04/02 - Chabot RP

 

Ever since the atmospheric rivers several years ago, Brandon Trail has been closed due to a collapsed culvert. Finally the alerts on the East Bay RPD web site indicated that the trail is now only closed to horses, so that is where we went today.

Our Route was CW from the Bort Meadows staging area on Redwood Rd., out Grass Valley Rd to the stone bridge and back Brandon Tr. There were 13 of us on a perfect day after storms. We watched birds (quail, hawks, jays, wrentits, towhees and more) and butterflies as well as botanizing. It was a great outing!! Just over 3 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/677Pc9099s

03/26 - Rockville Hills

 

We walked a clockwise circle on a gray and windy day. The light was great for photography tho. The huge herd of goats doing fuel reduction brought lots of smiles.

We were too late for the red fritillary, altho there were faded remnants of bloom so we know they are still growing in the usual spot. 13 hikers and 3 dogs; under 3 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/kYwRX5Lw2r

03/19 - Briones to Mt Diablo Tr (Larkey Park to Acalanes Ridge)

 

There was a very large group today: 21 humans and 5 dogs!! We walked SW from Larkey Park to Acalanes Ridge and then circled the ridge on single track trails before rejoining the trail we had walked earlier. Fiddlenecks were the flower of the day, but there were lots of other blooms.  It was a 3.4 mile workout with lots of up (and down).

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/iq2JWx49P7

 

03/05 - Shell Ridge

 

The weather forecast was so uncertain and the sky so gray that we stayed close to "home" today. Jennifer suggested Shell Ridge and that turned out to be an excellent choice.

We started from the Sutherland Dr entrance, walked east and then down the steep section to the pond, back up to Briones Rd, then east again and south to the junction with Indian Creek Trail which we took back to Fossil Hill. There was a good sized group (15 + 2 dogs). Enough of us wore rain jackets that the clouds were just dramatic and didn't get us wet. 2.5 miles

For those of you who remember the lavish displays of native wildflowers on the hillside just inside the gate, you will be as sad as we were to know that it is now fenced with restricted access. There had been too many careless people wandering thru the flowers, trampling plants, all for social media photo ops :-(

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/393w852WEY

2/26 - Mt Diablo, "Manzanita Row"

 

There were a dozen of us today to celebrate Susan's birthday. It was a perfect day to for our first visit to Mt Diablo in 2025...bright sky, mild temperature, green grass...absolutely wonderful. The only downside was that the manzanitas were through blooming, with only a few flowers remaining here and there. The majority walked to Balancing Rock, a few went on to the gate, some turned around earlier (so 3-4 miles, depending on the individual). We all met at the picnic table hidden under the oak for snacks and celebratory cookies.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/a60ER6oYpi

02/19 - Lafayette Reservoir

 

Pelicans headed to the far end of the reservoir

 Most of us met at Pine Lane and walked along the EBMUD trail, scurried across Mt Diablo Blvd and trudged up the hill to the parking lot. We then walked a counter clockwise loop around the reservoir. Of course the mist wasn't serious until we reached the far end, when it made no difference which way we returned. It was never really rain, but we still got plenty damp. 11 hikers and Sunny. The full route was about 4 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/NHDRj72k7v

02/12 - Alhambra Hills

 

 

This was a mostly grey, calm before the storm, day with occasional burst of sunshine and nippy temperatures. Alhambra Hills only opened to the public on the first of February, so we are among the early visitors.

This is the first open space property purchased by the City of Martinez after the public voted to approve the necessary bonds in 2022. It encompasses much of the ridge between Reliez Valley Rd and Alhambra Ave. Once up on the ridge the views are incredible in all directions!

Mileage is not certain. Using the map posted on the Martinez website we walked about 2.5 miles. Using Google Earth the track is closer to 2.75. Various "devices" claim up to an additional mile. Plenty of up and down gave us a good workout in any case. There were 15 humans plus Murphy, the dog.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8iUDC1375u