san francisco bay area Archives

Mt Umunhum: Opening to the Public Soon!

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:May 28, 2016
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:2 Comments

Everyone in the San Francisco Bay Area knows Mt Umunhum, even if they don’t know its name. The large concrete box that sits atop the summit was one the base of a Coastal Defense Radar at the Almaden Air Force Station. Visible from all over the Bay Area, the “Cube” has been a landmark since the base opened in 1958.
This weekend I had the opportunity to visit the closed summit with the Umunhum Conservancy. Not only did I get a close look at the Cube, I got a peek at what is coming when the site opens to the public later this fall. There is still a lot of construction work to do, but the end is in sight!
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Sign on Umunhum Road

Bald Mountain and Mt El Sombroso: Around Umunhum

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:November 2, 2015
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:1 Comment

I was looking for a way to get rid of my extra Halloween candy, so why not go on a hike fueled by M&Ms and 100 Grand bars? I chose…

Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Point

Fort Point and Wheelchair Accessible Henry Cowell

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:October 15, 2015
Post Category:Resource / Trip Reports
Post Comments:0 Comments

If there is one way to get me to visit touristy spots in the Bay Area, it's to get family to visit. I didn't visit Alcatraz, ride the Cable Cars,…

Thor in front of "The Great White Redwood"

Byrne-Milliron Forest, Corralitos, California

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:May 25, 2015
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:1 Comment

Just south of Santa Cruz is a small pocket of a park known as Byrne-Milliron Forest. Its 402 acres is managed by the Santa Cruz Land Trust as both a…

The Wildflowers are Hanging on in Harvey Bear

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:March 29, 2015
Post Category:Trip Reports
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Yesterday I did a short morning hike in Harvey Bear County Park (between Morgan Hill and Gilroy) to see how the wildflowers were doing in this dry year. I didn't…

Garin Regional Park

It’s the East Bay Hiking Season at Garin/Dry Creek Regional Park

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:March 12, 2015
Post Category:Trip Reports
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Hiking in the East Bay can be tricky. In the summer, it can be hot, dry, and rattlesnakey. In the winter it is green and lush, but the trails are…

Wildflowers seen in Santa Teresa today

South Bay Wildflower Report: Santa Teresa

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:February 21, 2015
Post Category:Trip Reports
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It takes a lot to throw off my generally happy disposition, but a few weeks of work travel (and the corresponding poor sleep and unhealthy eating) and a head cold have knocked me off my game. I desperately needed a few hours outdoors before kicking off another project, so I took off this morning to see how the wildflowers are looking this year.

Santa Teresa is a pretty good local park for flowers so I decided to start there. My 11 mile hike took me to all different parts of the park, and while some areas were already in bloom others hadn’t even started.

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Tie Down Peak

Burra Burra and Tie Down Peaks, Henry Coe State Park

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:May 16, 2014
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:2 Comments

I frequently hike in Henry Coe State Park and have written about it here a lot. With challenging trails it is a perfect training ground for getting ready for summer climbing trips, and there are many options to choose from. After all, it is the second largest state park in California (behind Anza Borrego).

Deep in the park is a rarely open entrance station known as Dowdy Ranch. I’ve never been to this entrance station, so since it is open right now I decided to head out and do a short hike. I’m recovering from a calf injury, so I decided I’d hike the short loop to Burra Burra peak.

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Murietta Falls Loop Hike

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:April 11, 2014
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:2 Comments

The East Bay mountains are known for their rolling green hills, oak trees, and spring wildflower displays. In the summer they are dry and brown, a constant source of wildfire concern and rattlesnakes. Waterfalls and rocks are not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of this part of California, but it turns out there are some interesting places tucked back in the hills that provide exactly that.

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