01/05 - Lafayette Moraga Trail
We enjoyed a short morning walk starting from the parking lot on St Mary's Rd before Rheem Blvd and most walking as far as Lucille Lane on this first Wednesday of 2022. All very green with plenty of water. The fall was fuller than it has been in a long time. Just under 3 miles.
We managed the muddy spots with no tumbles, found the ladybugs waking to the sun on Stream Tr. just east of the Prince Tr. junction, and were glad to hear the the music of the stream as we made our way thru the deep shadows of the Redwoods. 3 miles.
This was Phred's actual birthday and altho his heel kept him from hiking, he and Elaine joined us for cookies at the end of the hike.
For a Bay Nature article on the East Bay lady bugs, see
01/19 - no hike
Today was our (usually) annual visit to the exhibit of the NorCal Society of Botanical Artist exhibit at the UC Botanical Garden. This year we met at the garden rather than walking down Strawberry Canyon as the way we have come in the past is closed for tree removal.
Lee gave an explanatory talk about the methods and materials used in the drawings.
After viewing the exhibit, folks formed small groups and wandered off to explore their favorite parts of the garden.
We were almost too late for the Dirca, but there were plenty of Ribes blooming and blossoms beginning on the Oso berry. Under 2.5 miles
Lee led us 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. Distances from 1.6 to 3.5 miles
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. There were newts in the ponds and lots of flowers. 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.
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.
As far as I know, this was the first time we had done this route and tho the up seemed to go on forever and the down was really down, it was a good walk. We walked CCW up Ohlone, Paraiso and Manzanita Trails to the spot at the top of the ridge where 6 or 7 trails come together; then down Manzanita and Ohlone for the return. Just over 3 miles (3.15) tho the 970' + elevation gain/loss made it feel much longer.
We walked a clock-wise lollipop route around Fossil Hill, SE along the Briones-Mt Diablo Trail and back along Indian Creek (already dry). There was time for individual exploration of the glorious bloom in the Fossil Hill Native Plant Restoration area. 3 miles
From a Feb 18th visit to the restoration area: https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/0ja7DA
This was the first hike on Mt Diablo this year, and the
earliest in the year we have done the Green Ranch hike. As usual we
started from the Oak Knoll picnic area, walked out the Green Ranch fire
road, and after a stop for snacks at the old house site, returned via
the Oak Knoll single track. It is a hike of under 3 miles but everyone
on the walk will claim it felt much longer!
It started foggy and cool, but it turned into a perfect day for walking and we saw flowers we rarely/never see. Trillium ovatum was the flower of the day!! We walked out the Bridle Trail to it's end at Chown Tr and returned via Stream Tral. The "good stuff" was along the Bridle Tr. Under 3 miles.
We hiked the reverse of our usual route, going out Windmill Tr to the top of the steep hill and then following Woodrat and Whipsnake trails across the long southern portion of the ridge and down to meet Black Phoebe trail for the last level portion. It is still quite green, but the ground is cracking in many places. There were lots of downed trees, too. Ranunculus and owl's clover were the most abundant flowers. Just under 3.5 miles
We made a CCW loop, first up the hill and then across and down to Perkins Tr. We took the single track cut off which Elaine, Polly and I explored last year. It was a short hike, but just right for today. Car thermometers said 76 when we got back, thank goodness there was a breeze. About 1.5 miles.
This was a repeat of a walk Elaine led last May. The Vaca Creek trail at Stonegate was the first of the properties protected by the (then) Martinez Regional Land Trust. Almond Ranch on the ridge is one of the more recent John Muir Land Trust (current name) acquisitions. It was good to connect the two. We started from the Briones-Pine Tree Trail parking lot on Alhambra Valley Rd and followed Vaca Creek Tr to Hal Olson Tr and up to the ridge which is part of Almond Ranch. Marvelous views, beautiful clouds and even a few flowers. 4 miles
It has been almost a year since we visited Skyline Gardens. There is always so much to look at in this botanically rich area. We walked down from the Steam Train parking and, at the end, shuttled drivers back up. It is a bit more than 2.5 miles.
From the end of Mountaire Pkwy. Up Donner Canyon then Hetherrington, Donner, Wassermann, Bruce Lee Spring, Clayton Oaks Rd for a loop
We expect lots of Triteleia laxa , but today there were thousands! We have usually seen the Mt Diablo Fairy Lantern along Hetherrington Tr. Today there were so may (100's) that we almost quit noticing them. And then there were the brilliant Wind Poppies, the Mt Diablo Jewel flower, the masses of Leptosiphon (Linanthus), the Cream Sacs, etc., etc. etc.
Just under 3.7 miles
It was forecast to be very warm inland today, so we headed Bay side. We walked CCW from the Atlas Rd entrance parking lot out to the pier and then back, mostly through the eucalyptus "forest". There is a new paved path down to Bay level to the east of the fishing pier; nice to explore since the tide was out. There were not many flowers (no sign of the Calochortus luteus).About 3 miles.
We hadn't been to Ring Mountain in quite a
while (last time was 2018), so we set out to remedy that
shortcoming! We started from Westward Dr and
walked up to the petroglyph rock, then over to the east bluff;
we retraced our steps to the Loop Trail and returned that way.
The drought is very evident here and lots of the trails were
as hard as concrete. We were late for some flowers and a bit early for
others, but it was a lovely day. About 2.7 miles
tho the up, and especially the down, made it feel longer.
05/18 - Carquinez Hills
I didn't hike
After 90° + weather yesterday and a forecast of only slightly cooler inland today, we headed Bay Side for a short walk at Albany Bulb. Six of us enjoyed cool breezes, imaginative art, an interesting bit of restoration planting and celebrating Lee's birthday. About 1 3/4 miles.
