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April 17, 2009
Spring Wildflower Hikes
Juniper Ridge wildflower hikes are offered as a free service to the Juniper Ridge community. From nature freaks to the bio-curiously inclined to techy types who think nature is boring, you're all welcome and best of all it won't cost you a cent, so what are you waiting for? Get away from your computer and experience something real! To sign-up, for any of the below trips, email michael@juniperridge.com. All trips are limited to 15 participants.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Mt. Diablo: Back Creek Canyon/Eagle Peaks loop - Saturday, May 23
This vigorous hike from the base of Mt Diablo to Eagle Peaks area is gorgeous anytime of year and is one of the absolute, classic local hiking loops, but it is especially dramatic in May when the Eagle Peaks are is in full wild flower frenzy mode. The rains this year, while not abundant, have been well spaced and the wildflower bloom is excellent. Your trip leader, Juniper Ridge founder Hall Newbegin, is lazy, so while there will be lots of nerdy babbling about native wild plants, medicinal herbs and wild foods, there will also be plenty of rest stops and vegging time to enjoy the splendor of this magical area in all its spring glory. This is a fairly difficult, all day hike - approximately 7 miles with a little over 2000 feet of elevation gain/loss. We will go at a leisurely pace, but you should be in good shape. The hike will take about six hours, so bring a tasty lunch with lots of goodies to share with your food-loving trip leader.
Mt. Tamalpais wildflower walk - Saturday, June 6.
Check out some photos from this hike here!
I love the micro-climate ecosystems of Mt. Tam, and we'll be passing through a veritable greatest hits of the mountain's extensive catalog on the Steep Ravine/Matt Davis loop - Redwood forests, Oak/Bay woodlands, wildflower meadows, dramatic coastal bluffs, chaparral - do I need to go on? This is a moderately difficult hike - a little easier than the Mt. Diablo hike above, but it's still an all day trip - about 6 miles with 1000 feet of elevation gain/loss. As always, we will go at a leisurely pace, but you should be in good shape to do this trip, or bad shape and ready for a challenge.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Topanga Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains - Saturday, June 20th
Juniper Ridge visits Southern California! Some people think Southern California is nothing but strip malls and freeways - those people would be wrong. There are well over 4 million acres of some of the most spectactular roadless wilderness anywhere surrounding Los Angeles. To put that in perspective, that's more than Denver and Santa Fe combined - who would've thought Los Angeles was such an outdoorsy town? The coastal chaparral down here with all of the wild sages is intoxicating and at its peak at this time of year, so come learn about your local wild plants and experience the real Southern California!
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Eagle Creek Trail, Columbia Gorge - Saturday, July 11th
The Juniper Ridge Roadshow continues with a trip to my beloved old stomping grounds in the Northwest. All you Northwest types make a big show about how you love the outdoors, but do you know your local wild plants? C'mon, you probably moved to Portland from Socal like 5 years ago because you were into the boutique urban, brewpub vibe. You grew your beard out, got your hippie on - now it's time to become a real local and get to know the plants that make the Northwest what it is. This hike is a classic Northwest gem, complete with lots of waterfalls and swimming opportunities, so wear your bathing suit and bring a lunch for this all day, moderately difficult hike.
Posted by Hall in Wildflower Walks
