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canyonwalkerThe last several weekends have been tough for enjoying the outdoors. We've had a lot of rain... and cooler than normal temperatures, too. This weekend looked like it was going to be more of the same. The 10-day forecast at the start of the week showed rain all weekend. We monitored the forecast during the week to see how it developed, and by late yesterday it was showing a halfway decent morning for today. We set our alarm clocks early and headed up into the hills to Sierra Vista.
Sierra Vista is part of the Open Space Authority of Santa Clara Valley. That's one of two open space districts in our area dedicated to conservation and low-impact recreation. And those two are in addition to countless city and county parks in the region.
One cool thing about both of the open space districts is that their parks are free. Another cool thing about Sierra Vista, in particular, is that stunning views start right at the parking lot. You can see an example of that in the photo above.
The downside to free + beautiful is that it equals crowded. One time we tried visiting this park in the early afternoon on a nice weekend day, the small parking lot was full and we were turned away by rangers vigorously patrolling it.
We've found that it works to get here early in the morning to beat the crowds. Plus the morning light makes the views extra special. Thus we got an early-ish move on things today. We left home at 7:45am. I was still eating my breakfast of a protein bar and a bottle of Coke Zero as I drove. We arrived at the ridge above San Jose by 8:15am. The parking lot was already half full.
We laced up our boots— well, I laced up my boots; Hawk went in sandals because the trail looked fairly free of mud— and headed down the ridge on the Kestrel Trail. I don't know why they call it the Kestrel Trail; we've never seen a kestrel on it. Though today we did see a northern harrier swooping high over the grassy ridges in addition to a few of the usual turkey vultures.
Inapt name or no, the Kestrel Trail has a zig-zagging drop before intersects another trail and levels out. We've hiked that trail in toward the mountains the last few visits here. Today we decided to hike it out toward San Jose.
This branch of the trail is always fun because of the great perspective views lurking around every bend. Does anyone remember that old song Do You Know the Way to San Jose (YouTube recording of Dionne Warwick singing, in case you don't. Or in case you do.) Well, on this branch of the trail it's like, "Duh! It's right there!" 🤣
Update: It's a two-fer! We hiked another trail at Sierra Vista.
Sierra Vista is part of the Open Space Authority of Santa Clara Valley. That's one of two open space districts in our area dedicated to conservation and low-impact recreation. And those two are in addition to countless city and county parks in the region.
One cool thing about both of the open space districts is that their parks are free. Another cool thing about Sierra Vista, in particular, is that stunning views start right at the parking lot. You can see an example of that in the photo above.The downside to free + beautiful is that it equals crowded. One time we tried visiting this park in the early afternoon on a nice weekend day, the small parking lot was full and we were turned away by rangers vigorously patrolling it.
We've found that it works to get here early in the morning to beat the crowds. Plus the morning light makes the views extra special. Thus we got an early-ish move on things today. We left home at 7:45am. I was still eating my breakfast of a protein bar and a bottle of Coke Zero as I drove. We arrived at the ridge above San Jose by 8:15am. The parking lot was already half full.
We laced up our boots— well, I laced up my boots; Hawk went in sandals because the trail looked fairly free of mud— and headed down the ridge on the Kestrel Trail. I don't know why they call it the Kestrel Trail; we've never seen a kestrel on it. Though today we did see a northern harrier swooping high over the grassy ridges in addition to a few of the usual turkey vultures.
Inapt name or no, the Kestrel Trail has a zig-zagging drop before intersects another trail and levels out. We've hiked that trail in toward the mountains the last few visits here. Today we decided to hike it out toward San Jose.
This branch of the trail is always fun because of the great perspective views lurking around every bend. Does anyone remember that old song Do You Know the Way to San Jose (YouTube recording of Dionne Warwick singing, in case you don't. Or in case you do.) Well, on this branch of the trail it's like, "Duh! It's right there!" 🤣
Update: It's a two-fer! We hiked another trail at Sierra Vista.
