**Please note: Due to weather, we are rescheduling this hike to June 1. All other details remain the same**

Our route:  Camp Ohlone Road, Backpack Road, McCorkle Trail, Cave Rocks Road, Indian Joe Creek Trail

Distance: 7.0 mile round-trip, 1,000' elevation gain.

Estimated Time:  4.0-4.5 hours, including a lunch break.

This is a moderately strenuous hike.  Please be sure that you are comfortable with the distance and climbing before joining us.  Those preferring a shorter route can walk an easy out-and-back to Little Yosemite, < 3.0 miles.

Cost: $5 Parking, $2 per dog (Bring cash)

** RSVP REQUESTED **:
Please RSVP below or e-mail mitcnchikers-owner ==at== yahoogroups ==dot== com

Description: Sunol Wilderness is a regional gem just a bit off I680 in the East Bay.  The geology includes 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.

Alameda Creek, Alameda County's largest stream, harbors an inviting creekside community of alder, willow and sycamore. Coast live oaks abound along with valley and blue oak, elderberry, madrone and gray pine. Spring brings wildflowers, including California poppies, mustard, goldfields and lupines, which carpet vast areas in yellow, orange and blue.

Ground squirrels, yellow-billed magpies and red-tailed hawks share this wilderness with raccoons, skunks and black-tailed deer. Mountain lions are uncommon, but are occasionally sighted. Birding is superb along Alameda Creek with acorn woodpecker, black phoebe, titmouse, turkey vulture, and golden eagle commonly sighted.

And, Little Yosemite, a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek, is an easy walk from the trailhead.

Park maps are available at:  https://www.ebparks.org/parks/maps.

What to Bring:   Water, lunch and/or snacks, hiking or gym shoes, a hat, and sunblock.  Dress warmly in layers, including a rain shell.

Dogs are permitted in this park.  There are restrooms at the trailhead parking lot.

Directions:
To the park (do not rely on navigation systems):

• From Fremont or points south, drive north on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road (near the town of Sunol.) Turn right at the exit onto Calaveras Road and proceed about four miles to a left turn onto Geary Road, which leads directly into the park. (If you find yourself driving uphill on a narrow winding road you’ve missed the Geary Road turnoff.)
• From the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley area, drive east on I-580 to the junction with I-680. Take I-680 south and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the Sunol exit. At the bottom of the exit turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed as noted above.
• From the Walnut Creek-Danville area, drive south on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the Sunol exit. Proceed as noted above.

To the trailhead:  Once inside the park, drive along the only road in the valley which eventually becomes a one-way loop.  The Camp Ohlone Road trailhead is at the farthest point from the park entrance along this loop.  Park maps are available at:  https://www.ebparks.org/parks/maps.

Carpooling: Carpooling is always a good idea.  However, we do not co-ordinate carpools.

Rain policy: If there's any ambiguity about the weather on the day of the hike, please check the forecast on the morning of the hike.
If it's raining significantly, the hike is off.  If the weather is ambiguous, we will send out an email to all registered participants.

Disclaimers: Joining any hike is entirely voluntary and participants assume any and all risks associated with the activities.  By registering or attending this event, participants agree to the conditions posted at:    http://northerncalifornia.alumclub.mit.edu/s/1314/images/gid25/editor_documents/event_documents/liability_waiver.pdf

Contact: David Weilmuenster
Please review the park map at the link above.  Do not expect to reach me at the trailhead via cell phone.
Four*oh-eight-three*nine-zero/one-one@six-two (mobile)