Category: Uncategorized

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Christie to Pinole Valley Watershed

After many weeks of dealing with a bad back, Bob and I picked up a missing link between two sections of the Bay Area Ridge Trail that we did last year. We were the first ones in after the storms and saw a significant amount of big stream flow evidence, as well as smaller temporary creeks that are still flowing. The mud was perfect for capturing animal prints.

Observations: Numerous Red Tailed Hawks that seemed to be just having fun playing with each other while soaring in the sky, several Western Blue Birds, a flock of Meadow Larks, a few butterflies, lots of calves. The ants had moved a lot of dirt cleaning out after the storm. More frogs that we have heard in a long time. It was a frog party!

This is a great trail with sweeping vistas and no people. Highly recommended. A+

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Marine Headlands

Beat the heat today by heading to the Marin Headlands with Bob and my youngest daughter – Hiked 9 Miles of trail with spectacular scenery, including a detour to a somewhat secluded and relaxing beach.

Observations: Numerous blue birds, hummingbirds, a black butterfly, a large racer (snake), the worlds smallest lizard, a seal, red tailed hawk gracefully riding the wind sweeping over hat loss ridge, lots of pelicans, fantastic folded/twisted outcrops of what used to be sea floor, and a near teenage girl out pacing some experienced (50 something) hikers.

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Sibley to Redwood

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

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

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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Crockett Hill Regional Park

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.