HIkes in the HIlls & Mountains Galleries

08-03-13 Walk to Blackeberg :

08-03-13 Walk to Blackeberg

Updated: Mar 23, 2008 7:08am PST

07-12-04 Purissima Hike :

07-12-04 Purissima Hike

Updated: Dec 05, 2007 3:30pm PST

07-06-12 Santa Teresa County Park :

07-06-12 Santa Teresa County Park

Updated: Jun 12, 2007 7:09pm PST

06-11-18 San Bruno Mountain : David Schooley is a mountain man and for decades has had, as the main object of his earthy affection, San Bruno Mountain. He continues to lead the battle to preserve what remains from the developments that I can see have made progress up this small range's slopes since I lived nearby, 45 years ago. San Bruno mountain is just over the southern border of San Francisco. From its major peaks one can see the City of South San Francisco and San Francisco Airport (SFO) immediately to the South, a panorama of the Bay and parts east and, of course, San Francisco. My father, Conrad Pavellas, once was a leader to preserve the mountain from development in the 70s, I believe, which is why David contacted me. He wanted some backgound on dad which I gave him, on tape. He invited me on one of his regular saturday hikes up one of the peaks, directly accessible from the City of Brisbane, tucked into an eastern corner of the mountain, My family lived here before I can remember, but somewhere there is a picture of me and the dog Brownie that we had when living here in 1939. So, David led me and a few other people up some obscure trails and paths, past unique and rare plants and animal habitats that are endangered: A rare manzanita, hummingbird sage, wild begonia, sedum that protect the the elfin butterfly. Some of the flora are found only here and on Twin Peaks in San Francisco--these two sets of peaks are part of an ancient row of islands, and are the only two such "islands" left with these life forms.

06-11-18 San Bruno Mountain

David Schooley is a mountain man and for decades has had, as the main ...

Updated: Jan 23, 2007 2:27pm PST

06-10-04 Montebello Ridge Hike : The Black Mountain Group (BMG) is a hiking group in the Loma Prieta Chapter of The Sierra Club. BMG is based broadly in the Palo Alto Area, although any Sierra Club member may be a part of this group upon request. We had a hike this date, led by past BMG chair and current hiking chair, Paul Worden, assisted by his wife Jacqui. We hiked in the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, beginning at Monte Bello Ridge Parking Lot, then southward on the ridge to the peak of Black Mountain and thence to lower climbs, cirlcing back to the ridge--then a dive into a forested canyon with moss-laden oaks, firs and various deciduous trees, now in full fall color. We then ascended back to the parking lot fully refreshed. Along the way we rested for lunch while looking over the folds of hills to the south; and, we had a gathering of the arachnophiles among us, giving homage to a wandering tarantula.

06-10-04 Montebello Ridge Hike

The Black Mountain Group (BMG) is a hiking group in the Loma Prieta Ch ...

Updated: Nov 05, 2006 9:32am PST

06-10-31 Hike to Black Mountain Peak : When I was active in hiking with the Day Hiking Section (DHS) of the Sierra Club (Loma Prieta Chapter) I was introduced to Rancho San Antonio (Santa Clara) County Park and Open Space Preserve. The typical hiking objective was to achieve the peak of Black Mountain, then hike down toward the Pacific Ocean to have lunch near a small lake across the highway that traverses the crest of this part of the Santa Cruz Mountains. My oblective this day was just to achieve the peak, which I did. I walked and rested slightly more than 5 hours to gain a total elevation of around 2500 feet (the peak is at 2800 feet). I reckon the lateral distance I walked was 11-12 miles. I took a one-mile shortcut through some private land (I think it is owned by a company that quarries cement from one of the lower peaks). This took me through at least two vegetation zones: a forest of mostly bay-laurel (what a great fragrence) and then high chapparral that made me glad I was wearing a thick cotton shirt. The path was quite narrow and rutted, or slippery with fallen leaves. On the main trail up to the shortcut, we can see much of the southern end of San Francisco Bay, including Palo Alto and Stanford University. I spotted Hoover Tower on the campus where John Cogan works with The Hoover Institution (brother of former wife Mary Pavellas). The cement quarry is visible from several parts of the shortcut. There are many communication towers at the peak. I rested and lunched among the strange rocks at the peak, and viewed the fog-shrouded Pacific Ocean. A coyote visited me--probably looking for leftovers from my lunch. Going back through the shortcut, the air was filled with the cawing of a flock of crows at one point. The main path (PG&E Trail) back down is in rough parallel to the large electical transmission lines and towers that indicate the steepness of the mountainside. The vegetation zone at the bottom of the hike (using a different path from going up duirng the last 2 miles) was lush with creek-fed trees and bushes, some turing autumn gold.

