Hike Up Black Mountain

It was a hot spring day, a good day to hike up the Black Mountain. The trail starts from Russ Ridge parking lot in Los Altos Hills. It is shaded by trees, and in April hills are still green and moist from the rains. This is one of my favorite hikes not far from home. We started late, around 11AM, and were lucky to find a parking spot someone just left.


On the lower, steep part of the trail, the air was bright and crisp. There were lizards on the trail, baking in the sun and quickly running away when we approached.


I had my new camera and was looking for good picture subjects. My brother spotted one, a hummingbird on the tree next to the trail. We also saw crows and red tail hawks, and large butterflies flying to fast to take a picture.


This time of the year, all plants along the trail seemed to be in a full bloom. The air was saturated with sweet smell of wild vegetation.



Here my brother is near the first PG&E tower, getting close the final steep part of the trail.

The steep part was hot and sunny, as usual. We gradually climbed, and passed through the cool shade of the old oak tree on the left side of the trail near the summit. The top of the mountain was also less hot, because there was a breeze coming from the ocean.


On the way back, view of the trail and the valley.