Melissa Avery

November 26, 2012

East Bay

Thanksgiving Hikes - Hayward Regional Shoreline

Melissa Avery

November 26, 2012

East Bay

The second hike we did over the Thanksgiving weekend was

Hayward Regional Shoreline

. This hike was #4 hike of the

2012 Trails Challenge

. We only have one more hike to go before December 1st. I hope we can do it!

At the beginning of the hike was a little disappointing, because the view was of dried salt marshes, a landfill and a factory in the background. The scenery got better as the hike went along.

On flat trails we've decided to take the jogging stroller and let the kids walk, for two reasons. One, they are really heavy and if they see the carriers they want to be carried and not walk. Two, we want them to start training to actually hike so we can go backpacking next spring and in Argentina in late 2013. Our son was being silly, tried to catch a ride on the stroller.

San Francisco Skyline is in the background, from Hayward Shoreline. The shoreline used to harvest salt, but the restored it to its natural state. There were so many birds, flying right above the water like in Jurassic Park.

The tide coming in. Our son enjoyed throwing rocks off of this bridge into the water. Our daughter wanted out of the stroller but the bridge railings had big enough gaps that she could fall through, so she stayed strapped in her stroller.

My son, you know he used to be a baby model.

The only bird I could catch on my iPhone, it ducked underwater right before I took this picture or else it would have come out closer to me. There were so many birds there. It was very pretty to see.

Hayward Regional Shoreline Sunset. So pretty!! I haven't downloaded our hiking statistics yet, so that will be coming up soon. I think we hiked about 5.4 miles. My husband and I sprinted most of the way back. I was pushing the stroller and my husband ran with our son on his shoulders. The kids were a little tired by then, but they enjoyed it thoroughly.

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Melissa Avery

November 25, 2012

East Bay

Thanksgiving Weekend Hikes - Don Edwards

Melissa Avery

November 25, 2012

East Bay

We aimed for three small hikes this weekend, but only ended up doing two hikes. The first one we did was

Don Edwards S.F. Bay National Wildlife Refuge

in Fremont, CA. For Fremont locals its the park across from Coyote Hills on the other side of Dumbarton Bridge. The hike was less than two miles, 1.44 miles on Tidelands Trail to be exact.

The days are so short now that any hike in the afternoon, turns into an evening hike. We bring our jackets with us on every hike now.

A bridge that led over to the Picnic Shelter over the marsh.

The Picnic Shelter had little tables set up to have a picnic which was nice.

The kids ran around a lot. Beautiful sunset, nice trail for our jogging stroller, lots of birds and bridges for the kids to enjoy.

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Melissa Avery

November 11, 2012

East Bay

Dublin Hills Regional Park

Melissa Avery

November 11, 2012

East Bay

Hiking yesterday. Nothing big, just a small hike with the family and my good friend Wendy and her baby in tow, at

Dublin Hills Regional Park

. This hike was No. 3 out of 5 hikes needed to complete the

2012 Trails Challenge

from the

East Bay Regional Park District

. Starting this post with my hiking information first.

Distance: 3.21 Miles Elevation Gain: 232 Ft (Start 886 ft - Max: 1102 ft)

The staging area (Parking Lot) was fairly brand new with a very "parent friendly" bathroom with diaper changing tables in the bathrooms, very rare to see at the other East Bay Regional Parks. There were a few picnic tables, a kiosk, everything looked brand new.

After collecting everything we needed we started off on a low grade uphill climb with "switchbacks" to get to the ridge. My son was fascinated with the drainage run-off that followed the trail.

We hiked along brand new homes, which Jesse tried to Zillow but even Zillow could not find them since they were so new. It was a cold day, it would get a little warmer when the sun wasn't blocked by the clouds. The whole hike was on the Calaveras Ridge Regional Trail. Here we are at the "Summit".

We were attempting to make David hike this entire hike and so far we were managing but with some complaining of course. My friend had some unexpected business to attend to so she had to leave but it was nice having her come. We continued hiking down into this little valley where David found a pond.

