The News Blog is a place where updates to the guidebooks are posted. It is also a repository for news and information related to the state and national parks of the Bay Area, including upcoming events, benefits, and rallies to support our parks.
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Current News Blog page:
September 2010
News Blog Archive:
2010: August | July | June | May | April | March | February | January
2009: December | November | October
April 9, 2010
I took a long hike earlier this week, a little further afield than many of my recent hikes. I drove over to the East Bay and did a beautiful loop hike around the main peak of Mount Diablo, with a side trip to Eagle Peak. When I first arrived at the state park, I drove all the way to the summit, to take in the views that encompass much of the Bay Area, across the Central Valley, and even to the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada. It was too early for the Visitor Center to be open, but the Observation Deck was open on the charming 1930s-era Summit Building, which was constructed by the California Conservation Corps.
From the summit, I drove back down a short distance to the Juniper Campground and started the hike there. I took the Deer Flat Fire Road to the west out of Juniper Campground, crossing wide open hillsides with views across the Diablo Valley to Danville and Walnut Creek. Then I turned to the north, onto the Meridian Ridge Fire Road, which makes a long, winding descent to Deer Flat Creek.
I had forgotten how steep Mount Diablo is, but it makes sense when you look at the mountain from a distance. It rises up above the rolling hills of the East Bay, an island in the sky, a solitary mountain that dominates the horizon. Walking on this mountain requires a lot of uphill and downhill treks, and a lot of time to cover a short distance.
At Deer Flat Creek, I took a long break next to a small waterfall. A very peaceful place, hidden in the steep ridges of the mountain. After my break, I had to climb again, back out of the canyon and onto the ridgetop. Once out of the canyon, I reached the turnoff for Eagle Peak, a smaller peak that affords great views of Mount Diablo and the North Peak. I took the side trip to Eagle Peak and spent most of the afternoon out there, perched on a ridgetop, reading a book and soaking in the sun. The last part of the hike entailed returning to the main trail, then making the steepest climb of all to Prospector's Gap, the saddle in between Mount Diablo and the North Peak. From there, I continued around the mountain, completing the circle back at Juniper Campground.
April 1, 2010
The Way Out There Press Newsletter for the first quarter of 2010 was sent out yesterday. The newsletter includes updates from the Presidio, Angel Island, Mount Tamalpais, and the Marin Headlands, as well as an account of Park Advocacy Day in Sacramento. It also includes a coupon for $2 off any order from Way Out There Press. The four different guidebooks from Way Out There Press provide an in depth look at the history, culture, sights to see, and recreation of the state and national parks of the Bay Area. Purchasing these informative guidebooks is also a good way to support the parks, as one dollar from each sale goes to fund a park-related non-profit organization. Here are the organizations you can help to support:
$1 from every sale of A Visitor's Guide to the Presidio of San Francisco goes to support the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
$1 from every sale of A Visitor's Guide to Angel Island goes to support the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation.
$1 from every sale of A Visitor's Guide to the Marin Headlands goes to support the Marine Mammal Center.
$1 from every sale of A Visitor's Guide to Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods goes to support the California State Parks Foundation.
The current newsletter can now be viewed in the Newsletter Archive. The next newsletter will be sent out June 30, 2010. Sign up now to have the newsletter emailed directly to your inbox.
Look for Way Out There Press on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=346012300719.
Become a fan and get news and updates on your News Feed.
NOTE:
The next quarterly email Newsletter will be sent out on June 30, 2010. Sign up now to have the Newsletter delivered directly to your Inbox.
Current News Blog page:
September 2010
News Blog Archive:
2010: August | July | June | May | April | March | February | January
2009: December | November | October
April 9, 2010I took a long hike earlier this week, a little further afield than many of my recent hikes. I drove over to the East Bay and did a beautiful loop hike around the main peak of Mount Diablo, with a side trip to Eagle Peak. When I first arrived at the state park, I drove all the way to the summit, to take in the views that encompass much of the Bay Area, across the Central Valley, and even to the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada. It was too early for the Visitor Center to be open, but the Observation Deck was open on the charming 1930s-era Summit Building, which was constructed by the California Conservation Corps.
From the summit, I drove back down a short distance to the Juniper Campground and started the hike there. I took the Deer Flat Fire Road to the west out of Juniper Campground, crossing wide open hillsides with views across the Diablo Valley to Danville and Walnut Creek. Then I turned to the north, onto the Meridian Ridge Fire Road, which makes a long, winding descent to Deer Flat Creek.
I had forgotten how steep Mount Diablo is, but it makes sense when you look at the mountain from a distance. It rises up above the rolling hills of the East Bay, an island in the sky, a solitary mountain that dominates the horizon. Walking on this mountain requires a lot of uphill and downhill treks, and a lot of time to cover a short distance.
At Deer Flat Creek, I took a long break next to a small waterfall. A very peaceful place, hidden in the steep ridges of the mountain. After my break, I had to climb again, back out of the canyon and onto the ridgetop. Once out of the canyon, I reached the turnoff for Eagle Peak, a smaller peak that affords great views of Mount Diablo and the North Peak. I took the side trip to Eagle Peak and spent most of the afternoon out there, perched on a ridgetop, reading a book and soaking in the sun. The last part of the hike entailed returning to the main trail, then making the steepest climb of all to Prospector's Gap, the saddle in between Mount Diablo and the North Peak. From there, I continued around the mountain, completing the circle back at Juniper Campground.
April 1, 2010The Way Out There Press Newsletter for the first quarter of 2010 was sent out yesterday. The newsletter includes updates from the Presidio, Angel Island, Mount Tamalpais, and the Marin Headlands, as well as an account of Park Advocacy Day in Sacramento. It also includes a coupon for $2 off any order from Way Out There Press. The four different guidebooks from Way Out There Press provide an in depth look at the history, culture, sights to see, and recreation of the state and national parks of the Bay Area. Purchasing these informative guidebooks is also a good way to support the parks, as one dollar from each sale goes to fund a park-related non-profit organization. Here are the organizations you can help to support:
$1 from every sale of A Visitor's Guide to the Presidio of San Francisco goes to support the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
$1 from every sale of A Visitor's Guide to Angel Island goes to support the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation.
$1 from every sale of A Visitor's Guide to the Marin Headlands goes to support the Marine Mammal Center.
$1 from every sale of A Visitor's Guide to Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods goes to support the California State Parks Foundation.
The current newsletter can now be viewed in the Newsletter Archive. The next newsletter will be sent out June 30, 2010. Sign up now to have the newsletter emailed directly to your inbox.