06-10-31 Hike to Black Mountain Peak

When I was active in hiking with the Day Hiking Section (DHS) of the S ...

Updated: Nov 01, 2006 5:52am PST

06-10-24 Sierra Azul : The foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains provide steep and scenic ascents. I walked up Kennedy Trail in the Sierra Azul ("blue mountains") from a high spot in Los Gatos. With Kenny's help I reckon I walked up at least 2200 feet (725 meters) and the round-trip distance is 8 miles (12.8 Km). Total time, including rests and picture-taking, was 2 hours, 40 minutes. The only wildlife I saw, other than birds I can't identify, was a lone coyote loping along the trail until she saw me trailing her. I was glad to see her because it gave me some comfort that she probably would be hiding out, or eaten, if a mountain lion (cougar, puma) was around. There are the rare sightings of such in these mountains (and many warning signs posted) and the occasional report of attacks on humans. See indiviual descriptions of the photos underneath each image. For those of you who know Jim Taylor, the grandpa visiting next door, I include a picture of him I took last Sunday when we hiked for 4 hours, getting to both Bernal and Coyote peaks, and back.

06-10-24 Sierra Azul

The foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains provide steep and scenic asc ...

Updated: Oct 24, 2006 7:53pm PST

06-10-21 Coyote Peak Hike : Once again, Coyote Peak--this time walking the steepest path from another trail head. The first picture is of the morning sun illuminating a leafless buckeye (“horse-chestnut”) tree with its large seeds exposed. Then a young buck, and then a young doe. Halfway up, I turn to see the hills on the other side of the valley in all their female glory. At the extreme left of the highest ridge we see Mission Peak where I was 20 days ago. Next, I was able to capture an image of the white-tailed kite I often see here, along with a portion of the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the foothills where I have recently hiked. A close-up of the kite shows it hovering before diving. Moving upward, near the peak we see both man’s and nature’s trees, and then the ugly but useful agglomeration of machinery supporting the communication tower on the peak. Turning 180 degrees, we see the peaceful cows on the other side the fence, toward the Coyote Valley and further southward toward Gilroy, the “Garlic Capital of the World.” My shadow is behind the bench where I have sketched out many poems and notes. I show a close up of the bench to reveal IBM's Almaden Valley Research facility. The hill to the right and above the center is Bernal Hill which I hiked three days ago. On the return trip I spotted a rabbit near where I often see one; and then, lastly, the same buck where I saw him before. I wasn’t able to capture the bobcat who briefly trotted ahead of me on the path. A lovely morning.

06-10-21 Coyote Peak Hike

Once again, Coyote Peak--this time walking the steepest path from anot ...

Updated: Oct 21, 2006 9:05pm PST

06-10-18 Hike-Bernal Hill, San Jose : From Bernal Hill one can see the several peaks I have recently ascended to the east and north. The oaks at the top are near the border of the land where the IBM Research Center sits. The lone oak is being strangled by poison oak/ivy. The last Photo is of Mt. Hamilton's observatories.

06-10-18 Hike-Bernal Hill, San Jose

From Bernal Hill one can see the several peaks I have recently ascende ...

Updated: Oct 20, 2006 7:12am PST