Claremont Canyon - Dec. 13, 2008

Winter is upon us - the days are short and the nights are long and cold. However, there may be cause to venture forth at night. Please join Melissa and me for a hike up into the east bay hills under the full moon's light on Saturday December 13th. The hike will start at 6:30pm and will commence in the hills just above Berkeley's Claremont Hotel. The hike will be steep and stiff but, weather permitting, will offer us a majestic view out to the moonlit bay area with only a half hour hike each way.

For those looking to recover from the hike -- or unable to join the hike -- we will be offering some nighttime refreshments and winter cheer (and limited backyard moon viewing) at our new house starting at 8:15pm. We look forward to a good housewarming! Please do RSVP if you can make either component.

Although a full moon happens every month, this one will appear about 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than the other full moons seen so far this year. The full moon will be the closest lunar perigee since 1993, at 221,560 miles (356,566 kilometers) from Earth. [The moon's farthest apogee for the year will occur a couple weeks later on December 26, when the natural satellite will be 252,650 miles (406,601 kilometers) from Earth.]

Directions:

Full Moon Hike (5:45pm) - From Highway 24, take the Claremont Ave exit. Turn left on Claremont and drive 1.6 miles. When you pass Ashby and the Claremont Hotel, the road will narrow down. Look for Stonewall Road. Turn left and park. The trailhead is about 200 meters past Claremont.