 2+ miles
When we planned yesterday's walk the forecast was for hot inland. But it was another miscalculation by the weather mavens. Not an issue for the walk tho. It was a very pleasant Bayside walk. We started at the south parking lot for Miller/Knox and walked CCW around the lagoon and out to the old ferry terminal. Plenty of birds and nice views, only fennel in bloom. The surprise was that the remnants of the old ferry pier have been totally removed west of the fishing access. Under 2 miles.
After missing two weeks (heat and then family responsibilities on my part) nine of us were back on the trail today. It started out foggy, but cleared rapidly as we made a CW loop around Round Top and a visit to the labyrinths starting at the Skyline entrance to Sibley.
We were glad of the shade on the south side return trail as it was
getting quite warm. Close to 2.25 miles.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/h7G13MRWg1
It was a morning so wet from fog that
there were puddles and parts of the trail were quite slippery.
We started from the upper parking lot near the steam train and
walked out Seaview Tr to Lupine Tr and then down to Volmer Peak
Tr. Lupine trail was challenging to say the least. But the area
is botanically rich and we just took our time. The only problem
came when we got toward the end. Vollmer Peak Tr should have led
us back past the EBRPD fire station, but we missed the turn and
ended up down on South Park Drive. Close to 2.5 miles, tho
everyone's activity tracker said more like 3.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/ZF251629k1
Here are the pictures from Caples Week 2026.
13 of us started from the old fish ladder along Redwood Creek and took Bridle Tr, then Chown down to Stream Tr. We went as far as the tables where the foxgloves grow, then returned via Stream Tr. 3 miles
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/S4fPYwb39K
06/10 - Lafayette Community Park and Linda's Garden
There were 15 of us on a day which got almost too warm for comfort as the morning progressed.
Jennifer told us lots of the history of the Community Center and the park as we walked a CW loop of under 1 mile, mostly under the shade of oaks.
Linda lives relatively near by and invited us to visit her garden after the walk and share some light refreshments. What a garden! And she continues to develop it, adding natives to replace portions of the more traditional plantings. We also enjoyed a tour of some of the marvelous art in the house - works by her husband, her mother and father and Linda herself.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/u710wvg071
06/03 - Tilden Botanic Garden
I couldn't be there, so no pictures
05/27 - Pine Canyon
There were 9 of us today. Nearly perfect walking weather. Lots of birds, sufficient flowers and nearly dry creek crossings. The clouds were magnificent. about 3 miles
Only one of the stream crossings had any water and it was shallow and slow moving.
The Salvia spathacea is still there and using binoculars, we could see multiple plants
The oak which has supported the monster grape vine for so many years has fallen and appears at least partially dead; there is weak new growth at the base of the trunk tho.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/986E3M7878
05/20 - Springhill
There were just 6 of us today. We enjoyed the mostly shady walk from the Springhill TH to Briones. Lots of birdsong, a fair number of butterflies and a nice patch of Red Ribbon Clarkia. 1.75 miles
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/t40N0pA7cq
7 of us walked a CW loop of just under 3 miles at Pt Pinole. The weather was perfect, clear, warm in the sun but cool in the shade with a nice breeze. There were lots of birds, some butterflies and enough flowers to satisfy us. The highlight was the newish native plant garden at the south end of the parking lot, tho many of the plants aren't actually "native here".
There were 11 of us today. It was a lovely day for hiking after a cold, gray Tuesday. We saw flowers we expected, didn't see others; and there were some we had not seen in bloom before. I had focus difficulties with many of the smaller flowers, so just because I didn't include a picture, doesn't mean we didn't see the plant.
The map says this is a 2 mile hike. Everyone felt it had to be longer than that.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/E3TFU57116
It's been close to 10 years since we walked Mitchell Canyon in the
spring; the lure of the fall color has had us taking that route in October/November. But today a big group reverted to April, and we were
rewarded with lots of flowers and more butterflies than we usually see.
Most of the group made it to the tables under the oaks before returning
to the cars. 3.8 miles according to google earth.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9p1116uSp4
There was a big group today - 15!!
There was plenty of water in the creeks and enough flowers to keep us busy looking. There were butterflies and birds, too.
