Winter Solstice At Turtle RockAn ancient Ohlone creation story tells that, before humans and other animals existed, the souls of all beings were brought from the ocean by Turtle and were contained within Turtle's shell, represented by a large rounded rock on a ridge top in the Santa Cruz Mountains. At sunset on the winter solstice the sun descended ( Read more... )

Foothills & Monte Bello Open Space Preserves

On Saturday D. and I went to Foothills Open Space Preserve because we'd never been there before.  We've passed it countless times on our way to other open space preserves but we'd never bothered to stop and see it, primarily because it's so small (212 acres), and there's only one trail and not much to ( Read more... )

Jos. D. Grant Co. Park, March 2008

While poking around in my photo files, I found some pics I took on a trip to Joseph D. Grant County Park in March 2008 that I never posted, so here they are today (seeing as I didn't go on a field trip this week due to medical problems and have no new pics to post).  (I think this was the trip when I got poison ( Read more... )

Los Trancos In The Mist

On a misty Saturday, D. and I went back to Los Trancos Open Space Preserve, and I took some pics.

A look at the misty meadow by the parking lot.


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The Buddha Of Los TrancosThere were rumors of a shrine in the woods. There were tales of hikers coming upon candles and crystals, clustered together amid an anomalous outcrop of blue limestone along a trail near the San Andreas Fault.  This shrine was said to be a meditation spot, a place to find inner peace and oneness with the universe, situated ( Read more... )

Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve;
or, Three Trails, Four Parks

On a hot Saturday D. and I decided to go up to Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve and walk the Saratoga Gap Trail through the shady woods of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Little did we know we would wind up walking through 3 other parks in the process: Upper Stevens Creek County Park, just ( Read more... )

Sweeney Ridge

On Sunday D. and I went up to Sweeney Ridge in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Sweeney Ridge is significant for being the site of the European discovery of San Francisco Bay (the native Ohlone Indians already knew about it) as well as the site of a Cold War-era Nike missile control station, and noted for its stunning views ( Read more... )

Alum Rock Park

On Saturday D. and I went back to Alum Rock Park to walk the Creek Trail, and I took these pics.

A red-tailed hawk circles above the parking lot.


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Windy Hill Open Space Preserve: Photographers in the Mist

On a misty Saturday D. and I wound up at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve to see the part of the preserve lower down from the ridgeline. We had originally set out to see the upper part of Alpine Road close to the landslide and hike into Coal Creek Open Space Preserve from the north, but ( Read more... )

Thornewood Preserve: Will the Real Dennis Martin Road Please Stand Up?

Saturday brought another beautiful springlike day, so D. and I returned to Thornewood Open Space Preserve to see if we could find the real Dennis Martin Road. According to information D. uncovered, the trail we were on the last time we were there that we thought was Dennis ( Read more... )