The Full Moon is coming to a sky near you this Wednesday, Dec 2. You're invited to join a hike starting at 7:30pm to view the moon in all her glory in the crisp late fall air. We'll meet up at the fish ranch trailhead in Sibley Regional Park to explore a little known portion of the park only recently opened up to the public. Sibley is actually the volcanic center (from some 10 million years ago) of most of the rock that underlays the easy bay ridge line. It's also the site of a former mining operation which flattened some big chunks of the park and leaves it now with a wide-open otherworldly feel. We'll work our way up towards the former volcanic cone, Round Top Mountain, one of the highest points in the Berkeley hills, and host to a rich display of exposed basaltic lava chunks from flows that date back to the ridgeline's original formation.
This is a relatively easy hike of a mile and a half each way -- mostly on paved fire road -- though with some steady elevation gain. We'll have some refreshments at the top. Dress warm - it's that type of year. Feel free to bring along like-minded acquaintances but do RSVP and let me know if you are looking for/needing a ride.
Directions:
Take Highway 24 east through the Caldecott Tunnel. Make sure you are in the southernmost/rightmost tunnel and lane as you head towards Orinda. Emerging from the tunnel, take an immediate exit to the right at the Fish Ranch Rd/Old Tunnel Road exit. After 0.2 miles, Fish Ranch Road will turn sharply right to cross over Highway 24. Don't cross the highway -- stay straight/slight left onto the much less traveled and narrow Old Tunnel Road. Drive 0.4 miles on Old Tunnel Road until you see gate and adjacent Regional Park sign at a hairpin type turn. Park wherever you can and meet at the big gate.
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