Sunol Wilderness: Little Yosemite; 7.2 miles, 1,700 feet climbing
Details
We'll be exploring Sunol Wilderness's Little Yosemite, and other rocks in the area. We'll be following a trip from Instructor Ruth Hanna's geology class from Las Positas College (http://lpc1.clpccd.cc.ca.us/lpc/hanna/new/sunol.htm) (click the link for more details), but adding another loop to get the hike up to about 7.2 miles (I haven't hiked this before, and am going off the EBRPD map numbers).
From the EBRPD website:
Exploration will reveal sandstone outcrops with fossils deposited in what was once ancient seabed. Great boulders of greenstone, schist and metachert indicate a turbulent past. The massive basalt outcrop at Indian Joe Cave Rocks provides sport and challenge to rock climbers.
We'll be on trails with names like Eagle View and hiking near High Valley Camp, where the views are breathtaking. We'll also stop at Cave Rocks
If you're worried about making the whole hike, you can hike about two miles up the road through Little Yosemite, then return down this road before the group heads off up in to the hills. If you take this shorter option, you should have no problem finding your way back.
Weather:
In the event of rain, we'll start up to Little Yosemite (on a fire road), then decide when we get there if it's too wet to continue, or if we want to slog it out in the drizzle and mud.
A bit of rain will help the creek in Little Yosemite run higher http://img2.meetupstatic.com/981263258369601089/img/smileys/smile.gif
Etc:
This hike starts a bit earlier; please be on time as I have to finish "early." Bring plenty of food and water. We'll have lunch somewhere near the top of our climb. $5/car entrance fee No dogs allowed. Kids are welcome if they can handle the length and climb. Ride with GPS map (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/877650) (showing elevation profile). Every Trail Guide (http://www.everytrail.com/guide/geology-in-sunol-wilderness) (I'll be adding more both before and after the hike. You can download this guide to either i-Things or Android-things (phones or tablets).