Summer Greetings & time for a long overdue hike.

This will be hike of 4.9 miles and approx 900 feet vertical.  Moderately strenuous for those who may not be familiar with this park.  Steady uphill in the shade for the first half, then steady downhill mostly in shade for the downhill.  We will go up on Bear Gulch Trail and down on Alambique (see attached map).  Plan to carry at least one liter of water and some snacks.

The drive from Etz is approximately 20 minutes.  The sign for the entrance is not as large or visible as it ought to be.  If following these driving directions. (http://goo.gl/maps/SUQnV), the entrance road is just over 1.0 miles along Portola Rd measured from the right turn from Sand Hill Road.  We are going early enough that there should be spaces in the parking lot, but if not, parking along Portola Road is OK.

Sunday, July 14th -- Meet at the Etz Parking lot at 8:30 am if you would like to carpool.  If you would like to drive yourself to the trailhead, we will meet up by 9:00 am.  I WILL NOT GO TO ETZ IF THERE ARE NOBODY RSVP'S INDICATING INTEREST IN CARPOOLING. -- RSVP directly to me (stephen.branz@sjsu.edu) including your preference to drive solo or meet at Etz for carpooling.