Saturday, June 20th (Day 1)
In the second to last weekend of June, four interns embarked on an overnight backpacking excursion in the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve as part of Earth Team’s Outdoor Explorers Program. The trip started off at the North Berkeley BART station early Saturday morning, where all the participants had the chance to briefly meet each other before traveling to the Big City Mountaineer (BCM) office in Marin. At the office, participants and leaders made formal introductions and started a discussion about group expectations for the rest of the trip. BCM leaders Elissa and Mara organized the backpacking gear for the group, explaining how many clothing layers will be needed to stay warm, why it is important to balance the weight of each pack, and how to minimize excess gear to lighten the load. With everyone’s backpacks fitted and filled, we set off for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve located just beyond the Los Altos hills.
In the early afternoon, the group made a quick stop near the beautiful Lake Merced to eat their packed lunches and get some fresh air after being stuck in city traffic. Upon arrival at the trailhead, participants observed first-hand how to plan and navigate trail maps as the leaders discussed the best route to take to the Black Mountain Backpack Camp. These teachings introduced practical navigational skills that the participants can continue to cultivate beyond their outdoor excursions with Earth Team and BCM.
The hike from the trailhead to the campsite was an exciting experience for the group because many of the participants had never been backpacking before. They did an amazing job communicating with each other and the leaders, making sure the pace was not too fast for anyone and taking water breaks often. The participants learned of trail etiquette when crossing paths with other hikers, and they were also informed of how to identify and avoid poison oak, which was prevalent along both sides of the trail. In a whimsical moment during the hike, we even spotted some deer peeking through the brush, one of which was believed to be a young fawn.
As the trail climbed higher, it opened up to stunning views of golden hills and the bay in the distance. We made it to the campsite not long after, taking a well-deserved break before pitching their tents and organizing shared gear. With some time left before starting on dinner, participants opted to take a little bonus hike further up the trail to check out the view.
Everyone helped out with dinner whether it was chopping bell peppers and onions, frying sausages, cooking rice, or washing the dishes afterwards. The teamwork made making dinner a seamless process, even as people took short breaks to admire the sun setting perfectly over the campsite. Afterwards, everyone was exhausted from the long day and ready to wash up and get in their sleeping bags as the temperature began to drop for the night.
Sunday, June 21st (Day 2)
Waking up bright and early with the rising sun, participants had a spread of oatmeal, dried fruit, granola bars, coffee and tea available for breakfast. We wasted no time in packing up our tents, organizing shared gear, and filling water bottles as the sun began to heat up the exposed campsite. It was great to see the participants, some of whom had never slept in a tent before, wake up the next morning with a visible sense of confidence and capability in camping that they gained over the previous day. The students took to the trail with gusto, going from new participants to trail leaders.
But before heading out, the participants made a sweep over the area to pick up any pieces of trash even if it was not from our group. One of the core Leave No Trace (LNT) principles is simply making sure that trash is not left behind, something that is often overlooked when leaving a campsite. Once the grounds were completely clean of any runaway litter, we began the hike back to the parking lot. The participants were interested in taking a short side trail to see a change of scenery before it reconnected with the main trail that we had taken the day before. Overall, it was a great experience!
Earth Team would like to give a big thank you to BCM for leading our participants on this backpacking excursion through the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. This overnight trip has provided them with the opportunity to develop outdoor skills, engage with nature, and make memories with each other.
