Moments in Dirt and Ink

Mount Konocti County Park Click for map. If Mount Saint Helena is special for having 1000 foot prominence, then Mount Konocti is twice as special with 2000 feet. Unfortunately, getting to the top is another road walk, but that doesn't change the view at the top. Also unfortunately, it turns out my 120V outlets in my little trailer don't run off the battery, so my camera battery is still dead and I must contend with splotchy pocket computer (for some reason known as a phone) photos. Trail parking and a picnic area are at the end of 3 miles of well graded dirt road and a map is posted just before the gate. There are a few named peaks on the mountain, but the very highest is Wright Peak, so that's what I'm going for. The start of hiking. The gate prevents motorcycles and horse from proceeding. Dogs are also not allowed. The road past the gate is nicely graded too and easy walking. The one bit of trail comes quickly. It skirts around the edge of a walnut orc...

Robert Louis Stevenson State Park Click for map. Mount Saint Helena was on my radar long before seeing it as the highest mountain on the San Francisco Area Nifty Ninety peak list. It was my real desire when I came out and hiked Table Rock and that was renewed when I saw it has over 1000 feet prominence. From the top, if you want to get any higher, you've got to come down a thousand feet first. It sticks out a bit from the rest of the landscape. The largest parking is in the same huge dirt turnout available for Table Rock. There is also a little on the other side of the road. The trail climbs to a utility road and there is a little more parking at the bottom of that as well. The big lot has plenty of room, so I go for that and then have to cross the highway to start. The start of the trail includes a large picnic area with a few old steps going nowhere. There was a bit more here once. No dogs are allowed past the picnic area. My camera battery is dead. It had a light...

Las Trampas Regional Wilderness Click for map. I finally noticed that the East Bay Regional Parks have a trails challenge on. In fact, this is the 25th trails challenge that they have done. They have descriptions for 20 trails in the park system and challenge folks to hike 5 of them or a marathon worth of miles. My original plan for Round Top closely resembled one of their moderate hikes and my loop around Wildcat surrounds one of their challenging hikes . They also have one for those hills I was glancing over at from Redwood that just happens to pass closely by three more of the San Francisco Bay Area Nifty Ninety peaks so I decided to try one as described. Well, as described with the addition of the tenth of a mile or so needed to actually get to the top of each peak along the way. Ringtail Cat Trailhead only has a few spots. Perhaps there is some plan for an ADA approved trail because 1/4 of them are wheelchair accessible, which seems of dubious value as things a...

Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve Pinole Valley Park Click for map. This is just a bit of afternoon wandering in the local park area. I can climb up a little from the end of Silver Belt Drive to get onto the Manzanita Loop Trail, or I can take a fire road just short of the last house to get over to a slightly more official entry point. That point has brochures including area maps below informational signs. In comparison to a sign marking the boundary, it might be a lot more official. The two trails join quickly and then connect with the Sobrante Ridge Trail. This is another part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. I head north on it, soon coming to some picnic tables with a view of the bay. Ready for a picnic above the cities and the bay. Mount Tamalpais is viewable off to the left just a few steps from the tables. Past the tables, there is an intersection and the ridge route swings out toward Mount Diablo. Mount Tamalpais is also a murky bump to be seen toward the afternoon ...

Redwood Regional Park Roberts Regional Recreation Area Click for map. My original thought for Round Top in Sibley Volcanic was a short hike and then take off for a longer hike at Redwood, but I went and gave it a little more time like it deserved and then there really wasn't the time for the longer hike after. So now I am back to put that previous plan into action. After accidentally going down Pinehurst (scariest road with a painted double yellow line I've ever seen as the outside is slumping downward and the inside doesn't have enough room to travel and there is traffic so you better stay on your side anyway) I was done driving and parked at the intersection where there are some dirt spaces. A proper parking lot is not too far along if you can stick to Skyline. The Ridge Route cuts through here for easy access to the park, so I can just start at the corner beside a park bench and get a little climbing going before dropping into the top of the valley. And t...

King Mountain Open Space Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve Mount Tamalpais Watershed Click for map. Mount Tamalpais, which is actually just called "Mount Tam" by the people around it, is another one that one could be climbed by a long wiggling drive and a short stroll. However, I don't want to just be there, I want to have journeyed there. There are lots of ways to really hike up it, too. I chose one that looked like it would be an easy drive and let me loop around King Mountain before tackling the big stuff. Somewhere up a steep two-way road with driving down one side and parking, paved around redwood trees, or non-existence down the other, I found a gate and a turnaround. There are maybe five parking spots within a quarter mile of it, but the top one was free and I grabbed it. On a bit of a hill with no curb to turn into, so with the break as tight as I can get it and in gear and a bit of thought about maybe a rock under a tire. The trail is easy to find ...

Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve Click for map. Turns out that last peak, Wildcat Peak , is on a peak list called the San Francisco Bay Area Nifty Ninety. Nifty. I've actually already gone up a couple on it without noticing the list. Nearby to it is another called Round Top. This is, apparently, the remnant of a volcano that erupted about 10 million years ago and now has been pushed over onto its side by the local tectonic forces for the joy and education of geologists. Some local quarrying operations have also helped out in uncovering information about the volcano. Just in case this makes visitors start thinking, "Well, let's learn about volcanoes!" the maps that can be found online and at the staging locations include interpretive trail information to do just that. My first instinct is to start at the Old Tunnel staging area, but since it is the weekend, I head for the spot with the most spaces and only get one through rather good luck. The place is pa...

Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Tilden Nature Area Click for map. There's been some shuffling going on and then other shuffling and driving a truck halfway across the north end of the country and then being more than done with that and I really need to get a hike going. What is near at the moment and big enough for an all day extravaganza is Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, one of the East Bay Regional Park District's parks. They have a site for each of their many parks and supply PDF maps, so it is easy to plan something. I planned to go up Wildcat Peak with plenty of ridge journey on the way and canyon journey on the way back starting from a handy end of a random street that has access and, as it turns out, pretty easy parking even around 10 AM, which is a little late for starting an all day extravaganza. Getting started on the fire road. The web site lists complicated hours by month, but the sign here just wants us out between 10 PM and 5 AM. The road has a loc...