12/6 Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve

A dozen of us returned to Sobrante Ridge for the first time since Feb. 2014. It was a bright, breezy day and the 3 mile walk was just right.  http://flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/dQK1NX will show what it looked like on our last visit. 

The population on the knoll circled by Manzanita Loop is showing signs of a major infestation by the sudden oak death pathogen...very sad.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/76YJXq

After the walk folks with large vehicles drove to Benecia to help Susan move boxes of belongings to her new home in Rossmoor. The movers will be coming tomorrow, so she will soom be an East Bay resident again!

11-29 Briones

It was a bright and beautiful day such as occurs after a storm. Very quiet and refreshing. We walked the section of the Old Briones Road from the Bear Valley parking area to Valley Tr and then to the intersection of the Valley and Yerba Buena trails. There the group split into three. 7 of us (including me) returned the way we came for a walk of 3.4 miles. The three hikers wanting a more vigorous outing continued up Valley Trail to the Briones Crest Trail, turned left and circled back to the Old Briones Rd at the "pass" and then returned to the cars. 5 miles.  The most adventurous group went up Yerba Buena to Crescent Ridge, then down past the archery range. But instead of returning on Ivan Dickson Tr, they took the Bear Creek Tr which parallels the road on the ESE. 4 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/KCd537

11-22 Springhill

A dozen of us took a pleasant pre-Thanksgiving walk from the end of Springhill Rd into Briones. 5 of the group went on up the hill above the oak glade; the rest explored a side spur which dead ends at the park boundary before returning to the junction by the gate and making a loop further up the canyon. Total mileage for the non-adventurous 7 was 3 miles; more for the gang of 5.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6jPo5p

11-8 Mt Diablo

This was a rare fall trip to Mt Diablo; a very good choice on a day when the forecast called for rain by early afternoon and the sky was very gray to start. But 9 of us made the 3+ mile loop out Knobcone Point Rd, down to Sycamore Creek, then up Madrone Canyon on the "Trail Through Time". There were occasional random raindrops and a brief shower as we ate lunch, but no real rain. The real excitement came as we scrambled down and across and back up the washed out creek crossing just at the junction of the Madrone Canyon Tr, the Sycamore Creek Rd and the Trail through Time.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Y1Bdu2

I just discovered that I never posted last week, so here is the report for 11/1, too:

We began at the Old Briones Road entrance to Briones park and made a clockwise circle past the lagoons and eventually down Toyon trail to the Alhambra Rd entrance where the Jacksons had left their car as a driver shuttle back up the hill. The larger group (6) did some off trail exploration between the fenced pond and Toyon trail; the smaller group returned to the fenced pond and then came down Toyon. Ulla said it reminded her of the "old days" when it was assumed that you would walk cross country and/or get lost. It would be nice if the cows made paths which were easierwalking for humans! Distances 3.5 to 4 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/5wo81t

10-25 Mitchell Canyon

After two missed Wednesdays (smoke from Wine Country fires followed by wind and closed open space) we didn't care if the forecast was for HOT, we needed to get out on the trail. Eleven of us walked from the Mitchell Canyon parking area toward the upper end of the canyon and back. Lunch was at the picnic table under the monster oak 2 miles in. This was a quintessential California fall day! pleasant in the shade, hot in the sun, lots of birds, long shadows and wonderful colors.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/2w67k3
(warning...lots of grape leaf pictures)

10-18 No Hike

Red Fire Warnings. Closed parks and open space. Wind. Heat. No Hike

10-11 No Hike

This has been quite a week in northern CA. The terrible wildfires in the wine country have sent incredible smoke into the entire Bay Area. Warnings are constant to avoid outdoor activity. Public lands have been closed as a response to the high fire danger.

The picture was taken from my yard midday on Wednesday. The hills behind the school are barely visible and they are only a half mile away.