1/4 - no walk, rain
1/11 - Soup Day at Ulla's
This was our annual visit to see the botanical art exhibit at Julia Morgan Hall. This year's theme was drought resistant plants. A bit ironic after the last few weeks of intense rain. A dozen of us viewed the exhibit. Many thanks to Lee for arranging it, sharing guest passes and giving us a good beforehand talk. About half of us wandered in the garden, too. for a virtual visit to the exhibit, see
There were 11 of us (plus Oscar and Sunny) on a bright, beautiful morning. We met at the parking lot across from St. Mary's and walked an out and back along the recently reopened section of the Lafayette-Moraga Trail, past the waterfall, turning at Lucille Ln and retracing out steps. There was lots of evidence of the results of the torrential storms. 2.7 miles
There were 7 of us and two dogs for the Edwards Creek/Wood Rat/Crocker Ranch CW loop. It was cold, blustery and beautiful. In places the trail was muddy and slippery, in others perfectly dry.
The Dirca in the usual spot was spectacular with more blooms than any of us remember seeing.
Lots of new green growing things. 2.5 miles
It was a glorious early spring day! 9 of us walked from Curry Point, out Knobcone Point Rd. Half made it to Balancing Rock, the others stopped before the long uphill section. The timing was good: the manzanitas were in full bloom and we even saw the Pedicularis and Cardamine (Dentaria). The grass is getting green and it was altogether lovely. About 3.8 miles
9 of us braved a chilly spring day with a biting wind to look for our favorite flowers at Black Diamond. Not much luck; things which had been in full bloom a week earlier in Feb 2022 were barely in bud.
Once again we followed Lee's favorite trail, a single track which leaves the Ridge Tr just past the gate indicating the end of equestrian access. It rejoins the Ridge Tr about .1 mile to the east of the intersection with the eastern leg of the Chapparal Loop Tr. We continued to the west and returned to the cars via the western leg of the Chapparal Loop . About 2.5 miles
2/22 - No Hike, rain
7 of us walked from Heather Farms to Larkey Park and back on the first bright, sunny day in a long time. There was a brisk wind, but it was so good to be out and moving! 3.75 mi
It poured last night and into the early hours this morning. But the radar showed the storm moving out and we took the chance on our already planned destination. It was a glorious day, bright, fresh and with magnificent clouds. Most of us met on Pine lane and car pooled up to the dam parking area with hikers who have parking passes. 2.8 miles.
We at Inspiration Point and walked as far as the Peace Grove and then turned around. There were a few flowers, but the biggest impression was how green and fresh everything looked. 3.6mi
3/22 - no hike, rain
3/29 - no hike, big storm
Just seven of us today on the first dry Wednesday since 3/15. We made a CCW loop starting from the end of Westward Dr. Most of the trails were in good shape, tho some portions were a muddy mess; the creeks were singing their way down the hills. A wonderful day to be out on the trails. .
It was early for lots of the flowers we look for, but just right for the Oakland Star tulip (Calochortus), buttercups and Cream cups. I ran out of battery life and my external charger didn't work as advertised, so I missed pictures of the only Sun cup we spotted as well as of a delightful little bright pink star, single open flower per stem, leaves reedy and under 5" slight oniony odor. It doesn't match any Allium, tho. For these and others you will need to wait for Pfred's pictures.
A bit under 2.5 miles
The original plan ws to walk the River View Loop from the 1st parking lot. However, the trail was a mess from cows walking in muddy soil. We were really tired by the time we had navigated the first mile Conversations with a PG&E inspector and a park ranger convinced us to turn around and walk back along the road. That still gave us a two mile hike, but we were very lucky that no one fell, or twisted anything in the terribly rough trail. We did see plenty of flowers so it wasn't a total loss.
Rather than use a shuttle at the end of the hike as we have done in the past, we turned around when the trail started down toward the Fish Ranch/Grizzley Peak intersection. You would never guess it was barely over two miles from the time it took us. There was so much to see and the day was about perfect.