We saw some cows off in the distance and realized we were going to hike right through a their pasture. My daughter Sophia was so excited to see the cows she started mooing, she's only 13 months old. David was excited to see them too and wanted to shake the cows hand because that's what Grover 2.0 does on Sesame Street and what they they do on TV Petting Zoos. I told him that we could wave to the cows but not shake their hands.

A panoramic view of were we stopped for snacks and did our turn around. There were cows all around us mooing, David and Sophia were amused and scared at the same time.

Sophia is resisting arrest. Jesse got her to put on her bunting. It was getting chilly.

Classic David. Both kids were really determined to hike back up the hill in the drainage. Overall it was a good easy hike. Until next time.

2012 Trails Challenge

Mission Peak

Garin/Dry Creek

Melissa Avery

October 30, 2012

East Bay

Mission Peak Regional Preserve

Melissa Avery

October 30, 2012

East Bay

October 27, 2012: Last weekend, we hiked at

Mission Peak Regional Preserve

, in Fremont, California. This is our second completed hike on the

2012 Trails Challenge

from the

East Bay Regional Park District

. We have hiked up Mission Peak many times before, but never with our two toddlers. I have not been to the peak since before I was pregnant with my first son in 2009! Last month we attempted to hike Mission Peak but through the

Ohlone Entrance.

We had to park almost three blocks away from the main trail head, which is always a little annoying. Mission Peak is a very popular mountain to hike around these areas. There's always lots of people there...I do not want to seem judgmental but I don't think all the people make it to the top.

Heading up Hidden Valley Trail

We loaded the kids up in the backpacks and we started to hike up the trail. Jesse carries about 45 pounds with David in the backpack and I carry about 30 pounds with Sophia in the backpack. We have never carried them this much or on steep trails before so this was quite a workout. It's been a few days since then and my calves still hurt.

The Trail Greeter

At our break, we stopped to drink water and so Sophia could crawl around and play in the dirt. She LOVES playing in the dirt, its quite ridiculous. Sophia also enjoyed this hike because there were so many dogs. She plopped herself in the middle of the trail and said "Hi!!" and waved hello to every person that walked by. Jesse nicknamed her the Trail Greeter. She brought many smiles to many hikers.

Father and Son Sitting

David was in and out of Jesse's backpack since he likes to run around and actually hike. We had stopped for a break a few minutes before we came up on the bench Jesse and David are sitting in the picture above, but David still wanted to sit with daddy on the bench. By this point, Sophia was asleep in my backpack so I kept on hiking. I'm not the fastest hiker especially with 30 pounds of baby and backpack on me so I knew Jesse could catch up to me.

This is the first hike we have done that had "crowded" trails and we got so many comments because we were hiking with our toddlers. Some direct comments, "My God woman!! You deserve a high-five!" or "You give me inspiration!" or "That must be a workout!". Some indirect conversations between hikers, "Would you do that? I would!" "You must be crazy I could never do that!" Whatever floats your boat.

I hiked until Sophia woke up and we waited for the boys to catch up with us on the Grove Trail. Both Jesse and I have never been up the Grove or Horse Heaven trail so we were excited to see these trails. The trail was shaded and mostly flat until we started Horse Heaven Trail, we even saw a little creek which was quite nice.

David almost to Mission Peak

We reached Peak Trail which eventually led us up to Mission Peak. I was pretty tired and hungry by then so Jesse took Sophia and hiked quickly to the top, while I hiked at a toddlers pace to Mission Peak. David that made it to the top which is very impressive for a two year old. He was tired and kind of sulking in the picture above. I was bribed him by saying Daddy had candy waiting for him at the top, which he did but David did not go for it. He looked at my backpack longingly and hesitantly asked if he could get in. I almost picked him up to put him in the backpack but I knew we were so close, so instead we sang the ABC's until we saw daddy at the top.

MISSION PEAK!!

As you can see it was a gorgeous day. I could see the entire San Francisco Bay Area from the San Jose to San Francisco to Mount Diablo, 360 degrees!! Beautiful. We had lunch and played around on the rocks for about an hour.