This is a short loop, only 1.5 mile but it feels longer; there is so much to see and plenty of up and down.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/t8E7K9r1G9
People asked what was mined here - In 1863-4 L.W. Hastings discovered quicksilver (mercury) on the northeast side of North Peak and Perkins Canyon; it was mined until the 1950's (https://www.mdia.org/history-of-mount-diablo).
Perkins Canyon is named for Solomon D. Perkins (l822- ?), a native of Missouri, who purchased the property in 1859 and farmed in the Morgan Territory area. He didn't build the dams, tho. They were built in 1905 by E.A. Howard a SF lumberman and Contra Costa Co. land investor.
There were eleven of us on the walk at Shell Ridge. We started from the end of Marshall Dr (Indian Valley Elementary School) and took Corral Spring Tr along the east side of the ridge, then made a CCW loop around Deer Hill and Deer Lake before returning the way we came.
After the hike we reconvened at Jennifer's; she has made over her garden the last few years and it is filled with natives along with mature fruit trees, favorite roses, etc.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/u0uNz3e21t
There were 10 of us on a lovely day full of sunshine, new growth,
and birds. Some favorite flowers were past their prime, but there
was still lots to enjoy. We went CW, up Chaparral Loop to the bridge then Manhattan Canyon to the gate; down the fire road with a loop through the cemetery. Under 3 miles.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/y09Ke134A4
There was a big group today...a
wonderful day for walking. This was the standard loop out Black
Phoebe Trail, up Whipsnake across the ridge and down to the
junction with Woodrat then out to Windmill and back to the cars.
Only about 2.8 miles but a perfect walk.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7P655K2pyy
Only four of us braved the break in the storms to get out and move. We walked from the parking lot by the dog park at Heather Farms along the Canal Trail as far as the 1st Ave crossing, then returned. That gave us a 3 mile walk with no rain!!
Our timing was good as the clouds filled in and within an hour after we were back to the cars it was wet again.
02/04 - From Redwood to Huckleberry and back
We changed plans as we walked, so out East Ridge Tr, but down Phillips, not Prince, then a bit of back-track on Stream, then west on Stream to return to the cars. We didn't find the masses of lady bugs we were looking for, but it was a good day for hiking, not really muddy in spite of the overnight showers. 10 of us; under 3 miles.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/g2NZ06v4ys
Fifteen of us walked the Edwards/Wood Rat loop on a drippy, foggy morning. We saw blooming Dirca, Osoberry and Ribes as well as a fair number of fungi. The trail washout from last year was repaired, but there were spots where the trail was slick with mud from all the valley fog; when the wind blew, there was "rain" from the trees. We all enjoyed the hike and the good company. 2.5+ miles.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/17K7395x31
We started the month with Soup Day at Ulla's on the 7th. Today was our first hike of 2026!
In the past we have walked out the fire road and taken the Nature Trail on the way back, but today we turned off at the Nature Trail and came back all the way on the fire road. It was crisp and on the edge of fog, but a good day to be out moving. Very green, no flowers yet, but a fair number of birds. 2.4 miles
Obviously, I'm waaay behind.
Here's a brief re-cap of the month.
There were no hikes on either 12/24 or 12/31; not only were there holidays to consider, it was also very rainy.
12/17 was the holiday party at the McDougall's
So we only had two hikes 12/3 and 12/10.
We started the month with a good walk at Sobrante Preserve. Eleven of us enjoyed a rare sunny day as we walked the usual route out to and around the manzanita knoll and back with a stop at the tables on the ridge for a snack and time to enjoy the view. Even tho we were earlier than when we walked here last year, the Arctostaphylos pallida were nearly through blossoming. Under 2 3/4 miles
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/0FDzg3NEx8
In contrast to the sunny day on the 3rd, the hike on the 10th was wrapped in fog. It was nearly clear but quite chilly at the parking lot, but the further we walked the thicker and lower the fog became. Four hikers turned around at the junction with Santos Tr; the rest of us walked another half mile or so before giving up and heading back as well. Of course it was bright back at the parking area. Even tho it was damp and cold it was still a good 3.5+ mile hike.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/rp31h350Xe
