Gossip Rock

DATE: September 23, 2020
DISTANCE: 8.47km / 5.26 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: 351m / 1150’
TIME TAKEN: 2 Hr.
SUMMIT: Gossip Rock 329m / 1080’
DRY CREEK PIONER REGIONAL PARK
ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA
STOLEN OHLONE LAND
SOUNDTRACK: Toy Dolls: Idle Gossip

PHOTO ALBUM
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It had been over twenty days since my last hike, California had mostly been a smoky hell, and I was dealing with a not too horrible, but very persistent foot injury that might have stemmed all the way back to  my excessive rock hopping on the Fourth of July. Smokewise, the was was fairly clear, I needed to get outside and do something, anything, and I had some screenprinting supplies to hand off to Amber, so we met about halfway between San Jose and Oakland, and went out for a little hike.

The trail was selected more for it’s central location than any other reason, and it had a named “summit” for a destination, satisfying my requirements. It was a warm day, which we were acutely aware of, not starting until after 10AM. Climbing the fire roads, first through the lower vegetated stream bed, then up into the oak grove savannah, everything dry as a bone. Gossip Rock was not the high point of the area, or even the park, but it was within reach for our quick jaunt, a classic oak shaded rock outcrop in the Bay Area hills. One of the flat rocks appears to be an Ohlone Native American grinding stone. We went back down to the parking lot (mostly) the way we came up, and then went out separate ways!

FURTHER READING
• Quincy Koetz: A nice summary
• East Bay Hill People: Another brief description
• Gossip Rock on PEAKBAGGER