The Sierra Singleaires
Hiking Information, May 2012

Annual Big Basin Dedication Hike 1A 12:00  to the Sempervirens Singleaires Friendship/Memorial Grove. We will hike to our grove and have lunch. You can bring something to share if you like and bring water. We will then dedicate trees to our members who have passed away since last May: Del (Joy) Warrick, Geraldine Pappas, Betty Seike, Norm Rogers, Harald Clausen, Bonnie Ploeger, John Lavely, and Paula Velsey. Heavy rain cancels Meet in front of the snack bar opposite the Park Headquarters.

Directions: Take Hwy 9 West (Big Basin Way) from the City of Saratoga up 7 miles and across Hwy 35 (Skyline Blvd.) After 6 more miles on Hwy 9 at stop sign, go straight onto Hwy 236 and go 8 miles to park headquarters. It is ~40 minutes from Saratoga.  

Carpools: Palo Alto 10:30, Los Gatos 10:45.

Leaders: and

GPS  37.172286,-122.2224

Picchetti Ranch OSP Zinfandel Trail Mini Hike 1:00  Mostly gentle ramble. Abundant poison oak. Long pants and hiking boots advised. Hike start destination is Picchetti Winery. Wine tasting $5.00. Restrooms available at this picturesque old winery. Rain or mud cancels.

Carpools: Palo Alto, Los Gatos 12:15, Milpitas 12:00.

Directions: From 280 in Cupertino, exit Foothill Expy. W. Go west toward the mountains on Foothill Blvd. (which becomes Stevens Canyon Rd.) 3.5 mi (passing the reservoir) go right on Montebello Rd for 0.5 mi and a left turn into the Picchetti Ranch OSP parking area.

Leader:  

GPS  37.295001,-122.090695

Castle Rock State Park 1A, 11:00 Hike Castle Rock one last time before it closes on July 1st. We will make a moderately strenuous 5 mi loop. Great views. Short sections of trails are on sheer cliff side with narrow paths. Boots and walking sticks advisable. Bring lunch. For safety, light rain cancels. Meet in the Castle Rock parking lot $8.00 ($7.00 for seniors 62+) or use your SP pass or park on shoulder of Hwy 35/Skyline and walk in.

Carpools: Los Gatos/Cupertino 10:15; Palo Alto 10:10; San Mateo 9:50

Directions: From the City of Saratoga, take Hwy 9 to stop sign on Skyline, turn left.  Go ~2 1/2 miles to the (fee) park entrance on the right. 

Leader:   Co-leader: Barbara Dahl.

GPS 37.230533,-122.095357

Hidden Villa to Black Mountain 2B 10:00 (heavy rain cancels). Starting at Hidden Villa, we will climb to the Black Mountain Trail, then to the top of Black Mountain returning on the same trail except when we get back to Hidden Villa.

Note:  This hike as described is a 3C hike.  In order to keep it a 2B, we will only hike to the "Renegade" trail head going back to RSA where we will have lunch and then return to Hidden Villa.

Directions: Google Link

Carpools: Los Gatos 9:20 (leader), Palo Alto 9:40

Leaders: and

GPS  37.354177,-122.156836

15th Annual Sunol Regional Wilderness Backpack Have fun on a 2 night backpack on the other side of nearby Mission Peak with lots of wild flowers. Start Fri. after work (or at 3 PM), hike 3.5 miles and 900 ft. up to camp at the Sunol Eagles Eyrie backpack site. Saturday we have a choice of:( 1) Hike 7 miles to Maggie's Half Acre overnight camp or (2) Do a day hike and return to a 2nd overnight at Eagles Eyrie. Choice can be made at camp Sat night. On Sunday the high group hikes downhill to join the lower group to return to cars. You bring your own food for meals. Leaders will provide hot water and limited stove use. Limited group size.

Reserve: with $20 check or money order made out to Ed Martin and sent to: If you reserve and cannot attend, please call & cancel.

Leaders: and

Stevens Creek Trail Mini Hike 2:00 Very easy hike. Comfortable pace along level paved. trail toward the bay. 4 miles round trip. (NO RESTROOMS). Meet in parking lot of Edith Landels School .

Directions: Google Link

Carpools: Los Gatos 1:10, Milpitas 1:10.

Leader:  .

GPS 37.388964,-122.070938

Edgewood SM County Park 1A 12:00 This is one of my flower friendly hikes. We should see many spring flowers. We will have lunch before the hike. Meet in the park and look for us at one of the picnic tables. You can also park along Edgewood Road.

Directions: From Hwy280 take Edgewood off ramp east. The park is on the right just a little ways east of Hwy 280.

Carpools: Palo Alto, 11:15, Los Gatos 10:45

Leader:

GPS 37.474007,-122.278331

Portola State Park Map 2B 10:00 "Farewell Portola SP Redwoods" Portola will close in June 2012 so let us walk this icon of bay area hiking one last time. We will visit Tiptoe Falls, the Sequoia Nature Trail and the old shingle mill, bidding a sad farewell to these beautiful places we have cherished. Teary eyes allowed but no crying during hike if possible.

