#Sunol Regional Wilderness Area

[wingedjewels]

3 Wild Turkeys In Sunol Regional Park, CA No 2 by Charlie Day

[rinibayphoto]

[fisherken]

Little Yosemite Sunrise by Davor Desancic Via Flickr: Sunol RW, Sunol, CA

[tight-frame]

Sunol, CA

3/12/2017

[interestos]

A dawn flight’s gift - a wonderful fog flow watch over some of my favorite ridges in the Bay Area • Ohlone Wilderness . . . . . . #interestos #oc #interestos0c #photography #photo #wanderlust #wild #outdoors #ourplanet #nature #missionpeakregionalpreserve #edlevincountypark #naturephotography #travel #travelphotography #explore #california #californiaadventure #wilderness #bayarea #BayAreaTrails #bayarealandscapes #trails #hiking #backpacking #sunolregionalwilderness #sunol #ohloneland #ebrpd #eastbayregionalparks (at Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjGD8x-r7oY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[proofthatihaveaheart]

tagged by: @dmigod​

rules: answer the questions (which you can change if you don’t feel like answering certain questions), then tag followers you want to get to know better!

1. nickname? tasha, tash, nat, potato (the last from my sister only) 

2. gender? female

3. star sign? sagittarius

4. height? 5′4

5. favorite feature? my eyes, i guess. also my hair when i cut it short

6. hogwarts house? ravenclaw always

7. favorite animal? why would you ask me this??? it changes all the time.... i love so many... i’m super fond of blue-tongued skinks (especially tiliqua rugosa) and penguins of all kinds right now

8. average hours sleeping? 6-7, wish i was sleeping more but ugh

9. dogs or cats? cats

10. how many blankets do you sleep with? 2, sometimes 1 or 3 depending on the weather

11. dream trip? new zealand!! also a longer trip to costa rica or a road trip through the us visiting a bunch of different national parks

12. dream job? research involving lizards or frogs and fieldwork, looking at evolution or thermal ecology, preferably tied in with conservation 

13. when did you make this account? 2012

14. how many followers do you have? 375

15. how many pets do you have? just 1 right now, a zebra finch named kip whom i love with all my heart

16. what are the best places to visit in your town or country? there are a lot of really beautiful places in my area, but i especially love point reyes and sunol regional wilderness. also golden gate park, particularly cal academy of sciences and the japanese tea garden

17. favorite ice cream flavor? rainbow sherbet 

18. how often do you read? i used to read a lot more but i try to carve out at least 30 minutes-1 hour per day

19. favorite study locations? my desk and my comfy big chair 

20. favorite book series? six of crows!! 

tagging: @startofamoment, @fishycorvid, @elsaclack, @santiagoswagger, @helow365, @thinbottomedcauldron, @angiemahtinelli

[ethosart]

You got something good going here, Tomas. 😊 #Repost @drpse • • • • • • A bend in a small creek at Sunol Regional Wilderness. With extra creative effects!! Thinner + blowing onto the canvas to make the oil flow like watercolor. Fun 🤗 #oil #oilpainting #pleinair #effect #ethosart #bayareaartist (at San Francisco Bay Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvuTjIqgMVK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=z1rikjb3586t

[onedublin]

DUBLIN, CA–While many families are making plans on what to do this summer, Dublin Troop 905 is gearing up to execute the second half of their Scout developed annual plan. Most long time Dublin residents are well aware of Troop 905’s 37 years in the community with their annual Christmas Tree Pick-up Fundraiser. Residents also see them at Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and Splatter events partnering with the city to keep the events clean by emptying the green waste, recyclables, and trash receptacles.

Whether they are camping in the snow or hiking up to the top of Mount St. Helena there is something every month throughout the year. Scouts plan each event using a Scout Planning Worksheet that answers the who, what, when and where. They then put this theory to practice by executing their plan.

May – At the beginning of May, they will enjoy camaraderie and competition with over a dozen other Troops in the East Bay during a weekend long camping trip called Camporee. Each troop will compete in several events throughout the day that culminates into an awards ceremony at campfire. A few weeks later they will participate in a short 20 mile backpacking trip through the Sunol Regional Wilderness. 

June – National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is offered to those Scouts that are 13 years old and First Class rank to enhance their leadership skills in a rigorous one week hands on outdoor environment. Troop 905 will send six of their Scouts to learn what a leader must BE, what he must KNOW, and what he must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. A week before NYLT, they will experience the competition, thrills, adrenaline and excitement of racing go-karts at a team bonding event. At the end of June, they will enjoy a day of mountain biking through the scenic area of Santa Cruz.

