The Rainbow Sierrans Backpacking Section is Back!!! We are opening the season with a Backpacking trip to one of our local gems, the Ohlone Wilderness, where the Ohlone people lived about 5,000 years ago.
Although today the Ohlone are referred to with one name, they were not one single tribe, instead, there were many different groups of one or more villages. Each group was led by a chief, who could be either a man or a woman.
There is a belief that the spirits of the Ohlone people are still around, and some people have said that they have felt their presence ... Maybe the abundance of wildlife, golden eagles, mountain lions, and tule elk, and the great variety of wildflowers have kept them in this region.
Maybe we could also experience some of the magic of the area in our two days backpacking trip.
Day 1: We will meet at the Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center. From there, we will cross a bridge, take the Canyon View Trail, the connector to McCorckle Trail, which becomes the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. Later, through a gate (the Ohlone permit is required at this point; you can get it at the kiosk as you enter the park), we will enter the Backpacking Section, reaching the Eagle’s Eyrie Campground, where we will set up our camp, as we
indulge ourselves on the magnificent 360 degrees view that this enchanting spot offers.
On the first day, we will hike on undulating narrow trails, following a toboggan of rollers, amid feminine shaped green hills; it is mostly uphill. The climb initially is gentle, becomes moderate later, and very steep, for about .75 mile, once we get into the backpacking area. We will have different short regroups, a longer rest stop to eat some snacks, drink water, and take some pix. The approximate elevation gain is about 1,000 feet, and the distance is 4.51 miles.
Water is available a few feet from the camp but it needs to be treated. At about 10 feet away there is also a porta potty.
Day 2: We will go for a short hike, probably we will visit the nearby campgrounds where we will have lunch around 12:00pm. After lunch, feeling re-energized by the beauty of the surroundings, we will initiate our return, taking McCorckle Trail, to Backpack Rd, and to Camp Ohlone Rd., along the Alameda Creek, where we will stop at the Little Yosemite, one of the hidden jewels of the park. The distance from the camp to the Visitor’s Center is 3.18 miles, and the elevation gain is almost 0.
Back at the Visitor’s Center, we will have the opportunity to peruse around to learn more about the park, the flora, the fauna, and/or its original inhabitants, the Ohlone people. We, the leaders, would like to share our love, and fascination we feel about the Sunol Regional Park with all of you.
View of Eagle's Eyrie Campground
Cost: Price per person: $12.00
Requirements to Participate: In order to participate on the trip you need to be a Sierra Club member, and a Rainbow Sierrans. To become an official Rainbow Sierrans member, sign up through www.rainbowsierrans.org and select the tab labeled "join".
Signup Instructions:
a.- You need to fill out the Registration Form.
b. - After you register, the leader will send you two forms, that you need to fill out and send them back to her. One of the forms is a Medical form, the other one is about your physical conditioning, and experience.
c.- The leader will review all the applicant 's forms, and decide who is going to be on the trip. She will send them the information about how to send the Payment for the trip via Paypal.
d.- When you made the payment, you need to e-mail the receipt to the leader. After you made the payment you will be "officially" on the trip.
What to Bring: Instructions will be provided to registered, and approved participants.