Shell Ridge 8-6-14

on Fossil Hill Loop Trail

We had been having some unusual weather for August, several days of cool foggy days and news of flash floods in southern California. On Tuesday, the system was reaching the Bay Area, and that night we had a little rain in Hayward. By mid-morning Wednesday, everything was dry again, and I decided to go hiking at Shell Ridge. I hadn't been there in a very long time, and after hiking at Lime Ridge last week, I wanted to check out Walnut Creek's other big open space area. Shell Ridge Open Space is an even larger area than Lime Ridge and it has lots of trails. The map shows several trailheads with parking, and I chose the one at the end of Sutherland Drive, off of Walnut Blvd.

I had been debating whether to bring Darby along. I saw from the website that dogs are allowed, but wondered whether a long hike in warm weather would be good for him. I finally decided to bring him. He always wants to go with me but he doesn't know what he's getting himself into. As we started hiking, I could feel the lingering high humidity and it was already quite warm — probably in the 90's. This hike would be hard on Darby, but he was excited about going. I wasn't very concerned about running into other dogs since it was a weekday, and we passed several other hikers and runners, but only one dog, and it was no problem.

We took the first right onto the Indian Creek Trail, a single-track which followed a little dry creekbed for a mile or so. Then we were on the Briones to Mt. Diablo Trail, a fire road gradually climbing along the southwest side of the main ridge. The Borges Ranch Trail soon took us down to the Borges Ranch, an old ranch run as a living history museum and picnic area. Green grass was a welcome sight after the dry trails, and we went looking for a water faucet. We found a drinking fountain and I was letting Darby have a drink, when a park employee asked me to let him drink out of the hose instead. I guess not everyone is as casual about dog germs as I am.

on Briones to Mt. Diablo Trail

We started heading back west again on the Costanoan Trail, which kept climbing high up the hill. It was now past noon and getting hotter all the time, and we needed a couple of rest stops to make it to the top. From there it was mostly downhill, and we were able to cruise along pretty good, although we were both getting tired, and just wanted the hike to be done. I was starting to feel a bit light-headed from the heat, but maybe also from my blood pressure medication which sometimes seems to work a little too well. Back at home, we were both pretty wasted, and Darby didn't do much except lie around for the rest of the day. He's not a young dog anymore, and today's hike was probably a little too much for him, especially with the hot weather.

Except for the heat, it was a fun hike and I'll be going back there again. I like that there are a lot of small hills and valleys that bring a new views with every few steps on the trail. It's a pretty place even in this dry season, and it must be really beautiful in the springtime.

4.6 miles, 800 ft. climb