White Christmas?

I was not really crazy about this particular Santa, silly-jumping skinny...probably a recession-friendly one. Though it was not a bad idea to spend the afternoon in a cozy Irish pub and have 'Lunch with Santa'.


Last week was actually the coldest period of our stay here in the Bay Area.
The heater has been on every day.
Rain showers changed to hail and when the clouds cleared, the tops of Mount Diablo and Sunol were dusted with snow.
What a pretty sight! Just perfect for the season.


PS: Another bike accident today...

“step-over”

Be careful, you shouldn’t touch that! It’s poison oak!

Ooh no, don’t worry, it’s not stinging at all. Look! answers the little boy and rubs one of the leaves between his fingers...

I guess, this incident must have really impressed Rob at todays ‘daddy hike’ to Sunol.
I truly hope the little boy will not to have to go through the same itchy hell.
It is already healing though...

Sure I have to take advantage of my ‘grateful-mom-day’.
When I hike Las Trampas I always have to think how fortunate we are having such a beautiful area ‘right in our backyard’.
On my own, I’m not restricted to Maarten’s favorite creek path.
There is still so much more to explore.

I’ve recently learned that comfrey has a symbolic meaning as an 'all-travelers’-herb'. To be honest I had no idea what comfrey looks like. So I looked it up on the internet and today I see this inconspicuous plant blossoming abound along the ridge trail.

It is very hot today so I’m happy to descend to Sulphur Springs.
Already now in the spring, the creek is almost dry.


I leave the shady trail behind and climb up to a sunny meadow. There are already some poppies next to the path but the meadow up the hill is really dazzling with colorful wildflowers.



Here you stand right across from Mt. Diabloand deep down in the valley is the town of Danville right beneath the steep slope. What a surprising view!

On my way back I discover another shaded creek, a dark and mysterious place. I think of bringing Maarten up here, but climbing and descending steeply all the way back I abandon this idea.


I’m not very happy with the “step-over” gate restricting access for horses and mountain bikers. I don’t mind that they are not allowed to enter these trails.
Yet because of my bad hips I actually have problems stepping over it myself...

Donner Canyon, Mt. Diablo SP

I know we are quite late, but as I remember our last trip to Donner Falls they were still flowing in mid May.
It is already two years ago when we were here for the first time. We found that first trip pretty difficult with Maarten in the back carrier and the temperature in the high nineties.
Today it is quite warm despite the bad weather forecast and considering it is only early spring.

Maarten hasn’t use the back carrier for several months already but this doesn’t mean he can manage a 6 mile trip by himself.
Though I believe he might be able to, but also today there are some paths he would not enjoy, I'm sure.


Everything is still so nice and green.
The bubbling creek off to the left adds a nice atmosphere to the enjoyable, slightly climbing road with the view of the imposing Mount Diablo in the background.

After about a mile and a half where the creek crosses the trail we stop to have lunch. From here I continue up on my own. Maarten is delighted of course. Now he can finally completely enjoy the tempting creek.

The first 'mile' to get up to the Falls Trail is quite strenuous and I’m happy I didn’t insist we all go up the hill. I keep looking around since there are nice views in all directions.

Looking back to the north there is the Bay with its surrounding towns. As I continue deep in the canyon I recognize the old places and have to think of our previous trip here. The place we had lunch, the scarce shady places where we tried to hide from the merciless sun, where Maarten was playing in the water (and where we had to wash him since we forgot an extra diaper)...so many memories! I have to cross the streams several times and I think of Maarten. He would love the small path and wading in the water a lot.
But I’m sure he would hate to climb the steep and dry dirt road up. Who knows, maybe next time.

O.K., now about the waterfalls. They are not that spectacular.
But the whole canyon is such a beautiful setting. The creek is greatly hidden in the exuberant vegetation so you don’t see it all the time but you hear the gurgling and splashing water all over the place.
I should be here right after the rainy winter but no need to complain.

I believe this place is stunning in just about any season.

'Taricha Granulosa'

My trip to snowy Sunol ends in the morning traffic to San Jose.
Maarten is at school and this morning is so lovely I don’t want to give that up too quickly. Comforting myself that Sunol is in the clouds anyway I go back to Las Trampas and climb the Rocky Ridge which I’ve already planned to do last Friday. The streams are all full again and bubble cheerful around the trail. It is silly but I have to think how Maarten would enjoy playing with the water.
Although we already walked here before there was never any water in this small stream bed.

