Briones Reservoir (to the bottom, and up the spillway)

May 18, 2014
Contra Costa County
Hikers: Cathy, Laura
Distance: 9.2 miles
Elevation gain: 1,526 ft.


Briones Reservoir - always beautiful. The trails were lined with, and the hillsides covered with, Sticky Monkey flowers. Just beautiful.

 The yellow flowers are the Sticky Monkey flower.

 Sticky Monkey flower.

 Trails:

Bear Creek

Briones Reservoir 

(permit required)

To see photos of the spillway, see our hike we did in July 2012.

Las Trampas | EBMUD Watershed: Rocky Ridge Loop

November 10, 2013
Contra Costa County
Hikers: Cathy, Laura, Noreen
Distance: 6.72 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,136 ft

 Make sure to go, for the majority of the trails are in the wide open...

Oh, we (I) hate having to pass a baby and momma cow...

Steep (the photo just does not do it justice) and loose.

Bones, bones, everywhere!

Huge spine! Must be cow. :(

Ohhh, the cowhide. Must have been poached (livestock is considered theft, not poaching). I'm heartsick. So much for a protected area..

The bones were scattered all over the side of the hill and across the trail.

The hoof.

The bastards..

Again, the photo just does not show the depth. Almost a nipple scrapper. 

Ahh.. shade.

Move along little doggies cows.

These cows were in the pasture, if you can call it that - then they started running! Have not witnessed running cows. A bit unnerving. 

Trails:

Rocky Ridge View, Rocky Ridge Loop, Unnamed trail to avoid portion of paved Rocky Ridge Road

Las Trampas Regional Wilderness

and

EBMUD Watershed