Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park— Climb 1200' past giant oak, bay and sycamore groves to the ridge, viewing Livermore Valley and Altamont Pass to the east, Diablo and Sunol Parks to north and south, and a hidden canyon to the west. Continue north on the ridge and loop back for 10 miles total. Meet at 9:30 at the parking lot west of Fwy 680: Go 1/2 mi. W. from Castlewood Dr. exit, then 1/2 mi. S. on Foothill Rd or meet for carpooling at Rengstorff & Middlefield at 8:45. Led by Martin Donald, (650) 966-1984.

Ohlone Wilderness Trail – Murietta Falls— Hard Hike but its neat to say you've seen the falls as insignificant as they may be. 11 miles, 4000ft. Meet at 8:45 at trailhead or car pool from Meridian/Parkmoor at Post Office at 8:00. Del Valle Regional Park is located on Del Valle Road off Mines Road south of Livermore (parking fee). Exit I-580 eastbound or westbound in Livermore at North Livermore Avenue. Head south and proceed through town (North Livermore Avenue will become South Livermore Avenue in town). About 1.5 miles outside town, turn right at Mines Road, go about 3.5 miles and continue straight on Del Valle Road (Mines Road turns left). The park entrance is about four miles ahead.Trailhead for Ohlone Wilderness Trail located at Lichen Bark Picnic Area. Bring cash for $2.00 permit required and $4.00 charge for parking at Del Valle. Leader Ellen 408-892-2461.

SORRY this hike is cancelled

Big Basin Trail Maintenance— Meet Jeff Bleam at park headquarters at 9 AM for some hands-on trail work. This group meets the second Saturday of each month. Call (831) 338-0774.

Trail Maintenance - Skyline to the Sea Trail— Al Lisin, (408) 252-8106, leads a group that maintains the Skyline to the Sea Trail. This group also meets on the second Saturday of the month. Meet at Saratoga Gap at 9:00.

Harvey Bear County Park— 8 mile hike at Harvey Bear Ranch at Coyote Lake in the south Santa Clara County region. Up and down about 800' elevation in the green foothills west of Coyote Lake. Meet to carpool at 9 AM at Cottle Rd. P & R at Hy 85 or meet at 9:30 at park. Directions: South on Hy 101 to the San Martin Ave. exit. Travel east 2 miles to the park on the left, 1/4 mile past Foothill Ave. Rain cancels. Questions, call Bruce Harper at (408) 281-1904.

Rancho Cañada del Oro— A 7 to 8 mile hike into the territory of the Santa Clara Open Space Authority. This park is located south of the Almaden Valley area. Meet at Cottle/85 Park and Ride at 9:00 or at the staging area on Casa Loma Road at 9:30, or call leader, Corry Harper at 408-281-1904 for further carpool information. Directions to park at www.openspaceauthority.org/Properties/RCDO.htm. Rain cancels.

Castle Rock State Park Trail Maintenance— The third Saturday of every month Martin Donald leads trail work in the Castle Rock area. Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9:00. Call Martin at (650) 966-1984. Bring boots and gloves, lunch and liquid. Tools are supplied but bring your own favorites if you prefer.

Edgewood County Park— Enjoy an easy, short stroll through the serpentine grasslands where we will enjoy the wildflowers indigenous to this area. Maybe see the endangered Bay Checkerspot Butterfly. Meet at 280 & Page Mill for carpooling at 9:15, or at the Clarkia Trailhead on Canada Road (off 280) at 9:30. Call Cathy (650) 966-1850 for details.

Castle Rock State Park— A 9-mile loop on the Skyline, Loughry Woods, Travertine Springs and Toll Road Trails. Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9:30. Ken Margiott (707) 468-5734.

TRAIL DAYS— Reserve this date for the annual Trail Days. Each year on the fourth Saturday in April Trail Association members give a little back by helping with trail building or trail maintenance. Please, let's have a good turnout today.

Raindate for TRAIL DAYS— An opportunity for those who could not make it to Saturday's Trail Day, or for those who like to do two day's of trail work.

Coyote Ridge (Morgan Hill)— Wildflower hike led by docents from 8:00 - noon. (4 mi?) Must register ASAP at http://www.siliconvalleylc.org/coyoteridgehikes2008.html for the morning hike. Call Carolyn at 408-379-1853 for questions on Coyote Ridge. A short afternoon hike will be led by Mary Ellen and Carolyn. Location to be determined. Meet at the Park and Ride at 85 and Cottle at 7:30 AM.

Joseph D. Grant County Park— Meet at Grant Ranch main parking lot at 9:30 AM, Rengstorff/Middlefield at 8:45. Moderate hike of 7 to 8 miles, many photo stops, light snack half way through. Hope for spectacular flower displays, with fields of white, yellow, and blue possible. Probable yellow poppies, great owl's clover and more typical spring flowers. Robert Spicher (408) 238-9821, Ellen (408) 267-6456. Please bring a finger snack to share at the post hike picnic at 1:45 PM finish. Non-hikers welcome at that time.

