Mount Diablo Group and Sierra Singles

Beginner Hikes 2007

Sundays, March 18 and 25; Saturday, March 31.

If you have thought about hiking but not yet begun, here's a chance to learn what the Bay Area has to offer and how to get started. Experienced hike leader Diane Smith is leading a series of progressively more difficult hikes to introduce the beginning hiker to the rewards of hiking.

The first hike will be a 1A (less than six miles, less than 1,000 feet of elevation gain) in the Shell Ridge Open Space, Walnut Creek, on Sun., March 18. Diane will tell you about places to hike, clothing and equipment, safety, and other hiking skills.

On Sun., March 25, the second hike will take place in the Sunol Regional Wilderness. This will be a 2B hike (6 - 10 miles, 1,000 - 2,000 feet of elevation gain). Participants will be able to use the skills they learned in the previous 1A hike.

The third and final hike will be a 3B hike (10 - 15 miles, 1,000 - 2,000 feet of elevation gain) around Briones Reservoir on Sat., March 31. This will solidify the learning that has taken place in the previous two hikes.

Experienced hikers are welcome on all three hikes. If you are a novice hiker, please attend the introductory hike before attempting the other more difficult hikes in the series.

For more details about the hikes, see the calendar listings beginning on page A of this Yodeler.