06/16 - Skyline Gardens to Sibley

 

A heat wave forecast meant it was better to start early (we were on the trail by 9) and chose a route with shade and mostly downhill. The hike from the Steam Train parking lot to the Tunnel Rd entrance to Sibley fit the bill. There were just six of us which worked well with a shuttle back to the cars (thank you, Shirley!!). All agreed it was much more interesting than we anticipated and since we were done by 11, the temperature, tho above normal, wasn't stinky yet. Just over 2 1/2 miles.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/kLM47q

6/9 - Briones east side

 

Just seven of us on a bright and breezy day, cool for June. We started from the Reliez Valley trailhead and headed west toward the hills. As far as I can tell the Wednesday Walkers have not walked in this part of Briones. The original plan was to take a lollipop route: out Blue Oak Tr, up the canyon on Blue Oak Shortcut, and back down Blue Oak Tr. The trail was steeper than we wanted to tackle both the single track up the canyon and the fire road coming down, so we made it an out and back. It was very dry, but most of the oaks were in good condition and there were interesting things to see once we were into the canyon About 2 3/4 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/dCEa9A

06/02 - Tilden

 

Just 9 of us met at the parking on Lone Oak Rd in Tilden on a cool morning, foggy to start, but perfect for walking. We went up the Loop Rd, took the single track Sylvan Trail around and down to Jewel Lake, meandered close to the water for a bit then picked up Upper Packrat Tr. Delia was right, there was a great deal to see and we were constantly stopping to examine something or other. Once back to "civilization" we found a picnic table for our lunch, then walked the quarter mile remaining to the cars. Not very long 2.25 miles, but very pleasant and unexpectedly interesting.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/P52dR6

5/19 East side of Mt Diablo

 

Nine of us took advantage of cooler weather (high 60's) to visit the NoEast side of Diablo. It was a windy day, but lovely to be out on the trails. We started from the Mitchell Canyon trailhead, taking Oak Rd, then down to Murchio Rd, Bruce Lee Rd to Back Creek Tr, then up the canyon to the junction with Tickwood Tr and in a quarter mile, Donner Cabin Tr further east and down to the Donner Cyn Rd; Donner Cyn to Murchio Rd which we took all the way back to Watertower Rd and then back to the cars.

Susan had suggested Back Canyon and Tickwood Tr, but trying to design a shorter loop than what we have often done led to the trial of Donner Cabin Tr. It would be hard going up, but down was fine and even Susan said she had never walked it.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/W0Z582

5/12 Pt Pinole

After days of heat and dry wind in the interior East Bay, the choice of Pt Pinole was a good one today. It was bright and breezy and the wind off the fog made the sun feel good. Eight of us walked a clockwise loop from the Atlas Rd entrance, making a detour out the fishing pier, for a distance of a bit over 3 miles. It is so very dry!  There are few flowers and the ones there are are smaller than usual.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/93htW7

There was no hike last Wednesday - too hot.

4/28 Fernandez Ranch and 4/21 Donner Cyn

 4/28 Fernandez Ranch

Nine of us and two very well behaved dogs enjoyed the quiet of Fernandez Ranch on a warm, bright day. Things are getting terribly dry and open areas were "crunchy" under foot. Luckily this loop has lots of shade and most of the sunny bits are downhill. Under 2.75 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8F26A7

4/21 Donner Cyn

It was a small group today, just 8 of us. But it was a glorious day to be out on "our" mountain. We parked and the end of  Montaire Pkwy and headed out Donner Canyon. Then we took Heatherington Tr from the creek crossing by the Donner Cabin site, Donner Tr, a bit of Wasserman, Bruce Lee Springs and finally Clayton Oaks. We had lunch on a shady bank up on Clayton Oaks Rd. There were some very good flowers as well as a reminder of how dry the winter has been and how stressed much of the plant communities are. But it was nice to have easy creek crossings :-). About 3.75 miles

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/xV7v0g

4/14 - WCOS Shell Ridge

 

We were a small group today. We started by exploring the volunteer garden/eco-restoration at the Sutherland Dr  entrance to Shell Ridge. Jeanne and Lynn joined us for that part of the outing. The majority of the flower pictures are from this area (for background see: https://wcosf.org/projects/sutherland.html)

Leaving the garden area we made a long lollipop along the Indian Creek Tr to the Joaquin Ranch Tr, a short bit of street and then up to the Briones-Mt Diablo Tr and back. Altho we stared as 9, there were only five of us for first trail lunch in over a year at one of the memorial benches along Indian Creek. Just under 3.5 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/K4oz75