06/01 - June luncheon
We wanted an easy walk with some shade. This hike from the end of Castle Rock Rd to the picnic benches just before the gated entry to Mt Diablo State Park filled the bill. It is exceedingly dry. We were glad of the dappled shade and occasional breeze as the car thermometer said 83 when we got back about 11:30. 9 of us enjoyed the hike anyway. About 2.7 miles
We met at the Bort Meadow staging area on Redwood Rd and walked a CW loop out Grass Valley Tr to the stone bridge and back Brandon Tr. The forecast was for hot by afternoon, but with the amount of shade on the return we were OK. Wonderful variety of plants along the west side. Just over 3 miles
We took Stream Trail to the bridge crossing and then picked up the Bridle Trail. That is closed after the junction with Chown so we went back to Stream and walked as far as the junction with Fern before heading back. About 2.5 miles.
8/18 - Filling in the blanks
There have been no posts since late June as I have not been hiking. I had a mishap with a collapsing step stool on 6/24.
We started from the main Skyline entrance and followed the fire road up the hill, bearing left at the split for the EBMUD water tank. Once out to the Volcanic Tr we wandered west and then took the trail up hill and east along the ridge rejoining the official trails at the overlook for the big labyrinth. Then we rejoined the Roundtop Loop Tr to return on the shaded south side. 9 of us; under 2.5 miles.
John and Delia Taylor led the group of 6 around their north Berkeley neighborhood to look at the rhyolite outcrops - some prominent, some integrated into fences, and around homes, also gardens, houses, grand oak trees and views. It was a perfect day for walking in Berkeley, pleasantly warm instead of the beginnings of the heat wave on the east side of the hills. A bit over 2.3 miles.
9/7 - No hike, temperatures over 100
There were just five of us today, but we had a very enjoyable visit to Huckleberry Preserve. Things are dry and dusty, but there were still several "water features" making music. It was cool enough for vests and long sleeves to start as the fog was still present; quite a change from last week's 100+ degree temperatures. Not quite 2 miles.
Six of us walked the Bear Creek trail from the trailhead near Happy Valley Rd to the dam. It was a gray day which had started with sprinkles, but lovely for walking. It was definitely fall like (first full day of autumn is tomorrow) with reds of poison oak and rusty gold of bay along with multiple shades of brown from grasses and other leaves. The quarter to third of an inch of rain this week was enough to rinse away much of the dust, but not to relieve the dryness. 3.5 mi
We were lucky to have a private visit to the Mt. Tamalpais Florilegium exhibition of paintings and drawings at the Marin Art and Garden Center. Lee was our guide to the exhibition of art work of the flora of Mt. Tamalpais created by members of the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists (NCalSBA). After plenty of time to view the nearly 90 paintings and drawings we had time to wander thru the garden. Nine of us stayed for lunch and further socializing.
A beautiful day to be out and moving. There were just four of us walking in the wonderful quiet of Mitchell Canyon today. No tarantulas but plenty of birds (flickers, jays, a humming bird); no clematis seed heads, but color on some of the grapes, lots of red PO, and we found the vinegar weed :-) 3.8 miles
Another week with just four of us walking. It was a gray day, cool and good for walking. 3.5 miles.
Five of us walked from the Valle Vista Staging Area on Kings Canyon Tr. We walked for an hour then turned around as it was getting quite warm (hot) unless you were in the shade. The water is quite low in the reservoir and everything is showing the signs of drought. Three miles.
Five of us wandered out Pine Canyon on a lovely fall day...crisp to start, never more than pleasantly warm. We got to the Mt Diablo gate a little after 10 so saw no need to turn around there. That was a good thing as all the "color" on the walk was on the other side of the gate. Almost 3.5 miles
11/02 - no hike, rain forecast
We parked south of the beach we see on Albany Bulb hikes and walked toward Berkeley. In one area we saw many interesting plants. It looked as tho someone had planted all sorts of things which just might make it in that spot; Elaine and Delia kept muttering "Native Here" referring to the nursery. Mileage was between 3 and 4 miles as some made a loop thru the restoration area near the Berkeley Marina.
Six of us walked at Fernandez Ranch on a perfect day for hiking; cool in the shade, but warm in the sun. We went out Windmill Trail; up that nasty hill to the junction with Woodrat and Franklin Ridge trails, up again on Franklin Ridge and then returned on Woodland Tr, coming down by the windmill. There are patches of green along the edge of the trail and where the cows have grazed heavily. The ferns look refreshed from last week's rain. Lots of birds! 3.6 miles.
There were just 5 of us on a bright November morning. We walked out the old road as far as the gate leading to the EBMUD tank on the western ridge, then looped around the knoll and took the short up-hill trail back to the road near the upper tanks. Just over 1.5 miles.
On the day before the forecast is for rain (at last) 9 of us braved a chilly morning (43 when we started hiking) and made the 3 mile loop from Inspiration Pt, out Meadow Tr to Wildcat Creek, and back via Curran Tr. It was a good walk and it was nice to have Polly and Bob back walking.
We walked from west to east on the paved George Miller trail along the cliff above the Carquinez Strait. this was the first time since Nov. 2014 that we began the walk from the Port Costa staging area. It was quite brisk (43 on the car thermometer) but good for walking, and a good choice after our rainy days.
6 people, 3 dogs; 3.7 miles.
12/14 - Holiday lunch
12/21- Mt Wanda
Phred and Elain led, I didn't hike
12/28 - no hike
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