Brushy Peak Loop Trail

Today, I treated myself to the featured trail at Brushy Peak Regional Park recommended by the EBRPD for their 2019 Trails Challenge. I have been wanting to do this hike since January, when I visited the park but could not complete the trail due to the mud. It was lovely to visit the park when it was dryer and warmer, and when the wildflowers were blooming!

The hike is 4.3 miles and gains in elevation 754 feet; I did it in a counter-clockwise direction and I really liked that. It's considered a "moderate" hike because of the elevation gain, which is a little steep at times. There is not a whole lot of shade for the majority of the hike, so I was glad that I checked out the loop before the heat has really set in for the summer. It got up to the 80s today, and it was fairly hot during the climb up the peak until I caught a nice breeze. Luckily, the direction I took allowed offered shade from a eucalyptus grove during the steeper part of the ascent.

The thermals up the peak are the perfect place for raptors to glide. I saw many of them today, and I heard a ton of song birds. The rustle of the waving grasses in the wind added to the lovely sounds. It was really awesome to hear the beauty of nature as well as see it.

The seasonal wetlands were a real treat, but my favorite part of the trail was the outcroppings of rocks at the highest point.

The educational signage at this park is quite good. I was interested to learn the following today (from the EBRPD's page on Brushy Peak):

Brushy Peak is a 1,702-foot landmark at the juncture of the San Francisco Bay Area, the California Delta, and the Central Valley. The peak and its environs have been recognized as sacred by generations of native Californians. Due to its geographical position, the area lies at the center of a network of ancient trade routes that linked Bay Area Ohlones, Bay Miwoks, and Northern Valley Yokuts, who were drawn to the area for economic, social, and ceremonial events. The Ssaoam triblet of the Ohlone peoples was probably the most closely linked to the Brushy Peak area, living in the surrounding dry hills and tiny valleys around the peak and nearby Altamont Pass.

It was easy to see how the Ssaoam would have been drawn to the rock outcroppings and shade from the trees--the sun was intense! It was fun to guess whether divots in the rocks were from wind erosion or from ancient women grinding acorns to make food. Comparing that ancient way of life with modern life, visible below in the Livermore Valley, I felt a sense of time looping back upon itself. 

[As a side note, and a reminder to myself: I did get hit with an allergy attack on the hike today. Self: if you do this hike again next year in April, bring your Claritin so that you aren't sneezing from pollen the whole time.]