The best news today was that Martha joined us for the first time since the initial pandemic lock down (three years)...hugs all around!
We started from the Sutherland Dr entrance (absolutely hoards of people) and walked north to the Briones - Mt Diablo Rd and then south until the last junction with the Indian Creek Tr which took us back. The restoration garden at the entrance was bright with poppies, tidy tips, Chinese houses, etc. while the remainder of the walk was mostly wonderful green with patches of color here and there.
3 miles
Our route took us up the Rockville Trail to the restrooms near the small pond. We turned east on the Tilly Connection, then followed the Upper Tilly trail as it looped south. We returned via the Manzanita Trail and took Devil's Backbone down to return to the parking area. It was barely two miles but felt much longer. We saw wonderful flowers and magnificent manzanitas. Unfortunately, Little Knopp's no longer serves ice cream.
This was the first time the Wednesday Walkers have visited since January of 2018. It was a blustery day with a real bite to the wind. Our CCW route took us out Volvon Tr to Blue Oak, across Hummingbird back to Volvon and then out Prairie Falcon looping back to Volvon (with a lunch stop in a grassy nook out of the wind) then down Condor to return to the cars. It was a "short" 2.8+ miles which only justified the long drive because of the variety and beauty there was to see.
05/17 - No hike
There were 8 of us today. The start was messy as the boards which helped with getting over the wet spot at the base of the first slope had disappeared. It was a short walk in terms of ground covered (less than 2 miles), but filled with lots of flowers. The Triteleia laxa, Calochortus pulchellus and Calochortus venustus were especially plentiful and floriferous!!
The day started gray and cloudy but turned into a perfect hiking day. Eight of us made the loop of just under 3 miles. This was the old Black Phoebe, Whipsnake, Windmill route. Although things are drying fast, there was still water in the creeks and lots of green; the oaks looked especially lush. We were surprised by the number of flowers (both species and individuals).
There were more Calochortus and Clarkia and Triteleia than we had ever seen on this out and back as far as the Mt Diablo State Park gate. We did have wet stream crossings, tho. Just over 3 miles
We walked out the Abrigo Valley Trail. Things are drying fast, but there was still moving water in several spots and most vegetation still looks fresh. We went as far as where the trail begins the ascent to the Briones Crest Tr, then most of us turned around and headed back the way we came (just under 3 miles). We were all back to the picnic area shortly after 11 This year we brought our own lunches and many brought things to share.
There were just 6 of us on this first day of summer. We walked a CCW loop: Bear Creek trail to the meadow opposite the archery range and then Seaborg Tr back to the parking lot. The original plan had been to walk CW, but after Lee checked the creek crossing and added her memories of the trail, we decided it would be better to reverse the direction. She was so right!! Not quite 2 miles, but lots and lots to look at and enjoy.
It was so foggy
it was "raining" as 10 of us started the East Ridge, Prince, Stream trails loop at Redwood Regional Park. . There is plenty of evidence of the winter storms and still water in Redwood Creek. 3 mi.
The forecast was for significant warming but there was fog on the hills until just before the turn for the steam train parking. 8 of us made the hike which certainly seemed longer than the 3 miles calculated by Google Earth! Out Seaview Tr, down Big Springs, along the road to Arroyo, then Vollmer Peak Tr back to the start, There were plenty of flowers and the trail alternated sun and shade.
07/16-21 Caples
We took advantage of the shade in Redwood Park to enjoy a 2.5 mile ramble out the Bridle Tr (accessed from the fish ladder bridge) to Chown and then back via Stream Tr.
South shore from Bear Creek staging area to the dam; driver shuttle.
There were 10 of us today. About perfect walking weather, and this route has plenty of dappled shade as well. 3.5 miles
Eleven of us made today's loop at Sibley CW from Old Tunnel Rd. We tackled the uphill first while it was still relatively cool. The shade and downhill were welcome at the end, tho. Coming down the canyon provided plenty to look at and there was even water at one creek crossing. Just under 3 miles.