July – National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) is the ultimate in training experiences for older youth leaders. Troop 905 will send four Scouts on this journey to New Mexico for one week where they will camp in a team setting that enables them to use their leadership skills to resolve challenging situations. Upon completion of NAYLE, two weeks later, they will enjoy a week at their favorite summer camp – Wente Scout Reservation. When they are not earning at least five merit badges, they have the opportunity to enjoy the activities this summer camp has to offer, such as – kayaking, horseback riding, shotgun/rifle shooting, sailing, archery, swimming – just to name a few.

August – With a four night 25 mile backpacking trip along the Lost Coast in their rearview mirror from last year, they will be planning and participating in a four night 26 mile backpacking trip this summer at Desolation Wilderness. The following week, Scout youth leadership will develop their Annual Troop Plan for the entire 2020 calendar year by deciding what events they enjoy the most that compliment their own short and long term goals.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Community service projects are an important part of their program as they routinely participate in Dublin Pride Day, activities honoring the Military Veterans and cleanup of the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery.

Troop 905 implemented the NOVA Awards into their program. “The Boy Scouts of America’s NOVA Awards program incorporates learning with cool activities and exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The hope is that the requirements and activities for earning these awards stimulates interest in STEM-related fields and shows how science, technology, engineering and mathematics apply to everyday living and the world around them. Counselors and mentors help bring this engaging, contemporary, and fun program to life for youth members.”

Troop 905 has a long standing positive influence in the City of Dublin offering leadership opportunities for Boys ages 11 to 17. Scouts not only develop the annual plan, they also run the monthly leadership meetings. They run their own weekly meetings, provide training and most importantly learn how to lead. Troop 905 builds youth leaders through hands on practical and fun experiences that will last a lifetime.

What are you doing this summer?

If you are interested in seeing Dublin Troop 905 in action, simply show up to any of their meetings held on the first three Tuesday’s of every month from 7:00pm – 8:30pm at the “Scout Shack” located at 7051 Dublin Blvd, in Dublin. If you would like more information, you can also send an email to scoutmaster@troop905.org.

Dublin’s Scouting BSA Troop 905 Gearing Up for a Summer of Scouting DUBLIN, CA–While many families are making plans on what to do this summer, Dublin Troop 905…

[kevingoeshiking-blog]

(This Photo was taken the first time I had seen this bobcat at Sunol in 2013, not the day as described below).

Sunol Valley Regional Wilderness, a place of rolling hills, open grassland, oak woodlands, and abundant wildlife. Sunol is a place I immediately fell in love with from the first time I visited five years ago. My first visit was in the spring of 2012. I saw a family of baby turkey in an oak tree, my first bullocks oriole, and a bobcat scurry up and over a hillside. I hiked up to the top of Flag Hill and felt solitude in a place that felt vast and wild amidst being in the congested, California Bay Area. I thought Sunol would be a great introduction for my very first vlog and of course, blog post!

On this visit, I started my hike on the High Valley Rd trail. I walked up through the oak woodland until I reached the clearing near the top of the mountain, where ground squirrels ran around, playing, looking for mates, and calling out whenever potential danger presented itself. It was a warm Spring afternoon, and I was heading to the top of Flag Hill. A place where I I have seen Golden Eagles perch atop the rocks overlooking the rolling hills for prey. On this hike up I saw an anise Swallowtail butterfly. These bright yellow and black butterflies are very common. They lay their eggs on fennel which the caterpillars eat once hatched, giving them their name. I also briefly saw a Golden eagle take flight from the rocks as it saw me make my way up the hill. On the top I heard ravens in the trees a little ways down the trail. Often ravens and crows make a ruckus when there are other birds like hawks, eagles, or owls around so I went to investigate, but saw nothing.

I decided to hike back down to visit a pond where I know western pond turtles live. On my way down a turkey vulture flew overhead circling around me several times fairly closely. Turkey vultures are special birds because they eat dead stuff, essentially cleaning the area and helping prevent the spread of disease in an ecosystem. With an excellent sense of smell, fairly uncommon in a lot of other birds, turkey vultures are able to sniff out their carrion from far away, high in the thermals they soar in.

Finally making it to the western pond turtle pond, I observed more western pond turtles than I ever had. The pond is quite small which is a bit alarming because too much of one species in such a small area can cause all sorts of problems like competition for food, spreading of disease, and fights for territory and mating. Western pond turtles are the only native turtle living in California today and are a species of special concern. Habitat loss is largely due to human development and people releasing their once loved pet red eared sliders into western pond turtle habitats. Red eared sliders are bigger, more aggressive turtles native to southern United States, which out compete western pond turtles for space and food. One thing I can’t emphasize enough is if you’re ever thinking of getting an animal, no matter what that animal is, please do a lot of research so you know exactly the care and time you will need to commit to caring for the animal for it’s entire life with you! Giving up animals or releasing them into the wild is extremely sad and in the western pond turtles case, can wreck havoc on an ecosystem and the native wildlife and plants which call that ecosystem home.

