04/17 - Almond Ranch

14 Wednesday Walkers and 5 members of the Pleasant Hill Garden Study Club enjoyed a specially guided tour of the Almond Ranch property which the John Muir Land Trust is hoping to acquire. This piece will fill a gap between Mt Wanda (US-NPS) and Dutra/Sky Ranch (JMLT) and join two segments of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. The hike went up the main fire road to the Mt Wanda Park boundary, then thru the locked gate and up to the ridge of the Almond Ranch (fantastic views!). We returned down the nature trail, a single track. Then, after a snack stop, we rejoined the trail we came up; it was just under 3.5 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/Dz9X5A

04/10 - Brushy Peak Regional Preserve

There were a dozen of us for the Wednesday Walkers' first ever trip to Brushy Peak Preserve in Livermore. We all hiked CCW loops, the main group completed the larger loop (about 4.5 miles) and a group of four cut across omitting the climb up to the main ridge (about 3.3 miles for them).

The hills were beautifully green and there were flowers to find as well. There were more birds than we usually see/hear: meadowlarks, red wing blackbirds, gulls (the preserve is next door to a landfill), several varieties of hawk, and lots of small birds in trees and bushes. In spite of the wind it was a wonderful day!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/w62R76

04/03 Lime Ridge

On a very gray day eight of us headed to Lime Ridge to see how the area was recovering from last summer's wildfire. We took the Paradise Valley Tr to the intersection with Manzanita Tr. Then took Lime Ridge Tr down to Buckeye and eventually Ohlone Tr. A bit over 3 miles. Plenty of flowers, lots of green, minimal mud and NO rain at all in spite of the thick clouds.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/P098Qg 

03/13 - San Pablo Ridge

Finally! A Wednesday without rain. The wind had a bite to it, but it was bright, sun filled day for the 15 of us who walked out from Inspiration Point. As often happens with a largish group, there were several side excursions.  Everyone walked at least 4.5 miles. Then there was a short detour to the Rotary Peace Grove (.2 mi); a longer climb  to the ridge added approximately .7 mile. So it was easily possible to have walked over 5 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/56G2K1

2/20 Valle Vista

A nice group of 11 walked from the Valle Vista trailhead on an out and back along Kings Canyon Loop Tr. We walked out until 10:30 and then turned around. On the return we added the Riche Loop past the old house sites. The forecast showers never appeared and it was a lovely day to be out and moving! about 3.7 miles.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/vTi3rV

02/06 - Mullholland Ridge

On a frosty (31 degree) morning just 4 of us adventured along the now closed section of Donald Drive in Moraga. There would have been more of us, but there was a nasty accident on Hwy 24, just before the tunnel, which turned the freeway into a parking lot and sent some of our walkers back home. We were rewarded with bright skies and wide views. Jeanne met us at the Hacienda and we walked around the gardens there. 3.7 mi

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/8J14TY

01/30 - Strawberry Canyon, Art Show and UC Botanic Garden

On a day which started with dense fog and warmed so that we kept removing layers, 14 humans and Oscar the dog walked from the parking lot off Grizzly Peak Blvd, down the fire road, then up Strawberry Cyn Rd to the UC Botanic Garden. There we were joined by Jeanne, Casey and Juanita. Lunch on the deck of the Julia Morgan building was followed by a visit to the exhibit of work by the Northern CA Society of Botanical Artists, with an intro by Lee. Finally we had some time to wander in the garden. Trail mileage was a bit over 4 miles. Garden wandering varied from minimal to a half mile or more.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/uY8iv7