Hiking the San Francisco Bay Area

There is no shade at the junction with Kennedy Trail, the top of the trail at 2609ft; in my memory the highest point on today’s hike. Because I arrive alone and have none in sight behind me, I head up Kennedy Trail southbound and hunker down at the first available shade. It feels like I waited a very long time before Bill shows up. Despite being the oldest, he usually is one of the fastest in our group. He still has a good pace and looks strong. We both still waited quite a while before the rest shows up. Craig is trailing. He is not often in this group but I know him as a very fast and tough hiker. He is the oldest on today’s hike but still exercises 6 days a week, mostly tennis and hiking. On his most recent annual day hike to Mount Whitney, first week of August, he did not summit. That is unusual, but one can hardly compare the challenging 22 miles in and out with 5000+ elevation gain to 14,500ft Whitney with this little hill here. We take a long break for lunch. All are cheerful and chatty; the break helps for a quick recovery. After lunch the group splits up. Susan and John, turn around and go back down the steep slope of Priest Rock Trail. Ben, Craig, Bill and I continue on Kennedy Trail to connect to Limekiln trail. The latter route is a good 3 miles longer. I recall that Limekiln is a much shadier trail then Priest Rock., Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, Los Gatos, California, September 05, 2020, 10:47