Directions: From the South Bay, take Hwy 85 to Saratoga Ave West.  Right on Skyline, left on Alpine rd.  From Interstate 280, exit #25 Woodside Road/Hwy 84. Drive west about 6 miles to the junction with Hwy 35 (Skyline Boulevard). Turn L, go 7 miles to R on Alpine Rd. (NOTE: don't take Alpine Road exit on 280. That section dead ends.) After you get on Alpine West bound, go 3 tortuous miles (lookout for bicycle and motorcycles) then L on Portola State Park Rd, go 3 mi. to the entrance kiosk and another 0.4 mi. to the Madrone parking lot (on left before the visitor center). Drive time from junction of Hwy 280/Woodside Road is at least 60 minutes. Car Pool if possible because there is a SP $10 entrance fee per car ($9 for car with a senior).  Meet in front of the visitor center.

Carpool: Los Gatos 8:45, Rear of Pioneer Hotel (Google Link) in Woodside, at 8:45 (Leader).

Leader:

Pioneer Hotel GPS 37.428933,-122.250477

Baylands at San Antonio Rd. Mini Hike 1:00  This is an after lunch hike, but bring a snack if you would like. This is an easy flat 3 mile hike.

Directions: From Hwy 101, take San Antonio Road north to right on Terminal Blvd. and park.

Carpool:  Page Mill Park and Ride 12:30.

Leaders:  

GPS 37.433466,-122.098668

Huddart SM County Park 1A 11:00  3.8 miles. We'll start up a service road going along the edge of McGarvey Gulch and then hike the beautiful Canyon Trail and the Crystal Springs Trail. We'll have lunch at the Toyon Group Camp Area, and return by the same trails. Advise boots, lunch and Water. Rain OK, Heavy rain cancels.

Directions: From Hwy 280, take Hwy 84 through Woodside, R on Kings Mountain Rd, then 2 miles to park entrance. Entrance fee. Follow signs to Zweirlein and Werder (Second Right after entrance station). Go past Zwierlein, all the way around the playground area, to parking just past the "Upper Werder" sign.

Carpools:  Woodside 10:40, Palo Alto 10:30, Los Gatos 9:45

Leader: co-leader

GPS 37.441563,-122.294216

Hidden Villa - Rancho San Antonio OSP 3B 9:30 12 miles, 1400ft. moderately strenuous hike out and back. We will take the Ewing Hill Trail in Hidden Villa up to Black Mountain Trail and continue on the Chemise Trail to the Rancho San Antonio farm, where we will stop for lunch. We will then retrace our route back, but instead of Ewing Hill, we will return via the Hostel Trail. Heavy rain cancels.

Carpool:  Palo Alto (Page Mill & 280) 9:00 AM. Or meet at Hidden Villa parking ($5 fee) at 9:30AM.

Leaders:   Co-Leader  C:

GPS 37.354177,-122.156836

Meyer Gardens and Dry Creek/Pioneer Park Mini Hike 11:00  At Union City ( So. Hayward area). Welcome to Spring! Leisurely 1 hr. hike before lunch. Bring lunch to eat at picnic tables in Meyer Gardens at noon. Following lunch there is an option: to go to Starbucks two blocks away for a cup of your favorite beverage. Hats & Boots needed. Pit toilet in Parking lot!

Directions: from South Bay --north on Hwy.680 take (2nd) Mission Blvd (238) exit in Fremont, turn L on Mission Blvd. for approx. 7 miles. R at MAY Rd. (Whipple Rd.) Proceed to end of road & meet in Parking Lot on your R. From West Bay --Dumbarton Bridge: Drive east on Decoto Road about 5.5 miles to end L on Mission Blvd. Go a couple blocks, then R onto MAY Rd. (Whipple Rd.)

Leaders:   co-leader:

GPS 37.607441, -122.017921

Coal Mine Ridge 1A 11:30  This will be shorter than our previous hikes on these trails, about 3+ mi. Slow-paced along woodsy paths, this is a lovely hike in all seasons but Heavy rain cancels. No bathrooms. Bring Lunch.

Directions: From 280, exit W on Alpine Rd. 3.3 mi to L at Indian Crossing (Portola Valley Ranch sign) to Corta Madera School (Google Link) parking lot.

Carpools: Los Gatos 11:00 AM Palo Alto 11:10 AM.

Leader:  

GPS 37.367991,-122.21224

Teague Hill OSP 2B 10:30
 CANCELLED
Leader called out of town

Directions: From Hwy. 280 take Woodside Rd. (Hwy. 84) West to School District parking lot on Left (about 1/4 mi from Roberts Store). (Google Link)

Carpools:

Leader:   .

Meeting place GPS 37.4278,-122.26026