Author: steve

Bob and I completed a 10.6 Mile segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail yesterday. Huckleberry Staging Area to Bort Staging Area (Sibley to Redwood). Great weather for a hike.

Observations: Bald Eagle! 1000’s of ladybugs near MacDonald Staging Area, fiery rings from some large Redwoods (near Redwood Bowl), monument describing how Rainbow Trout were first named from a fish collected in San Leandro creek, gold finches, a few poppies, lots of monkey flower. Wide range of bio-diversity zones: from hillsides covered with ferns (in the Huckleberry Preserve and some other secluded slopes), to sparsely populated chaparral areas in the “lower” elevations.

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Inspiration Point to the Steam Trains – Tilden Park. Fantastic views. Observations: Lots of bunnys, western fence lizard, western blue birds, crow riding the upward draft and doing a touch and go landing on a bench on the ridge top, monkey flower, wild peas, poppies, lupine and several other varieties. What we have been calling Grizzly Peak turns out to be Mt. Vollmer. Roasting hot in Pleasant Hill, but almost broke out the jackets on this hike. Fun!

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El Sobrante Ridge. A rewarding little hike, and another segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Watched a turkey climb up a hill and the launch itself off to soar down over the valley..cool. Bob had a turkey call that stirred up some activity. Also saw a mama turkey with about 8 chicks crossing the road. Other observations: a flock of wren, and a surprising quantity of monkey flower.

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Kennedy Grove, lots of wild flowers and good company.

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Inspiration Point (Tilden) to San Pablo Dam. Turkeys, blue birds, white pelicans, etc. Paved trail from Inspiration Point had many happy families, but we had the EBMUD section to our selves. Thanks again Bay Area Ridge Trail for negotiating connecting sections.

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Another new trail today with Bob and Bill – sharing it with nearly 100 Mt. Bikers on some sweet single track. Turns out the nearby high schools have Mt Bike teams..cool. Numerous Western Bluebirds, what we think may be a Hutton’s Vireo, a large Newt and the other usual suspects.

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Another small segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail today with Bob. (the section in blue). Christie Rd near Franklin Canyon Golf Course to Alhambra Valley Road. Golden Eagle, White Tailed Kite, and several other raptors…I need a better camera! The coyote we saw last time messing with the deer was still around – as were the deer.

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Feeder Trail #1 – A portion of the old stage coach route from Martinez to Richmond. Its a great thing that three guys who have been hiking these hills for decades can find new trails due to recent open space acquisitions. Thanks John Muir Land Trust.

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