Mother and Daughter, Mission Peak!

We loaded up the kids again and headed down the mountain, down Peak Trail towards Horse Heaven Trail. We crossed the McClure Spring (pictured below) and headed up a few switchbacks. Sophia had fallen asleep by this point. We had never been on Horse Heaven Trail and I had not read the trail description in detail so I did not know how steep Horse Heaven Trail was.

McClure Spring/Horse Heaven Trail

Coming down on Horse Heaven Trail was not fun for me. I think I was a little dehydrated and I get stressed out coming down steep trails with my baby in my backpack. I am a short person with a short torso so my baby backpack sits very high on my back. Therefore, my center of balance is higher than normal which makes me feel off balance a tad bit, not to mention coming down a steep hill.

Another joy of motherhood which was caused by my pregnancies is the fact that my feet grew a little. My hiking boots fit, size 6.5 but they feel a tiny bit snug. On flat trails I can hardly notice it but I could definitely feel the difference in size coming down the steep trail.

Halfway down the mountain, my head was pounding, legs felt shaky, my feet hurt from my boots, I'm off balance and I could feel blisters getting bigger on my toes. I stopped at Agua Caliente Creek and sat in the shade for 15 minutes and guzzled some water. A little later my head stopped hurting but everything else was still going on. Jesse had to eventually carry my backpack, his backpack and Sophia because I was done.

We were almost done hiking, so Jesse and Sophia finished quickly while David and I hiked very slowly to the end. I gave David a piggy back ride the last few hundred feet which he thoroughly enjoy and me too.

Here are our hiking statistics:

Total Time: 6 hours 23 mins

Longest Hike to Date (With Children): 7.2 Miles - Elevation Change 2,300 feet

Trail Hidden Valley/Grove/Horse Heave/Peak/Horse Heaven

Overall, First half I thoroughly enjoyed but not the second half. Until next time Mission Peak!!

Trails Challenge 2012-East Bay Regional Parks

Garin/Dry Creek Regional Park

Melissa Avery

October 22, 2012

East Bay

Garin/Dry Creek Regional Park

Melissa Avery

October 22, 2012

East Bay

On Saturday we completed our first trail on the

2012 Trails Challenge

from the

East Bay Regional Park District

. We only have six weeks to hike four more trails to complete the Challenge. We hiked at

Garin/Dry Creek Regional Park

, in Union City. I have driven passed this park hundreds of times and never even noticed it was there. I was pleasantly surprised today.

Jordon Pond

We started hiking on High Ridge Trail and hiked past Jordon Pond within the first 10 minutes. I tried "hiding" the pond from my toddlers because one wants to stop and throw rocks and the other wants to go swimming in it.

We hiked quite a while on High Ridge Trail and had pretty views of the Bay. My daughter, Sophia was getting pretty fussy so we took her out of my backpack so she could walk around. She was happily playing around until she tripped and fell face first into the ground. We did not noticed right away but she had cut her left nostril and was bleeding a little bit and scratched up her forehead a little bit.

After Sophia was patched up, we continued hiking on High Ridge Trail until my son needed to use the "facilities". We stopped to look for a "bathroom" and found a spot a little off the trail near a giant Oak tree. I saw something move off to the right and I though it was a rabbit but then I saw antlers. I may have gasped out of excitement so loud that I scared my son, David. He scares easily so I I've learned to quickly turn a startling situation into something fun. I told him to be really quite and knelt down next to him so we could see the buck. The buck and I had a staring contest. I'm glad David had to go to the bathroom or else I would have never seen the deer. If you look right in the center of the picture below you will see the deer.

We continued on High Ridge, walked very close to some residential houses and cemetery until we turned into shaded portions of the trail. Sophia had fallen asleep so we hiked as much as we could before she woke up. We saw another hiker with his dog that was carrying a giant branch. It was really funny. The trails had lots of skinny bridges, which my son like a lot.

Nothing too exciting happened on this hike except the deer, just a nice day for a hike in the East Bay Hills. I leave you with more pictures and our hiking statistics.