After eating some lunch by the western pond turtle pond, I made my way back to an area where I frequently see bobcats. On the way over I heard the strangest noises coming from a ground squirrel burrow. It’s spring so the sounds could have either been from mating or aggression for territory or maybe aggression for a mate. Either way, the noises were quite interesting an was something I had never heard from these small / mid sized rodents. 

I finally made my way to another pond where deer, bobcats and other wildlife can sometimes be seen drinking from. I also often see thousands of tadpoles swimming around and even garter snakes on shore or in the water looking to eat the tadpoles, or smaller tree frogs. There was a somewhat large frog. I couldn’t identify it, although I would like to think it was another endangered animal the red legged frog, but I’m not sure the upper hills of Sunol Regional Wilderness is even within their range. It could have very well been a young bullfrog, another invasive species causing harm to ecosystems.

Making my way back up the hill I saw a lone female turkey wonder across the open grasslands while hearing males call out further down in the oak and brush woodlands. By this time the sun was starting to set so I decided to start my decent back down to my car when I saw something walking across the grassland towards some rocks and an area where ground squirrels burrow. It was a bobcat. A large bobcat which I have seen every spring for the past four years. He darted across the grass an settled down besides the rocks, staring intently at ground squirrel burrow. He must have stayed there for at least ten minutes before admitting defeat. He stood up, walked down the way towards a small canyon. 

I didn’t want to follow directly behind him, so I decided to walk the opposite direction and catch up with him on the other side of the canyon. When I made it down to where I predicted he would be, there he was. He didn’t seem to notice me and was walking away from me and went down into the canyon only to pop back up towards my direction only moments later. He was actually calling to another bobcat who was further over the hill. I had never heard bobcats vocalize in the wild before and it almost sounded like the caw of a crow. It was an awesome experience hearing these two bobcats communicate with each other, but it was getting late as he went up the hill, I presume to meet up with the other bobcat who he was calling too. I didn’t want to intrude on them and again, it was getting dark so I decided to call it a day.

[rinibayphoto]

[poppypeach]

The wonderful summer heat was here this week for a fleeting moment and then by the time Friday rolled around the fresh winds came by in time for the Bollywood dance party organised by my friends as an auction item for the school! It was such a fun night with amazing food, cocktails and dancing! It was a gift to myself for submitting my second maths assessment a video presentation on a natural maths phenomenon, which I really enjoyed doing!

  The ladies ready to drink

It’s selfie time 

Enjoying cocktails together! 

  There was even a dress up corner where you could put on a sari and add accessories of bindis and bangles – we had so much fun! The drinks were flowing, and friends came from the school community, and we were ready to party 😀

Check out the dance floor action here in the video – I loved every minute of this.

Sunday we met our friends from Oakland at Sunol Regional Wilderness Area, and it was the perfect day for a hike with friends. The sun was out as were the butterflies and the bees! It took us a while to find the trail as we wandered along the creek for a while through poison oak until finally, we saw the up arrow!

Along the hike, we spotted so many wildflowers. I have no idea what most of these are called except for the milk thistle and the California poppies.

The boys work on getting us on the right track after we messed up the first attempt bush bashing through the woods.

Finally, we were rewarded with open fields of grasses and wildflowers, and my hayfever was in full swing with all the blooms and pollen flying around everywhere. We wandered up to the top of the hill to see the view of Little Yosemite with all the falls below us. Once we got down there, it felt just like Yosemite with lots and lots of people wandering down this one little goat trail to get to the falls and rock scrambling.

I don’t know if the hills on the left are being mined for rocks, but they do look strange. We wandered down many paths, to get to the falls and to check out the water – it was packed with so many people. I opted to sit quietly under a tree for a while to just listen to the water.

The kids really liked rock scrambling around the falls that were not very deep – off went the shoes so they could get their grip on the rocks and explore the area. I enjoyed watching them as I had a camera that I don’t like to get wet or hit against rocks.

It was so fun to get together at last with our friends from O-town and enjoy a hike together in the sunshine.

Bollywood and Into the woods The wonderful summer heat was here this week for a fleeting moment and then by the time Friday rolled around the fresh winds came by in time for the Bollywood dance party organised by my friends as an auction item for the school!

