Three walks, three leaders, three levels; one party afterward!

Date: Sunday, July 20, departures at 9:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m. or 10:45 a.m . Note the staggered departure times will bring everyone back by noon for a bring-your-own picnic. We will provide carrot cake and lemonade.

Meeting Place: Each walk will start in the park in front of John Muir School, 2955 Claremont Avenue near Ashby.

Transit: AC Transit #51B

Contact: walks@berkeleypaths.org.

Claremont Hills Power Walk

Leader: Sandy Friedland
Time: 9:45 a.m.

You’ll get your heart rate up on this five-mile route that includes some of the steep steps and ramps and hilly streets above the Claremont Hotel. During this two-hour walk, we’ll pass both historic houses and the “fire-proof chic” ones that were built after the 1991 firestorm. We’ll be on pavement until the last segment, when we will take some of the newly improved paths in Garber Park. No dogs, please.

Terrain: Difficult
Pace: Moderately Fast

Claremont Path Safari

Leader: Lynn Deregowski
Time: 10:15 a.m.

Join us on this all-ages, family-friendly expedition. We will stalk the whimsical animal art that roams the urban savannah. Kids spotting more than 25 animals will get a special treat. Adults who do the same will receive a smile and a pat on the back. Well-behaved dogs on leashes, regardless of how many animals they find, will be rewarded with biscuits. Please note: We will be taking several older paths with stairs, so strollers may not be appropriate. Expect this hike to last 1 ½ hours.

Terrain: Medium
Pace: Moderate

Monkey Park, A “Manet” Mural, and More

Leader: Elsa Tranter
Time: 10:45 a.m.

This one-hour hike will be the shortest of the three walks and will last one hour. We will explore the stately neighborhood between Claremont and College Avenues, with its beautiful architecture and creative yard art. Expect some stairs and moderately steep inclines. Well-behaved dogs on leashes will be welcomed.

Terrain: Easy
Pace: Leisurely

A crowd of 55 hikers tackled the South Berkeley paths, led by the intrepid Jacob and Zeke. It was a beautiful day to complete the tour of all of Berkeley’s paths ending at the John Muir School for cake. Prizes went out to the 11 people who did all 6 walks–congratulations! Zeke and Jacob have promised to lead another walk and are even threatening to lead all comers on an all-day trip to every path–a feat that took 13 1/2 hours and 36 miles for them to complete last summer. Who’s up for that?

• 
• 
• 

Photos by Neil Mishalov, video by Joyce Inkrott.

Thanks Ron Sipherd for the thoroughly enjoyable Mother’s Day Ramble today in the Willard Park neighborhood. Stops on the history tour: the apartment building where Patty Hearst was kidnapped from, an old dairy barn repurposed as residences, a hidden plaque that reads “Liberate Derby Creek!”, and many other interesting sights. Pictured are Ron and some of our group of 27 at the start of the walk at Russell and Regent Streets. Happy Mother’s Day!

Nearly 60 hikers turned out for Part 5 of the Whole Berkeley Walks Series today! We covered close to 8 miles at a nice pace with our high point being Panoramic Hill above the Cal stadium. Thanks Jacob and Zeke for leading another stellar ramble through Berkeley. The 6th and final hike will be Sunday June 1st at 11:30am leaving from Domingo and Tunnel Road. We will be celebrating the completion of the walks series with cake and lemonade after the hike at the John Muir School on Claremont and Ashby.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Photos by Neil Mishalov.

Halkin Walk (#31) is now OPEN! The new handrails have been installed on the upper section of Halkin Walk (connecting Hilldale and Euclid Avenues in the North Berkeley hills). On today’s Whole Berkeley Walk Part 4, our leaders Jacob and Zeke mapped a small detour to take our group of 50 hikers down our newest path. This one boasts a stunning view at the top as well as switchback stairs at the bottom. Come out and take a look!

• 
• 
• 
• 

Photos by Neil Mishalov and Colleen Neff.