We walked the mostly shady loop (Grizzly Peak Tr, Golf Course Tr, Redwood Tr) from Golf Course Drive near Grizzly Peak on a very warm morning. It was HOT by the time we were back to the cars shortly after noon. 2.5 miles
07/30 - No hike, heat
The plan had been to
walk from the Bull Valley staging area to Port Costa and back.
BUT the Carquinez Overlook trail is closed tho I didn't see that
information when I checked the EBRPD website on Monday. So we
opted to walk west toward Crockett which none of us had ever
done. It was a bright breezy morning, very pleasant walking. The
elevation changes made up for the short distance (under 2
miles).
We started at the sharp U curve on Pinehurst Rd and then walked a CW loop around the Huckleberry Preserve with a stop for snacks at the Skyline entrance picnic tables. 2.5 mile hike.
09/20 - No hike bad air, smoke from NorCal/OR fires
This hike turned out to be longer and more tiring than originally planned, but we did find the connection between the Dutra trails and the trail up Vaca Creek. We started on the Feeder Tr from the gate by the stables on Dutra Rd off Franklin Cyn Rd. It is 3/4 mile up hill to the Sky Ranch Kiosk. We went directly up the hill to the bench and marker for the properties. Then we started the adventure part. Easterly from the viewpoint bench to the locked gate just past the old concrete pipes and then south on Tina Batt Tr to the intersection with Almond Tr, a single track thru grasslands with numerous valley oaks creeping up the canyons. Distances ranged from 4.2 to nearly 5 miles
We walked from the Giant Hwy entrance out along the marsh to the end of the Cordgrass Jetty Tr, This is a nearly flat walk of just under 3 miles.
We last did this hike in November 2020. It is a good one with plenty of up and down and wide views, tho not very long. We started from the parking area at Borges Ranch and made a clockwise loop. Lots of woodpeckers calling, also flickers. And we saw a tarantula! We ended up talking and snacking at the shaded picnic tables by the parking area. 2.7 miles
Lee McCaffree arranged a special opening of the American Society of Botanical Artists exhibit at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross. This year she was one of the jurors on the panel to select which works would be shown from the internationally submitted entries. There was also a side exhibit of a sketchbook project from the local (west coast) chapter of the ASBA. Lee did a great job of explaining the techniques and materials used to create these amazing images.
This was our traditional out and back. Altho there was lots of color, the majority of the grapevines had not turned to fall red. We saw lots of rose hips, immense quantities of buckeye fruit and even some ripe native grapes. For fauna there were masses of lady bugs and two tarantulas. Nine of us enjoyed the four miles in perfect fall weather.
A dozen of us walked a clockwise loop of 3.5 miles. It was a bit hazy, but a lovely day to be out on the trails. There were lots of cows with calves, but almost no people.
We enjoyed an amazing hike on the lower slopes of Mt Diablo, starting from North Gate Rd near Camel Rock. We took Buckeye Trail to Stage Rd, then a short piece of Burma Rd to connect to Little Pine Creek Rd. and that back to Nort Gate Road and a car to shuttle drivers back to the start to fetch their cars. Just under 3.5 miles
11/15 - no hike, rain forecast
We enjoyed a short, day before Thanksgiving, ramble at Albany Bulb. There were just 7 of us and probably as many side routes as walkers. Distance was 2 miles, give or take.
11/29 - no hike, rain forecast
The forecast was for rain beginning about noon and the fog was so thick it required windshield wipers until we turned onto Castro Ranch Rd. By the time we parked we had SUN. There was no rain on the hike, but by the time we were back to Orinda the rain had begun. So the 6 of us had taken advantage of a lucky break in the weather.
The big Manzanitas are still alive, but most in sad shape. 2.7 miles
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