8/8 Joaquin Miller Park

With very poor air quality from the smoke and warm temperatures forecast, we headed west of the hills hoping for both better air and cooler temps. The air was not bad and the temperature was fine for our morning walk.

This was essentially the same walk we did on 8-31-16, the last time we walked here. Starting from Joaquin Miller Court off Mountain Blvd., we went up Palo Seco Creek (Palos Colorados Tr), looped out to Lookout Point for an early lunch after walking out to the Joaquin Miller pyre, and returned to the cars down Sinawik Trail and a few blocks through the neighborhood, followed by a straight shot along Mountain Blvd. About 2 3/4 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7590h4

8/1 Tilden to Sibley

It was nice to be back on the trail after last week's heat and all the smoke form the various wildfires.

14 of us started from the steam train parking lot off Grizzly Peak. This is the segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail that includes the "Skyline Gardens" - 170 native plant species are found along a mile-and-a-quarter of trail. We were right on the edge of the fog which made for very pleasant walking and beautiful light. Shirley's car was parked at the end of Fish Ranch to shuttle drivers back up the hill after our early lunch/snack. Only 2.5 miles, but it felt like more.

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

07-18 Joaquin Miller/Roberts Recreation Area

14 hikers plus Oscar enjoyed the shade at Joaquin Miller and Roberts Recreation Area. We walked up the Sunset Trail, then the Chaparral Trail, crossing Skyline Blvd, passing the Rotary Camp area to Roberts Ridge Trail, and making our way through the woods near the navigation trees monument. An early lunch was followed by the downhill return via Big Trees Trail. A bit over 3 miles, round trip.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/T7oh6n

Caples Week July 8-13

As usual it was a wonderful get away. We had almost perfect weather (a bit windy and Tuesday was quite warm) with no significant clouds until the last of us were due to leave on Friday morning. The company was congenial, the food much more than adequate and the flowers outstanding.

Sunday
The trip up rates two albums. First the Mormon Emigrant Trail section with all the wonderful washingtonia lilies for which Lee had been kind enough to provide mileage locations; then a stop at the big Leek Springs meadow.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/tc8n9v

We met Nick and Jeanne at Red's Lake for a gentle acclimatization hike up the old Hwy 88 grade and also made a visit to the pioneer monuments at the top of the grade.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/LDeys3

Monday
We were lucky to have a sufficient number of high clearance vehicles this year so took advantage of that to drive in to Schenider's Cow Camp and hike from there to the ridge. Part of the group continued on toward Little Round Top (Chuck went all the way). The flowers were dense and spectacular!
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6Z255y

Tuesday
Almost all of us headed to Winnemucca starting from Woods Lake; Ron and Sylvia opted to do the hike to Meiss Col instead. Lee, Chuck, Judy and Donita made the circle up to Round Top Lake and back to Woods via the Lost Cabin Mine Tr. but the rest of us turned it into an "up and back"
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/E94LW7

Wednesday
Most folks headed off after breakfast. Only six of us were left: Donita, Ellen and Jane in cabin 2 and Judy, Ulla and I in the lodge. We all made the hike up to Meiss Col but once past the pond separated, with the cabin 2 folks returning to their car and heading down to Blue Lake; Judy and Ulla going as far as the Meiss cabin; and Karen snooping about on the plateau. We saw more calochortus this time than ever before and Lee and Chuck had seen the peony and gave us clear instructions on finding it.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/To163C

Thursday
Just the lodge trio was left for a last day of hiking. We went up to the "Two Sentinels" starting from the Thunder Mountain trail head. It was very dry and dusty, but the views were spectacular.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/1DA526

Misc at the Lake
A few miscellaneous pictures (postcard type <g>)
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/g9C796

Friday
Judy left first as she needed to be to to Rossmoor by lunch time and wanted another shot at the lilies. Ulla and Karen were off by 8 and enjoyed exploring a dirt road we had spotted above the Leek Springs meadow. The Delphiniums we found were worth it, and  we stopped for more lily pictures as well.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/46W8fj

06/20 - Tilden

There were a dozen of us on this leisurely walk from Laurel Picnic Area to the Botanic Garden (2.5 miles). There were plenty of flowers along the trails and some wonderful things in bloom in the Gardens. It was a good way to celebrate Ron's birthday!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/B90nad

6/13 Ring Mountain Preserve

Thirteen on 2 legs + Oscar the dog headed to Marin hoping to escape the inland heat. Perfect weather for a leisurely walk at Ring Mountain. We found the special Calochortus and the Silene, were overwhelmed by the amount of Clarkia and Triteleia, and generally felt that, tho short on distance (under 2.5 miles), we were amply rewarded with flowers and views.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/035iCf

6/6 - Treasure Island

A big group (26?) enjoyed our annual luncheon and thank you to Shirley at Mersea restaurant on Treasure Island. We arrived about 10 and most walked the Perimeter Rd as far as the north east corner and back; some made a circle on surface streets. Others stayed closer to the restaurant. It turned into a lovely day, a bit hazy but bright and with little wind until we were leaving. Marvelous views and lots of good fellowship.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/08x3Xk

If you missed the pictures from the preliminary scouting expedition in April (it was slightly clearer that day and there were other flowers) see:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/y13zvC