Here’s a roundup of Camino related and hiking events in the SF Bay Area for the month of August. For those who live elsewhere there are Camino hotspots all over the USA and the APOC website has a listing of local chapters where you can find Camino events. There are also many active Facebook groups to learn about events in your region.
Below are three special events organized by local chapters of American Pilgrims on the Camino, followed by trekking poles workshops.
Redwood Regional Park Hike
Saturday, August 13, 2016, 10:30 am
August 13th is scheduled for a meetup, walk and picnic in Redwood Regional Park, Oakland. We’ll do about 7 miles with a break for lunch at the half way point. This will include the canyon, east ridge trail and spring trails and offers a steep uphill in the beginning 1/2 mile, then eases into a pleasant walk with a lovely final 2 miles through a redwood forest. It’s August so bring water in addition to your lunch.
Meeting Point
The park is located a 7867 Redwood Road in Oakland near the Chabot Space and Science Center. We’ll meet at 10:30 in the parking lot closest to the trail head at the Canyon Meadow Staging Area inside the Redwood Gate entrance. There are a couple of parking lots so plan to walk into the trailhead/playground area for the meetup at 10:30. See this site for additional information: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/redwood
To Reach The Park
There are several entrances to Redwood Regional Park. The main entrance, Redwood Gate, is on Redwood Road in Oakland about two miles east of Skyline Blvd. In Oakland on Highway 13, take the Redwood Road exit and go east (uphill). At the top of the hill you will cross Skyline Boulevard and pass the Skyline Ranch Equestrian Center on the right. Farther along you will pass Piedmont Stables on the left. Big Bear Staging Area will be on the right about one and one-half miles from Skyline Boulevard, followed by MacDonald Staging Area on the right and Redwood Gate on the left (seasonal parking fee). If you continue another quarter mile and turn left at Pinehurst Road, you will reach Pinehurst Gate Staging Area after a few moments.
Use Google Maps to navigate with driving directions.
For public transportation options, use the trip planner at http://511.org/.
Hike Overview
Some Bay Area NorCal Chapter members did this same hike in December 2015. Read more about it here A Walk in the Redwoods.
No need to RSVP. Just show up at the starting point and be ready to hike!
Hosted by Rennie Archibald, Northern California Chapter, American Pilgrims on the Camino.
Santa Cruz Hike
Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
Silicon Valley Chapter Hike
University of California, Santa Cruz
Join us for a hike in Santa Cruz. The hike will start at UCSC’s North remote parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Free parking for the public on weekends. The land has several well tended gravel and dirt fire roads used by occasional hikers and bikes.The hike is a 6 1/2 mile walk through redwood, pine, oak, madrone, and meadow. The terrain is occasionally mildly hilly. Water, snacks, hats, sunscreen and definitely trekking poles–some of the hills have coarse gravel roads. There are more trails for those wanting longer hikes.
Bring a sack lunch and beverage. After the hike, we’ll shuttle over to Stevenson College. There is a very pleasant and roomy outdoor area with both shade and sun, tables and chairs.
http://maps.ucsc.edu/ for a map of the campus
Hope to see you there! Any questions, please contact Chapter Coordinators Pat Day and Judy Barnes. SiliconValley@AmericanPilgrims.org
Silicon Valley Chapter
American Pilgrims on the Camino
Angel Island Hike
Saturday, August 27, 2016, 10:30 am
Group photo at the 2015 Angel Island Hike
Join us for beautiful vistas of the San Francisco Bay Area as we hike the five-mile loop trail around historic Angel Island. This is a moderate hike with just a 400-foot elevation gain, but brings us to the former Immigration Station, the so called “Ellis Island of the West”, and various Army installations that were active from the Civil War through the Cold War.
Dress for the weather (layers work well) and bring a bag lunch, water, hat, sunscreen and your phone/camera. Walking poles will be helpful, but not required on this path. If you are yet to experience the Camino, bring your questions so you can get advice from seasoned pilgrims. We’ll meet at the Angel Island ferry landing and begin our hike at 10:30 AM.