San Bruno Mountain— Beautiful panoramas and (hopefully) exceptional late spring wildflowers highlight this 8-mile hike on the Summit Loop Trail and the Ridge Trail to the East Peak of San Bruno Mountain. Come prepared for wind, fog, or sun, and enjoy the views! Meet at Page Mill / 280 at 8:40 AM. to carpool, or at 9:30 at the trailhead parking lot (not the picnic area parking lot) off of Guadalupe Canyon Parkway. Cathy Howard (650) 966-1850.
This hike will be followed by drinks and snacks in the park (leader's treat) and planning our summer hikes. Please bring your July-August-September calendar and hike ideas!

Big Basin Trail Maintenance— Join Jeff Bleam again for some more enjoyable trail maintenance at Big Basin. See Apr 12 entry for details.

Trail Maintenance - Skyline to the Sea Trail— Call Al Lisin at (408) 252-8106 for more information.

Almaden Quicksilver Historic Trail— New trail maps explaining interesting historic information are now available thanks to an eagle scout project. I plan to follow the trails on this map for a hike to Almaden Quicksilver. We'll start at the Hacienda Trail entrance. Take Almaden Expressway 4.5 miles and turn right on Almaden Road, Go 3 miles along Almaden Road to parking area on the right.The historic trail is only 6.5 miles but there is plenty of opportunity to extend our hike. After the hike we can visit the museum. Meet at Almaden Plaza off Almaden Expressway in front of Barnes & Noble at 9 AM for carpooling. For further information call Judy Holmes at (408) 379-3756.

Castle Rock State Park Trail Maintenance— Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9:00 AM. Call Martin Donald at (650) 966-1984. See April 19 entry.

Long Ridge Open Space— A 9-mile hike featuring two loops joined by a short out and back. We hike Saratoga Gap, Hickory Oak, Long Ridge Road, Peters Creek and Achistaca Trails with a short section of Skyline to the Sea Trail. Meet at Saratoga Gap at 9:30 (You are encouraged to carpool from back of "La Fondue" at 9:00). Ken Margiott 707-468-5734.

Point Reyes National Seashore— Nine to ten mile hike in Pt. Reyes Nat. Seashore. This will be a leader surprise hike that will not disappoint. I am also taking names of people who want to overnite it in Marin. Once I get an idea of how many bodies want that option I will make the reservations. This is a gotta know if you are coming, how many nites, Sat only or both Sar & Sun, and if you plan to drive day of hike please let me know!!!!!Hike Leader Todd Patterson 831-239-6618.

Stevens Creek Co. Park and Fremont Older Open Space Preserve— A moderate 9 mile hike starting in Stevens Creek Park. Tony Look trail, Lookout trail to Fremont Older, 7-Springs trail and return via Coyote Ridge Trail. Meet at parking lot below the dam at 9:30 AM or carpool from the Mervyn's parking lot on Stevens Creek at 9:15. Call Janet McCarron at 408-245-1519 for information.

Portola Redwoods State Park— Meet at Park Headquarters at 9:30 AM for a 13-mile hike. We'll hike to the trail camp, then take off along the Bear Creek Trail to the Peters Creek Loop. Car-pooling from Page Mill Rd. & 280 at 8:30. Mary Ellen Quinn (408) 885-0184.

Big Basin Trail Maintenance— Meet Jeff Bleam (831) 338-0774 at park headquarters at 9:00 AM. See April 12 entry.

Trail Maintenance - Skyline to the Sea Trail— Call Al Lisin (408) 252-8106 for more information.

Dipsea hike— Strenuous 7 mile from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach. A lot of steps. Check the course profile at http://www.dipsea.org/course.html. Either ride the bus back to Mill Valley or hike back for a total of 14 miles. Bring cell phones. Meet at Page Mill & 280 at 8:00 AM or Mill Valley Old Mill Park at 9:30. Call Carolyn at 408-379-1853 for questions.

Castle Rock State Park Trail Maintenance— Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9:00 AM. Call Martin Donald at (650) 966-1984. See April 19 entry.

SCMTA Annual Picnic— The SCMTA annual picnic will be held at Mark Bowden's home starting at around noon. All you need to bring is $3.00, your own beverage, and an appetizer, salad, or desert to share. So he knows how may are coming, please call (408) 735-8736 by Tuesday, June 17. Directions to Mark's house at 376 South Fernwood Circle in Sunnyvale: From Highway 101-Driving either direction on 101, take the Fair Oaks South exit. Make an immediate right on Awhnee Ave. Take the first left on Morse Ave. Then pass the school and go right on Fernwood Circle. Follow the circle around until you see the SCMTA sign. From Highway 85-Driving North on 85, take the 237 to 101 South exit and go South on 101. Then see above.
There will be a relativity easy hike before the annual picnic. We will hike some trail in Rancho San Antonio and it will not be the dreadded PG&E Trail. Meet at 9:30 at the furthest lot in by the bathrooms. Thinking about San Antonio to Hidden Villa where we will have to do a shuttle. Hike Leader Todd Patterson cell # 831-239-6618 Be there or be Square!!!

Butano Redwoods State Park— This is a moderate 9-mile loop up Jackson Flats & Canyon Trails to the BLLS. Meet at park entrance kiosk at 9:30 am or Page Mill & 280 Park & Ride at 8:15AM. Call Vivian Jung (408) 238-3388. Don't forget that there's artichoke garlic herb bread at the Pescadero Market afterwards.