Backpack Section
Loma Prieta Chapter
Sierra Club

Ohlone Wilderness
East Bay Regional Parks District
April 23-25, 1999

Trip Leader: Roland Wentz
Trip Report By: Roland Wentz

On Friday morning Erick Smith and myself started out from Del Valle Park Res. (Elevation 800 ft.) and started up the steepness of the E.B.R.P.D. We trucked in low gear up to the sign-in panel at an elevation of 1,190 ft., passed Stromer Spring, Boyd Camp (elevation 2,240 ft.), Sycamore Flat (elevation 2,000 ft.), Schlieper Rock (elevation 3,080 ft.), Johnny's Pond (elevation 3,350 ft.), Murietta Falls (elevation 2,992 ft.) and finally made it to Stewart's Camp, seven miles in at an elevation of 3,160 ft. Here we base camped Friday and Saturday nights.

Friday night, after setting up camp, we descended about 200 ft. back down to Murietta Falls pausing a lengthy time to admire the stream which would soon be drying up during the summer drought. Hiking in, I believe I burned off about twelve months worth of chocolate cookies! We had climbed two main ridges. First, up and over Rocky Ridge at the trail junction of the same name, and second, up the side of Wauhae Ridge fortunately camping at Stewart's Camp. Consequently, hiking to the top was not necessary, at least on Friday night. But then came Saturday morning! We started out carrying lunch and water day-hiking to Box Canyon (elevation 3,547 ft.), and then Rose Peak (elevation 3,8l17 ft.). We took a nice lengthy lunch break while admiring the views of the bay area; Mt. Diablo, and Mt. Hamilton among other geographic features. On clear days you could see the Sierras but not on this trip because of fog. After lunch, we hiked down a half-mile to Maggie's Half Acre (elevation 3,480 ft.) and refilled our water bottles from the pump. Then we retraced our steps back to Stewart's Camp for a total of eight miles for the day. After evening supper, during dusk, the moon came out full, illuminating the hills, trees, and rocks. I took a mile and three quarter circular walk up the Greenside Trail, toward Shafer Flat and Pond, turned left on the Ohlone Trail, and cross-countried down the steep bank of Murietta Falls Creek and up the opposite side to our camp. Although "dark" there was still plenty of light to see and hike in.

Sunday morning, we broke camp and hiked cross-country northward to the Ohlone Trail then retraced our steps for seven miles back to the reservoir and parking lot. Spring time hiking conditions had been near perfect. Flowers were abundant - the whites, yellows, blues and reds. Stream beds had plenty of water in them! The weather had been very pleasant for hiking. Early morning clouds and high fog had brought with them their cooling temperatures. And that reminds me, I need to stock up on chocolate cookies for my next trip.