10-4 San Pablo Reservoir

This was a pleasant excursion for 13 Wednesday Walkers. We started at Kennedy Grove and picked up the Bay Area Ridge trail segment at the north end of the parking area. Most of us wandered thru the eucalyptus forest, crossed San Pablo Creek on adequate rocks and finally emerged to cross the entrance road just below the dam. From the crossing to the top of the dam was the only real "up". Once we were at lake level it was easy walking on the old paved road, in and out of the shade. We ate lunch on the deck at the marina and wandered back. It was a beautiful fall day for a 3.4 mile amble.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/77H54H

9/27 - Pine Canyon

Eight of us took a chance and walked on what was forecast to be a very hot day. And it certainly was hot by the time we got back to the cars, but the walk (2.8 miles) was leisurely, there was some shade and an occasional breeze. This turned out to be that dry time between summer and fall with very little "color". We had a nice morning with a snack stop at our turn around point (just before the trail enters MtD St Park) and ate lunch at the picnic area by the sports field before heading the final quarter mile to the cars.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9CWSq1

You might want to compare the color we here saw last September: https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7F2697

09/06 - Pt. Pinole

On a breezy/windy day with pleasant temperatures after the 100+ degrees over the weekend, 14 of us walked from the new entrance at the end of Atlas Rd to the recenty opened Dodsen marsh area. Lunch was enjoyed on nicely placed tables near the China Clipper spur trail. 4 1/4 miles.

For good information on the newly accessible marsh area, see: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/pt_pinole (scroll clear to the bottom of the page)

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/78C9aj

8/30 Huckleberry Preserve

There was a bit of a revision to plans for today's hike. We parked, as planned, at the Skyline staging area but then, instead of walking the west ridge of Redwood Park, 8 of us completed a 3.5 mile "lollipop" hike which took us counterclockwise around the Huckleberry Loop trail. With the heat promised for the weekend, it was great to spend time in the shaded woods. Fog had been extensive enough to leave damp patches on the trail and there was still water flowing in several drainages. We had lunch on one of the Manzanita barrens (#6 on the park map).

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9Kp040

Tilden - Inspiration Point to Lake Anza

We had a big group today...15 to start; tho Ron and Sylvia turned around when Ron felt his foot had had enough. We walked down Meadows Canyon Tr. to Wildcat Gorge Tr. then up to Lake Anza for lunch. We retraced our steps to the intersection with Curran Tr. and took that route back to the cars. 3.7 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/d0T27N

Caples week 8/7 - 8/11

This year the Caples group was split into two separate times. The early group went up the week of the 24th of July. Phred and Elaine went up Sunday 8-6 and left for further adventures on the east side of the Sierras on Wednesday, 8-9. Ulla and Karen arrived midday on Monday 8-7 and stayed until Saturday morning 8-12. The four of us hiked and had dinner together on Monday and Tuesday.

As always happens we saw some things we didn't expect and looked in vain for others. Missing this year for us were the flowers which grow really high (Alpine primrose, White Heather, the tiny alpine buckwheats, etc) as we did not go across the snow to Round Top Lake. We didn't see the washingtonianum lily on Mormon Emigrant, the white mariposas were finished blooming, we saw only leaves of the Dicentra uniflora, and the lovely Collomia grandiflora was absent entirely. But we saw blooming corn lilies for the first time in several years, there were plenty of iris,  the red heather was plentiful around Winnemucca, and fireweed was blooming just about everywhere.

8-7-17
Phred sent an e-mail suggesting this as a worthwhile stop on the way up...he was right!
Leek Springs on Mormon Emigrant Trail

 https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/E133Nr


Old Hwy 88 from Red Lake up toward the overlook



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/NZ99Q0

8-8-17
Big Meadow - Tahoe Rim Trail from the parking area on Hwy 89; a hike Shirley suggested. It would probably be more interesting earlier in the season.



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/CcU447


8-9-17
A morning hike from Woods up to Winnemucca is our favorite!



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/3Z66T3


8-10-17
We took several short walks as we both felt a bit achy from the previous hike.



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/0B5951


8-11-17
We went up to Meiss Saddle from the Carson Pass parking area and then just wandering about looking at flowers and views! It really impressed us how important it is to look closely at areas which, from a distance, look barren. We had explored the east side of the valley first before climbing toward the crest following the line of posts. Looking back across the valley the lush gardens we had visited were totally obscured.



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/b94fJz


8-17
Caples Lake Resort has seen some real improvements this year under the management of John's kids. Son Joe is doing an especially great job and was never too busy to talk to guests. The deck is in good repair and the dining area and lounge on the ground floor of the lodge are open. Ulla and I took our dinners down to the dining room Thursday and Friday and enjoyed eating out of the wind but with the same marvelous view.



https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/hwq9wp

7/26 and 8/2

8/2 HEAT WAVE
It was 89 at the summit of Mt Diablo at 8am.
Shirley. wisely, didn't even bother to plan an outing which would require a cancellation.

The 7/26 hike was along the east shore of Lake Chabot toward Honker Bay. The trail is shaded with rolling ups and downs, with choices on distance:  3.5 miles to the bridge and back. or 4.5 around to the point where we have had lunch before, or if needing a pre-Caples workout --- add a mile by doing Cameron's Loop --- up one wooded canyon and down another to meet us for lunch.

I did not hike as my foot still objects to such distances on pavement.