[tight-frame]

Sunol, CA

3/12/2017

[sumikoirala]

Flood Warnings Issued Amid Heavy Rain in Northern California

SAN FRANCISCO — 

Forecasters issued flash flood warnings Monday throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California as downpours swelled creeks and rivers in the already soggy region.

The National Weather Service said heavy rain could persist into the evening and was expected to cause flooding on the Carmel River in Monterey County and Coyote Creek in Santa Clara County.

In the San Joaquin Valley, residents were patrolling levees for signs of danger, reviewing evacuation plans and filling hundreds of sand bags as the San Joaquin River kept rising.

“Our community is pulling together like real champs,” said San Joaquin River Club resident Paula Martin, who is helping coordinate emergency plans for the private neighborhood of 800 homes.

Sirens at the ready

Martin said the neighborhood has sirens in a clubhouse and church that can warn residents of impending flooding.

The weather service issued snow and wind advisories, including a flash flood warning for the Soberanes burn area in Monterey County. It said winds could reach 60 mph in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Santa Cruz County had seen 2.8 inches of rain in 24 hours and could see up to 8 inches before the storm passes Tuesday. Marin County got 2.3 inches of rain while close to an inch fell in San Francisco.

Forecasters said rainfall in San Francisco has already surpassed the normal annual amount for the wet season that begins in October.

The city has logged 24.50 inches of rain since October. 1, said forecaster Bob Benjamin. The average rainfall for the year ending September 30 is 23.65 inches.

A pre-evacuation advisory was issued for a community in Madera County after water discharges from Bass Lake were increased and threatened to swell rivers, officials said.

The Fresno Bee reported that the order was issued for several roads near downtown North Fork, about 10 miles from the lake.

The sheriff’s office said residents should be ready to leave quickly if conditions worsen.

A sign warns motorists of flooding on northbound Highway 101, Feb. 20, 2017, in Corte Madera, Calif.

Heavy snow expected

In the mountains, the weather service forecast heavy snow in the Lake Tahoe area with a high avalanche danger until Tuesday in an area of the Sierra Nevada from Yuba Pass to Ebbetts Pass.

Forecasters say the winter storm could drop up to 5 feet of snow in areas above 7,500 feet, while lower elevations could see between 8 and 24 inches of snow.

Forecasters advised motorists to avoid travel in the area through Tuesday.

Moderate to heavy rain along with snowmelt below 7,000 feet was expected to swell rivers and streams and increase the chance of flooding.

Levees being tested

The San Joaquin River was approaching the top of levees and could remain at that level for four days, said Tim Daly, a spokesman with the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services.

“When the water gets that high and more water is coming, there is just too much pressure and levees can break,” Daly said. “They can be topped.”

The Don Pedro reservoir, which captures water from the Tuolumne River, a key tributary of the San Joaquin, was at 97 percent capacity.

The weather service also issued flash flood warnings for the North Bay and Monterey areas, as well as south-central Alameda County and southeastern Santa Clara County.

Water on the rise

In Alameda County, the weather service reported gauges on Alameda Creek were showing that rapidly rising water levels have surpassed local flood stages in Niles Canyon and a watershed above Sunol Regional Wilderness.

For the first time in more than 10 years, water flowed into Lake Berryessa’s unique spillway.

The Monticello Dam Morning Glory Spillway, also known as the Glory Hole, operates similarly to a bathtub drain for the northern California lake.

The last time it spilled over was in 2006.

Elsewhere, the water level kept falling at Oroville Dam, where a damaged spillway had raised major flood concerns and prompted the evacuation of 188,000 people a week ago.

[batbestpocketblankets24]

Saw a post here today from Sunol Regional Wilderness; I reminded of my hike there. SF Bay Area, California via https://t.co/B9QhISG166 #ca…

Saw a post here today from Sunol Regional Wilderness; I reminded of my hike there. SF Bay Area, California via https://t.co/B9QhISG166 #ca…

— Best Pocket Blankets (@bestpocket24) January 29, 2017

from Twitter https://twitter.com/bestpocket24 January 29, 2017 at 11:15AM via bestpocketblankets.com

[hikinggurus12]

Saw a post here today from Sunol Regional Wilderness; I reminded of my hike there. SF Bay Area, California via https://t.co/QEMC0b3jpB #hi…

Saw a post here today from Sunol Regional Wilderness; I reminded of my hike there. SF Bay Area, California via https://t.co/QEMC0b3jpB #hi…

— Hiking Gurus (@hikinggurus1) January 29, 2017

from Twitter https://twitter.com/hikinggurus1 January 29, 2017 at 01:18PM via HikingGurus

[rinibayphoto]