07/29 - Tilden

There was a big group today -16 hikers and Oscar. We started at Inspiration Point, went down The Meadow Canyon Tr and returned via Wildcat Gorge and Curran Trails. We started in the fog; the sun came out and we were lucky to have shade coming back up the
hill. 3 Miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6T8993

And a few pictures from past years...
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8Hn7ao

07/22 - Kings Canyon Loop trail from Valle Vista

We are lucky to be in one of those summer patterns with morning fog to moderate the temperatures. There were 13 of us plus Oscar and Obi today. We did an out and back along the Kings Canyon Loop Tr for a total of 3.25 miles (John went much further!). There were a surprising number of interesting things to look at.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/vvG388

Only a few pictures in the retrospective. Late July is beginning to look like fall in many years:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Cn9n08

07/08 - Pacheco Marsh

There were just 8 of us  (and 2 dogs) today. This was an introduction to an area which adjoins the JMLT/EMRPD/Central San restoration project. It was very warm with no shade, so we were glad to amble a mile and a half and call it a morning.

For more information on the restoration project see: https://www.jmlt.org/pacheco_marsh.html

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/U526i3 

07/01 - Redwood

11 of us started from the main parking area in the valley at Redwood RP. We walked out Stream Trail as far as the picnic area by the junction with Fern Trail. 6 of us retraced our steps while the other 5 went up Fern Trail and, I believe, made the loop  back via French.  2.75 miles for the valley out and back; more like 3.5 for the upper loop.

There were so many comments about the dead vegetation along Pinehurst Rd. that I stopped on the way back to investigate. I'm fairly certain it is broom which has been sprayed in an attempt at control.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/7YgCon

And another retrospective...This one includes the very first hike I made with you (Marin Headlands on 6 July 1911)

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/14S2o4

06/24 - Pt. Pinole

This is the time of year when it can be sweltering inland and barely 60 on the coast. We aimed for the middle ground, so to speak, and walked at Pt Pinole Regional Park. The fog was just beginning to lift as we started out and it was quite pleasant. I forgot to check the tide tables and we were lucky to be there just at low tide. That gave us views we don't usually get.

Very few flowers, but plenty of birds...gulls, of course, but also a great blue heron, egrets, cormorants and even an osprey! No picture of that one from me; I rarely carry a long lens.

This was another morning walk. 13 masked hikers and Oscar and Obi, who may breathe freely, enjoyed the fresh air and mild temps. We made a CW loop from the Atlas Rd entrance. Those who walked to the end of the pier registered about 3.2 miles; the rest of us less. The pier is 1/4 mile long.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/970PT8

06/10 - Briones

It has been 13 weeks since we walked together. There is enough loosening of restrictions now that Idecided to try for a hike this Wednesday. Things will, of necessity, be quite different: no pink wall carpools, physical distancing including splitting the group into smaller sub-groups with extra space between, masks (to hand if not actually on), any dogs on leash 100% of the time (new EBRPD rule).

My plan is to meet at the main Bear Creek staging area at Briones (where we met for last year's picnic) at 9am and make a loop of about 3.3 miles up Briones Crest Tr and down Abrigo Valley Tr. If we do the up first while it is still relatively cool we will have the shade for much of the return. This is a relatively short hike, so water and a snack should be sufficient. Remember that 1) the forecast for tomorrow is HOT so bring plenty of water and 2) all restrooms are still closed!

Things changed from when I sent out the notice on Tuesday. The heat and the available shade were plenty of reason for a last minute revamp of the route. Nine of us walked out Abrigo Valley and looped CCW up to the ridge and then came down Deer Creek Tr. The steep south end of the Briones Crest Tr, in full sun, just didn't appeal to any of us. It was hot, but there were occasional breezes and it was wonderful to be "on the trail again". Instead of the advertised 3.3 miles we walked 3.7

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/STksn3

And since I took so few pictures today, here are some bonus retrospective ones from the 2nd week in June:

    6-12-2012     Redwood (but nothing worth sharing)
    6-12-2013     Ring Mt (but I was out of town)
    6-10-2014     Ring Mt
    6-10-2015     no hike - rain!
    6-08-2016     Mt Diablo: Green Ranch
    6-14-2017     Fernandez Ranch
    6-13-2018     Ring Mt
    6-12-2019     Pt Pinole

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/74bmG9 

A long 3 months

Ever since the middle of March, we have been under shelter in place orders which precluded our normal group hikes. Now, 13 weeks, later restrictions are easing and parks are reopening.

While we were locked down, I sent weekly links to retrospectives for the week; just to remind everyone of the wonderful places we have been and the variety of things we have seen:

3/18     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/YWQ2v7
3/25     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/3NQ100
4/01     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/X3m0np
4/08     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/v9Gb0x
4/15     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/423J6P
4/22     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/5Jvx54

4/29     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8pn5Z7

5/06     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6Ni4J8

5/13     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/4y9vQM

5/20     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9759q5

5/27     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/9GY8bG

6/03     https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/3x2Be8