Now there is even a small waterfall along the Elderberry trail.
This is the nice side of hiking after so many rainy days. Less pleasant however are the drenched muddy paths. It is so slippery, I guess I’m very lucky not to fall straight into the mud. At last I decide to take a grassy but very steep cow path directly to the ridge.

The view of Mount Diablo is always nice and today the top is even sprinkled with snow.

The bay and the San Francisco skyline are good visible but unfortunately my camera is not that advanced to capture how beautiful the views from the ridge really are.

I have to go back since I don’t want to be late to pick up Maarten.

I almost step on this little guy ( I know I would feel horrible if I did). I can’t identify him but he seems very friendly and continues slow over the muddy path.
(I learn later that day that he belongs to the newt
family and if he feels threatened he would secrete a very toxic substance from his rough skin.)

Walking in the Rain

With small breaks it has been raining the whole week. I don’t mind the rain but it is also quite cold. This is our third winter in California and also the coldest one.
I’m looking forward to our first CW hike on Thursday morning but unfortunately it is cancelled. Due to the rain of course. I guess the other ladies don’t own such wonderful Dutch waterproofs like I do ;-)

There is snow at the top of the Sunol hills again. Even though the weather is really not inviting, I feel I can’t stay inside anymore. I can’t stand to look at the tempting hillsides all around our place. At least for a while I have to go out.
I don’t expect anyone will join me so I plan to take a challenging hike to the mountain ridge and maybe enjoy the view of snowy Mount Diablo.
But there go my plans! The men actually decide to join me.

We end up at the running creek close to our home. Maarten soon looks like a mud ball. He is so exited to be in his favorite hills again.

No problem that he falls several times in the rain drenched mud. Due to the dirt,soon, you can’t see much of his shoes and you would understand that keeping him away from the puddles is complete impossible. Never mind as long as he is happy.

We have got the company of a lonely bull. He mooes so loudly! He watches us with an unfriendly expression that seemes to say: Keep your distance! Maarten is aware and I’m not comfortable either since I’ve learned recently that the bulls can be quite a danger to the hikers. Luckily we are not captivating enough to this big fellow and he continues to graze.

PS:...and... by the way, we have a student in the family again! No, not me unfortunately. Rob has actually started his study at Arizona State University.
And besides that he just gained a CSOC Supreme Certificate this week. We are proud of him.

Trail Through Time

It seems the winter is coming back. Another rainy night with temperature bellow 50 ºF (10 ºC)! I know the surrounding hills can still use some rain and it’s good for the yard... Well I guess we are already spoiled by the often sunshine we get here.
It remained cloudy in the morning. The top of Mount Diablo was covered by mist which according to the locals means more rain to come.
We decided to go there for a hike anyway and to take the first trail we will come across. Shortly after the parks south gate we found this wonderful Trail Through Time. This route follows the West Fork of the Sycamore Creek and leads through Mesozoic age rocks covered by ferns and mosses in the most beautiful tints of green. It reminded us of the Fern Canyon in Redwood National Park we’ve visited last July. Beautiful!
The only unpleasant aspect of our hike today was the overal presence of the poison oak.
This time Maarten was not a chamois anymore but a little bear who needed to be fed a lot with bread and (Gold)fishes. Whatever as long as he keeps on walking ;-)

PS: As to his walking the orthopedic examination last Friday demonstrated his hips are perfectly alright!

Mt. Diablo

In the morning we drove to Mount Diablo.
I don’t like to go to the summit that much because especially during the weekends a lot of tourist are heading up there.
But luckily the Mount Diablo State Park it’s not just the summit with it’s watchtower. The wilderness of woods and grasslands, streams, ponds and springs, deep canyons and lofty ridges makes it a natural paradise.
Maarten was so excited. He is accustomed to be in the nature. So many stones, sticks, pine cones…It’s just so difficult to keep him at the trail. He kept all the three of us busy all the time.

10th anniversary/ Snow!

Though it is pretty rare in this area there is some snow at the Mount Diablo! From the San Ramon Valley we have this beautiful view of the highest mountain of the SF Bay Area.

Also in the valley is still quite chilly however we enjoy the outdoors ;-)

PS: Another reason to celebrate: Rob’s 10th service year with ChevronTexaco!
Congratulations!