January 17, 2014
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Church News
Variety spices up Tilden’s trails
SHARON ANDERSON
GET
UP
& GET OUT
January’s dry trails are a late holiday gift for local mountain bikers. I recently “pounded the dirt” on a sparkling early January day with a beautiful loop in Tilden Regional Park. This park has so much variety in activities for people of all ages in its 2,079 acres. I enjoy hitting its many trails, either biking, running or hiking. I look forward to some relief from the heat and sun in our area during the hot months, enjoying the fog in the early morning or watching from the peaks the city lights being devoured by mist in the evening. The cool foggy weather in Tilden, often year-round, enhances the aromatic smells that come off the Eucalyptus trees and other fragrant plants. In the gorge of bedrockcutting Wildcat Creek grows a riparian forest of alder, willow, creek dogwood, and bay laurel. The west- and south-facing canyon slopes are covered with introduced annual grasses like oat, rye and barley. There are many native wildflower species that make riding this trail in spring very scenic. You can see many sorts of wildlife, like coyotes, deer, snakes, a big variety of hawks and songbirds. The view is incredible and panoramic, from Nimitz Way looking toward the San Francisco Bay, Berkeley, San Francisco, Mt. Tamalpais and wrapping around to Mt. Diablo. I recommend a map of the area as there are a number ways
to access Tilden and many trails to choose from, especially if you are running or hiking on a single track. Those trails are less crowded and bikes are not allowed on these. I like to add miles to the dirt loop by starting out in downtown Orinda. Ride a mile and a half on San Pablo Damn Road to turn left on Wildcat Canyon Road, and start a three-mile climb to Inspiration Point. Or, you can start your ride at Inspiration Point if you want to avoid road miles. From Inspiration point start on Nimitz Way, a four-mile paved trail. At the end of the pavement enter through the cattle gate, staying to the left, passing San Pablo Ridge Trail. Continue on straight to Mezue Trail. This will drop down to Wildcat Creek Trail; take a left and follow to Jewel Lake. You can watch the turtles sunning themselves here. From Jewel Lake take Loop Road and continue straight on
Eternal Life Lutheran Church Eternal Life Lutheran Church’s fall Growth Group joined forces with WELS Prison Ministry to share the good news about the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ with inmates across the country. The Growth Group studied the correspondence Bible studies provided to inmates. The group then corrected tests completed by students at jails in Mississippi, Arkansas, Florida, California, Ohio, Maryland, Wisconsin and Texas. They also added notes of encouragement to the students. WELS Prison Ministry utilizes the services of hundreds of
Wildcat Gorge Trail. Go left at Curran Trail and you will climb out of the canyon to take a right on Seaview Trail and cross over Wildcat Canyon Road. From Seaview you will take a right on Big Springs Trail, which turns into Quarry Trail. You will come out on Wildcat Canyon Road; turn right to ride a few minutes back to your car. After you ride you may want to picnic and enjoy other activities in Tilden. You can cool off by swimming at Lake Anza, fill up on popcorn and hot dogs at Tilden’s Merry-Go-Round, ride the Steam Train or stroll through the Botanic Gardens. Distance: From downtown Orinda the loop is approximately 23 miles, and from Inspiration Point the loop is 14 miles. Sharon Anderson is a Clayton resident and lifelong hiker. This is the second of a four-part series on hiking in the Sierras.
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JILL KANT AND DIANE PLEUSS gather devotional materials for WELS Prison Ministry to share with inmates.
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