Here's some details about Castle Rock which is where we'll be meeting Saturday, and then scroll down for pics and details from last hike.
CASTLE ROCK
So Castle Rock is actually a challenging place to lead hiking class because: signage sucks and it's impossible to know what trail you are on, parking sucks (more so in summer), it's $10 to get in, and it's kind of far from everyone. And yet, I know from last hike that you people are UP FOR ADVENTURES!
Castle Rock is also amazing. It has one of the biggest waterfalls around, which is sure to be thunderously glorious right now! It has a variety of ecosystems; grassland, chaparral, and woodland. And it's got these bizarre sandstone formations called Tafoni, which are SO COOL! Seriously, bring your camera. If you have a walking stick or pole, bring that, bring your most rugged shoes. Bring extra layers. When San Jose is hot, Castle Rock is hotter. When San Jose is cold, Castle Rock is colder. There are intermittent bathrooms and drinking water, it's best to be prepared. I know it sounds stressful but trust me, it's going to be just gorgeous!!!
Here's a great write-up about the park which includes detailed driving directions: http://baynature.org/article/climbing-the-waves-at-castle-rock-state-park/. Here's the park website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=538. Email me if you're not going to make it, text me if you're running late and want us to wait (hopefully I'll get it, it's kind of far out of range.) See you at 1 PM Saturday!
LOS TRANCOS RECAP
We were blessed with great weather on the Los Trancos Earthquake hike. Check out this wonderful photo taken by Kathryne Morton, and see others at:
https://photos.google.com/u/0/share/AF1QipN3WnBoomZyTRXs2I9hI5zpSIJemrbKRMAjH4oMk4nZ80gJYHgqABtlws62PciK-A?key=bUdlWWY1ZGFvMWtOUmpyREJNRVZhQldwV1o4dmlB)
So, as often happens, we saw lots of cool stuff. :) We saw many big trees, some devastated by Sudden Oak Death (abbreviated SOD), scientific name is Phytophthora ramorum. This invasive oomecyte (water mold) is spread in our area by the California Bay Laurel tree. Bay Laurels are native and valuable parts of our habitat but they now occur in greater than historical numbers due to SOD. Here below is a cool pic (taken by Doug) of Sylvie walking under a large lovely oak that is fortunately healthy. :) To learn more about SOD, visit: http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/. 
We were lucky enough to catch one of the earliest wildflowers of Spring, milkmaids (Cardimine californica.) This lovely lady actually has a sweet scent. Milkmaids are also called toothwort, and are in the same genus as an irritating little native plant that most people call popweed - Cardimine oligosperma. It's more official common name is Western Bittercress. It only gets about 6 inches tall and its seeds explode all over the place when touched, that's why everyone hates it. But everyone loves milkweed, as do we! Learn more about it at: http://www.calfloranursery.com/plants/cardamine-californica. Sometimes you can buy seeds on Amazon. Thanks Doug for this photo.This is a great photo taken by Kathryne, it should be called "Essence of Jesse." He's holding humus, which is kind of "essence of soil" - the perfectly draining, nutrient rich, highly decomposed soil organic matter.
And then of course we spent some time geeking out on dusky footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes) nests, which we will do every time we see them. These clever little engineers build complex multi-roomed apartment complexes, often lined with bay leaves to keep down parasites. They are nocturnal and very tiny if you consider the size and complexity of their houses. Thanks to Kathryne for this great photo. Learn more about DFWR here: http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/dusky-footed-woodrat.aspx.