Going up

We have been on a lot of tough hikes and our latest adventure is added to the list. Looking for a strenuous hike to give us a workout we headed to Mission Peak Regional Preserve for a climb to the top of Mission Peak.



Alice had spotted a story about this trail described as a grueling climb to the top of the peak where hikers would find a post marking their ascent. The hike was described as best done in cooler weather so with the first day of spring we headed out to the trailhead.


Our first sign that this is a popular place to hike was the parking lot, filled by 8:30 am as were the neighboring streets. We found a spot a half mile away and set out to the trail. The course up would be pretty simple, Hidden Valley Trail form the parking lot, stay to the left and one right turn near the top to steer us to the peak summit.



The trail was crowed as we headed up, young, old, a few bikes and some hikers with the dog. There were a lot of new hikers on the trail as they really didn't know the hiking etiquette rules, where to pass, which side of the trail to hike on. The trail itself was hard dirt fire road sometimes with gravel and other parts rocky.


This was going to be a pretty tough hike. First of all there was no shade, not a speck the entire time. Then there was the footing, slick in spots and hard on your feet as we pounded away up the trail. But hardest of all was the fact that the trail was one big up. I don't think we had one level flat spot anywhere the whole time. You were either headed up or heading down. Crossing a cattle gate the trail slope increased as we began or 2,000 foot climb


The scenery was pretty much the same any direction, rolling hills, a few trees and the never-ending trail winding upward. The bay area loomed in a light fog behind us as we trudged away. It became a matter of winding up the trail past the slower hikers as we headed for the peak. At rest stops we would hear other hikers wondering if they would make it to the top as they labored on the lower approaches.


An hour and half into the hike we finally got a glimpse of our destination. Rounding a bend we got a sight of the peak in the distance and the trail curving up to the rocky outcrop marking the peak. We knew we still had a good deal of work ahead as continued with the trail narrowing and getting rougher. We could see a line of people making their way to peak looking more like pilgrims heading to a shrine than hikers on a Saturday afternoon.


A little over two hours and we were in the toughest part of the hike scrambling over the rocks and stone ledges just below the peak. Hiking poles came in handy to help with the treacherous footing. Arriving at the peak we found the post and a large crowd enjoying the view. We stopped for photos at the post and to enjoy the views of the mountains surrounding us including Mount Diablo and Mount Tamalpais.




After carefully making our way down the rocky ledge we settled into a long descent back to the parking lot on what we thought was probably in the top 5 of toughest hikes we have done. All the effort and sore legs was worth the view from the top on the peak, a great day with great views on our Mission Peak hike.

Twilight

Waiting for the crosstown soccer game to start at Steve Lopez Stadium Thursday evening I was enjoying the fading light when I caught these two scene. I like the way the jet contrail almost seemed to glow against the dark sky as they were hit by the last rays of sunlight. The stadium picture works for for me with the strong shapes and high contrast of the scene.

Double trouble

Today was one of those days where I was hopping around listening to the scanner. A stolen car in the morning and a parolee fleeing a search made for some tense moments around town today.

A stolen Cadillac out of Modesto was spotted near the Save Mart on south Tracy Blvd. this morning and the felony stop in the parking lot drew quite a few stares. Officer made a high-risk stop pulling out the occupants at gunpoint when the car stopped just in front of the supermarket.
Later in the afternoon a parolee fled from a search and a car associated with the man was stopped on Grant Line Road in another high-risk stop. I got to this one a little quicker in time to see the last occupant of the car taken into custody. I had a nice vantage point across the street where I could get a good view of the action without getting in.
It was kind of a wild day from one felony stop to the next. Got a couple of good shots and best part no one was hurt and few more bad guys are off Tracy Streets. the line of fire.

Tagged

I love reading the comments of the Tracy Press web site. If you can make it past the racist remarks or the posted in all upper case eyestrain there is a good joke in there every now and then. I love a couple of the comments about the graffiti mess over at Clyde Bland Park. A couple of people suggested the paper adopt an editorial policy to report on graffiti but to never show it. Good idea, will add that right next to the policy of never showing blood at a crime scene and no showing dead bodies at a fatal accident scene.
Yes I am sure the only reason gang members or taggers mark buildings and sidewalks is so they can see the pictures appear in the Tracy Press. I am sure that is the only reason. I bet they would call us and let us know where they have tagged so I don't have to wait and hear the reports on the scanner if they knew we would run the picture on the cover.
Actually I bet the graffiti would be there with or without a picture in the paper. And a two line entry in the police blotter about graffiti at a park does not convey the amount or severity of the damage done like a photo does. When a police officer says this is some of the most extensive graffiti he has seen the need for a photo is overwhelming.
Am I glorifying or publicizing their handiwork? Hardly. Let people see what is going on around them and hopefully put the pressure on to get of the problem.

It's not easy being green

So these are just a few shots for the St. Patrick's day meal at the Lolly Hansen Senior Center. Had to get a little green on the computer somehow today!

More motivation

E 8

There was some disagreement in the newsroom about this photo from the crosstown softball game. I saw this play as an error as the ball bounced off the outfielder's glove while the sports editor thought it was a double all the way. I must have a cruel streak but if the ball bounces off the glove I call it error. Of course of the 18 frames I shot of the sequence of her missing the ball this was the only one in focus so I guess it was also error on the photographer, that would be E P.

Location, location, location

Track is honestly one of the easiest sports to shoot. You know exactly where the athlete is going to be at some time during the competition. They have to pass through that point at certain time so it is just a matter of selecting the right lens and shooting location to control the background and waiting for the action. The worst part of shooting a track meet are the backgrounds they are horrendous so a long lens and high f-stop are a must to control the background blur.

Meat and greet

So at first the crowd at the Animal Shelter says the pet of the week is going to be a boxer and the next thing you know they trot out this big pit bull with those big, black lifeless eyes. It just stares at me, hungrily. And then things really got worse when they hand me the pet of the week information sheet.

Yeah it sucks to be me on assignment.