Mt. Umunhum Hike, May 2, 2018

Ginger went on a Mid-Peninsula Open Space District sponsored hike in Sierra Azul Preserve called "Explorer Hike: Mount Umunhum." Here is the hike description:

Join docents Lynn Jackson, Dennis Smith, Kate Gudmundson, Laura Levin, and Mary Brunkhorst for their first 'Explorer Hike' to the top of Mount Umunhum. You'll enjoy stunning vistas from the summit as well hiking at a moderate pace along the newly opened trail. Along the way, you'll hear stories about Mount Umunhum's past, more recent, and current place in history. (Please note: The end time for this 'Explorer Hike' has been extended due to additional time needed for carpooling; participants will carpool/shuttle to a trailhead. Hike route subject to change depending on parking availability at area trailhead parking lots.) Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after April 18.

References

Click Here for map.

All photos copyright Ginger Wolnik

Ginger's car in the Bald Mountain parking lot

hikers gathering in the Bald Mountain parking lot getting ready to carpool to the summit

driving up to the summit

walking up the stairs from the summit parking lot

almost to the top

view of Sierra Azul trails from the top

downtown San Jose

Mt. Hamilton across Santa Clara Valley

view of the coast

Ginger at the summit overlook

Silver Lupine Lupinus albifrons

wildflowers at the summit (poppies, popcorn flower, lupines)

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Chia Salvia columbariae

closeup of Chia Salvia columbariae

another Chia Salvia columbariae

Grassy Tarweed Madia gracilis

closeup of Grassy Tarweed Madia gracilis

Common Phacelia Phacelia distans

hikers descending the stairs

Gray Pine Pinus sabiniana

Slender Cottonweed (aka Q-Tips) Micropus californicus

Slender Cottonweed (aka Q-Tips) Micropus californicus

Bluewitch Nightshade Solanum umbelliferum

Blue Dicks Dichelostemma capitatum

closeup of Blue Dicks Dichelostemma capitatum

California Poppies Eschscholzia californica and Popcorn Flower Plagiobothrys nothofulvus

trail switchback

descending under the gray pines near the top

view from the trail of Sierra Azul which means "Blue Mountains"

grove of Pacific Madrone Arbutus menziesii

Leather Oaks Quercus durata the same age after a fire

Pacific Madrone with view of Santa Clara Valley in the background

another bright Pacific Madrone trunk

Serpentine rock

Checker Lily Fritillaria affinis

closeup of Checker Lily Fritillaria affinis

Checker Lily Fritillaria affinis

pinecone of Gray Pine Pinus sabiniana

Big Berry Manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca

Big Berry Manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca leaves

Big Berry Manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca

Lynn compares cones of Knobcone Pinus attenuata & Gray Pine Pinus sabiniana

more serpentine rocks

closeup of Franciscan Chert in the serpentine rock

a large, old California Nutmeg Torreya californica

a young California Nutmeg Torreya californica

Striped Coralroot Corallorhiza striata (parasitic orchid)

closeup of Striped Coralroot Corallorhiza striata

Red Larkspur Delphinium nudicaule

closeup of Red Larkspur Delphinium nudicaule

Red Larkspur Delphinium nudicaule

another closeup of Red Larkspur Delphinium nudicaule

Two-Eyed Violet Viola ocellata

Gray Pine Pinus sabiniana

Yerba Santa Eriodictyon californicum

Hairy Ceanothus Ceanothus oliganthus

Purple Needle Grass Stipa pulchra

Rough Hedgenettle Stachys rigida

Woodland Woollythreads Monolopia gracilens

closeup of Woodland Woollythreads Monolopia gracilens

Fremont's Deathcamas (or Star Lily) Toxicoscordion fremontii

Bush Poppy Dendromecon rigida

closeup of Bush Poppy Dendromecon rigida

Bush Poppy Dendromecon rigida

closeup of Bush Poppy Dendromecon rigida

Bush Poppy Dendromecon rigida

Western Starflower Lysimachia latifolia

Guadalupe Creek Overlook

view of Bald Mtn. Parking lot from Guadalupe Creek Overlook (also Bald Mountain!)

view of Mt. Hamilton from Guadalupe Creek Overlook

Ginger at Guadalupe Creek Overlook

Winecup Clarkia Clarkia purpurea

Many Stemmed California Gilia Gilia achilleifolia Benth. ssp. multicaulis

closeup of Many Stemmed California Gilia Gilia achilleifolia Benth. ssp. multicaulis

Cobwebby Thistle-Venus Thistle Cirsium occidentale var. venustum with ants tending to aphids

Cobwebby Thistle-Venus Thistle Cirsium occidentale var. venustum

Pacific Madrone Arbutus menziesii in bloom

Pacific Madrone Arbutus menziesii flowers in sun

Pacific Madrone Arbutus menziesii flowers in shade

riders on Arabian horses

Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla

Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii

closeup of Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii

The End!