Lafayette Reservoir: Upper Rim: "Figure Eight"

May 26, 2013
Lafayette, CA
Hikers: Cathy, Laura, Noreen
Distance: 6.8 miles

Laura almost stepped on this beauty!

Briones

May 19, 2013
Martinez, CA
Hikers: Cathy, Laura
Distance: unknown - no Garmin today - approx 6 miles maybe..

 This rock has a shape of a skull.

Almaden Quicksilver County Park

May 5, 2013
Santa Clara County
Hikers: Cathy, Laura
Distance: 9 miles

Hiking through an old mercury (quicksilver) mining town.

No warm-up - starts climbing right from the start.

Finally a cucumber on the wild cucumber vine we see everywhere!

Mount Umunhum (Ohlone for resting place of the hummingbirds) in the background - formerly an Air Force early-warning radar station. 

Golden Yarrow

Can you find the two deer?

Here is one of the two.

Would love to know the name of this flower.

Wish it was always this simple. :)

Found an old tire. Never did find the old cars that are in the park.

April Tunnel Trestle

This is a replica of the original powder house that was destroyed from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Fairy Lantern aka Globe Lily

San Cristobal Tunnel

Van Houtte's Columbine

Scotchbroom

Memorial honoring the Civilian Conservation Corps firefighters who were stationed there for a time.

(source)

Concrete vault in English Camp.

A lone chimney in English Camp.

Looks like a California Alligator Lizard.

Remnants of the Saint Isabel Shaft.

Remnants of the Buena Vista.

 

Trails:

Hacienda, Capehorn Pass, Randol, Day Tunnel, Great Eastern, April, Mine Hill(to San Cristobal Mine) Castillero (to English Camp), Santa Isabel, Buena Vista, New Almaden

Almaden Quicksilver County Park

Some flower identification done through birdsfly.