GETTING THERE (by ferry)
From SF to Angel Island, Blue & Gold Fleet, www.blueandgoldfleet.com
* Ferry Building: Depart 9:20 AM (Adult $16, Senior 65+ $9)
* Pier 41: Depart 9:45 AM (same prices as above)
Prices are round-trip. Tickets include the Angel Island State Park admission fee and can be purchased online (strongly recommended to save time). Service from Vallejo is available, also from the Blue & Gold Fleet. See their web site for details.
From Oakland or Alameda to Pier 41 (SF), San Francisco Bay Ferry,www.sanfranciscobayferry.com
* Oakland Terminal: Depart 8:55 AM (Adult $13.20, Senior 65+ $6.60)
* Alameda Terminal: Depart 9:10 AM (same prices as above)
See the NorCal Facebook Group Event.
Read about last year’s hike at A Heavenly Day at Angel Island.
No RSVP required. Just meet us at the ferry landing on Angel Island at 10:30 am.
Hosted by Rob Nickerson, Northern California Chapter, American Pilgrims on the Camino.
Pole Hiking Workshops in Oakland
Have you ever wanted to try hiking poles? The East Bay Regional Parks District offers poles technique workshops and hikes.
Poles 3: Practice Hike Plus Yoga – 14162
When: Sun, August 14, 8:15am – 1:00pm
Where: Redwood Regional Park (map)
Description: Hike, Stretch, Strengthen, Breathe! Practice pole hiking skills; improve your trail performance while mindfully experiencing beautiful Redwood trails. Interspersed stretches and strengthening movements focus on improving longevity and joint health (4 mile hike). Previous EBRPD pole hiking instruction REQUIRED. Registration is required. POLE WALKING & POLE HIKING: Poles help walkers & hikers improve endurance, posture, balance, confidence, and strength. All experience levels learn anatomically optimal techniques to achieve greater skill and avoid joint stress or strain. Carefully select the class(es) that best suit your physical ability. A variety of top quality poles are provided at all seminars. Hiking locations are based on the season/weather. Mobility class locations offer indoor training and lovely/easy practice pole hike.
Registration is required.
Poles: Basic Hiking Skills & Techniques – 14159
When: Thursday, August 25, 9 am – 1:15 pm
Where: Roberts Recreation Area: Redwood Bowl Staging Area
ROBERTS – Morning session helps hikers learn poles, trail and body skills. Beginner to experienced hikers will learn techniques without the additional time or challenge of a practice hike. Uphill: Improve power, endurance, spine function. Downhill: Develop skills for feeling safer and preserving joints- Save you knee!
POLE WALKING & POLE HIKING: Learning how to use poles helps walkers & hikers improve endurance, posture, balance, confidence, and enhances enjoyment of the outdoors. All levels focus on learning anatomically-optimal techniques to achieve greater skill while learning how to avoid joint stress or strain. Carefully select class(es) that best suit your physical ability and inclination. A variety of top quality poles are provided at all seminars. Hiking locations are based on the season/weather. Mobility class locations offer indoor training and lovely/easy pole walks for practice.
A walk around Lake Merritt in Oakland is held every first Saturday of the month, at 10:30 am starting at the Pergola pictured below. The next Lake Merritt walk will be on Saturday, Sept. 3. If you are in the Bay Area, join the Northern California Facebook Group to get details on this and other events.
Lake Merritt Walk August 6, 2016
If you know of any Camino related events for the SF Bay Area that should be included in the monthly roundup, please use the comment form below, or email me.
If you are lucky enough to live near a REI store, there are many workshops and occasional discussions with Camino book authors and guides. Check http://www.rei.com/ for events in your area.
Buen Camino!
The Camino Provides 
Reblogged this on Mysticalwriter.
LikeLiked by 1 person