02/26 - Rockville Hills

A good choice for today! A dozen of us visited Rockville Hills for the first time in three years. The effects of low rainfall were obvious in the short flowers, drying grass and low pond levels. However we timed the trip correctly to see the Scarlet Fritillary in bloom! It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the high 70s. And it was Susan's birthday which called for celebration. After the walk (only a bit over 2.5 miles for most of us) we headed to Little Knopp's for ice cream before the drive home.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/ET1K66

2/19 - Huckleberry

Susan and Geoff led 15 of us on today's hike. There was a great deal of damage from the wind storm 2 weeks ago which was very discouraging. But we did see some flowers and it was an altogether lovely day to be out and moving. About 2.6 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/889odT

02-12 Black Diamond

The majority of the group of 11 walked a clockwise route up Chaparral Loop Tr to the Ridge and then down to the bridge and up Manhattan Canyon. The other 4 hikers went counter-clockwise up Chaparral Loop directly to the bridge and up Manhattan Canyon. We met at the rocky knoll just past the gate on Black Diamond Tr (fire road) for our lunch. Then we started off together on the return. Some intended to take Canyon Tr down while the rest of us continued the loop to the Nortonville Trail and the cemetery. But the trail marker was missing and everyone went down past the cemetery. That was fine since it gave us a good view of the herd of sheep which included many varieties and lots of lambs.

Our main impression was that the flowers were suffering from lack of moisture. There were few Shooting Stars of any variety blooming and most were very short, the Indian Warriors were stunted and sparse, we saw no Milk Maids. However, the Manzanitas were in full bloom and absolutely lovely.

Altho various fitness tracking apps carried by walkers gave much higher mileages, the map total adds up to just over 3 for the longer route and about 2.6 for the others.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/gzk58v

Compare pictures from almost the same hike 3 years ago...3/1/2017
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/j6HMHY

02/05 - Crockett Hills

There were a dozen of us today on a brisk morning which featured blue skies and NO wind (after days of a nasty, cold blow). We hiked up the Edwards Creek Tr, turned on Wood Rat to enjoy the display of Dirca, wound our way to the tunnel and ventured out onto the grassy east side of the park. A few turned back at the tunnel and some went further, but most of us found a grassy spot with wide views and had an early lunch.  Only about 2.5 miles, but it felt like a bit more.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/r11067

1/29 Strawberry Canyon to UC Botanical Garden

This was our annual pilgrimage down Strawberry Canyon then back up to the Botanic Garden for the Plants Illustrated exhibit of botanical art in the Garden’s Julia Morgan Hall. This year, the members of the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists presented works on the the theme of rare and endangered plants of the world. Lee, a member of the Society, gave a brief introductory talk. After we (a dozen hikers + Jeanne and Delia who met us there) enjoyed the art work there was time to wander in the garden before Jeanne and Delia shuttled drivers back up the hill. The walk from Grizzly Peak/Centennial Dr to the Bot Garden is 4.1 miles with additional distances in the garden.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Gg8nxG

02/22 - Mt Diablo

A dozen of us headed to Mt Diablo, hiking our usual route along Knobcone Pt road as far as the gate just past Balancing Rock. John and Monique went further-to the utility tower; Shirley stopped at the picnic table hidden in the manzanitas and I only went as far as the start of the last uphill before returning to join Shirley. Mileage to the gate and return is about 4.25 miles.

We will have to make a return visit as the manzanitas were only beginning to open.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/5oiH38

We talked at some length with a worker for Rural Pig Management who was out to bait traps. He said the pig problem was the worst he has seen it. They caught over 150 in the park in December alone. There are lots of totally uprooted areas along Knobcone Pt Rd and again as we left the park via Northgate Rd.

Bay Nature Article on feral Pigs
https://baynature.org/article/ground-invasion/

The pig meat was previously donated to area food banks. However, recent regulations enacted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have required meat inspection before slaughter, making the program impractical. Then for a while, carcasses were taken to tallow plants, but no plants are now accepting them. So the remains are left in remote locations for turkey vultures and other carrion eaters.

(https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/11/08/park-it-district-tries-to-control-pig-population/)

01/15/2020 - Carquinez Regional Shorelinre

15 humans and 5 canines (Oscar with the McDougall's; Nick's Mojo and a big black lab whose name I didn't hear and Obi and Bacchus with Bob) walked on the Carquinez Scenic Road and George Miller Trail on a chilly, gray day. It was clear but only 37 when we met at the pink wall. No one checked the temperature as we started walking, but hats and gloves and scarves and jackets were the order of the day. The fog, which only appeared as we drove into Martinez, made it seem even colder. But the good news was "no mud". Distances varied but for most was 4.6 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/824CH1