2025.1.27-31 Company annual get-together

1/27, Monday, I attended all planned events at work.

1/28, Tuesday, after I came back from Mission Peak, our HVAC broken down. Had to tread carefully to set up my demo system. Team dinner tonight.

1/29, Wednesday. Left the hotel at 7am to walk along the dykes near Alviso Marine Park. This time, I got another coworker to come along. Overcast today, so no sunrise. Water is low, not as many birds as I remembered. Saw only 2 snowy egrets, and 1 great egret. On the way back, drove my the old office. Back to work before 9am, in time for the first talk of the day.

Lunar new year. I skipped a women-only event, managed to call a few of my family members and friends after work. I initially wanted to attend a meetup in the evening, but I was late preparing my demo, and the the traffic of Bay Area is too bad: killed my desire to drive.

1/30, Thursday. Demo in the morning, and more talks. 3:30pm, Top Golf. I arrived late. After getting a beer, walked around to join a table. I'm so bad, thankfully the next table had space, and none are golfers. I left at 5pm. Saw another large group poured in. Seems Top Golf is popular with company event organizers.

Drove to Bay Trail Sunnyvile (along the bay, there're many trails), next to a water treatment facility, a little too late for sunset. Walked ~an hour around. Saw a few ducks and stilts. It was getting too dark, but still a few coming in with head lamps.

Drove to Santa Clara Santana Row area to see Fleurs de Villes installation (1/29-2/2). Bad traffic on the way. Out of 19 large floral displays, I found only 13. One at Hotel Valencia entry, one at Eataly, 11 in the center of Westfield Valley Fair (shopping mall). I should have allocated more time here so I can find the other 6.

Drove to San Jose downtown for dinner. Arrived ~7:30.

1/31, Friday. Didn't do anything useful. Managed to lose my glasses when packing. Flew back home. Picked up some flu-like bug on the plane :(

Conclusion:

• I'll probably rent a car again next year.
• Should allocate more time for traffic.
• Should wear a face mask in the airport.

2025.1.28. Mission Peak

1/28, Tuesday. Skipped the first talk at work, and went for a hike. This time, a coworker came along, and we were in a more relaxed pace. The TH is supposed to open at 6:30am, so we left the hotel at 6:15, in the dark. I didn't bring a headlamp. This is a very popular trail, even this early in the dark, we saw a few others running and walking.

Trailhead parking is free, and the gate is unlatched. So, probably I can come anytime. We did Mission Peak loop clock-wise. Most of the hike is on very wide gravel roads, on grassy hills (no shade). The last half a mile is trail, still gravel. Without trekking pole nor proper hiking boots, some minor care is needed. But overall, fairly easy. Nice view, as the sun rose. Of course, this would be better for sunset. But traffic in SF Bay Area is unthinkable to come hike ~5pm.

The summit has this post with many scopes. But no labels of what they are aiming at. Large rocky summit area. The south end is a fenced cell towel "jungle". Even though it's only ~2500', the view is quite good. Met an old guy, who hikes here once a week.

Coming down. More trail than road. Walked through a spring (McClure), and by a small pond. I like this part better. It connects to the gravel road back to the TH. Today ~5.6 miles, 2100'.

Back to the hotel to take a shower. No hot water! Thankfully, I didn't sweat much during the hike, so a quick rince. I don't know how hotels get their ratings. It's a 4 star hotel: 1) only 1 out of the 3 elevators work, 2) hot water stops without any warning, 3) the pool is closed.

2025.1.26. History of Drawbridge,

1/26, Sunday, 3:30-5pm. San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society hosts author and reseacher Cecilia D Craig at Don Edwards NWR Environmental Education Center who gave a talk on Drawbrdge and the cumminity at Drawbridge station over South Bay salt ponds. I arrived a few minutes late. The building was locked. Had to bang on the door to be let in, even though no light inside to indicate of anything live.

The talk is interesting, maybe more to the locals. In the late 1800s - early 1900s, few families lived here in cabins on stilts. Winter time, more came to hunt ducks. No sewage system, no garbage collection. Twice a day, the tide came in and swept away the refuse. The community rely on well water, fish and duck for food. In the 1900s, the aquafer water level started to deplete, eventually, salt water went in. The US Fish and Wildlife Refuge bought out most lands, and converted to a water treatment. Now, trying to convert it back to marsh.

After the talk, walked a bit over the marsh. However, due to the work on raising the dyke, the loop was blocked. Nice sunset. Low water level, not as many birds as I expected. Quite a bit of black necked stilts.

2025.1.25. Little Spart Plug Mountain

1/25, Saturday. I got picked up from Mercer St. We are to follow this recent trip report to Little Spark Plug Mountain.

We started at Surprise Creek TH next to a train track and power lines, a short jaunt from Hwy-2. First car today. ~8am. ~24°F. No snow for the first 1/4 mile. Then, we put spikes on. The trail follows Surprise Creek south, and cross it ~1 mile in. Another mile or so later, the trail goes slightly uphill, above the creek. Trail is packed down. All in the shade, chilly.

~10:25, about 4 miles and 2300' later, we reached Surprise Lake. The last hour, the trail wasn't clear to follow. Quite a few zigzags to gain the elevation. More rocks, better view. Put on snowshoes. Crossed the creek and up a few feet to the lake. The lake is prestine. Very pretty, with cute snow "sculptures" over rocks around the edges. Mountains to east and west.

Now at the west side of the lake, followed some track up the ridge, while not really staying on the ridge. There's a bend to avoid a cliff-out. The track was clear and easy to follow here. Otherwise, would be some route-finding. Leading to the little Spark Plug Lake after the trees is obvious. It's just a pond.

Walk over the pond, and heading up to Spark Plug Lake. This is a very pretty lake. From here, scramble up the hill. This is maybe the steepest section of today. But fairly safe, in the trees.

The top ledge is narrow, we had to route to its left side instead of tackling each of the top rocks. Again, follow the track. The last bit needs a bit of care. The top is small. One guy (Chris) already here. His water bottle slid down, and he tried to go down to fetch it twice. Gave up. Calm, sunny, quiet. No one else in sight. 360° view. Chris was heading up to Spark Plug Mountain. I had an appointment this evening. We turned around at 1:20pm.

Cutting some corners going down. Switched to spikes south of Surprise Lake. I took them off, and slipped on icy trail twice. Mostly in shade once we left little Spark Plug Lake. Got to the trail head ~4:40pm. Sun was still lighting up the hills and the power cables. ~50 min delay through Gold Bar. Got dropped off on Mercer ~7:15pm.

Total ~10.5 miles, 4170' EG. A fabulous day.

2025.1.24 Downtown Art Walk

1/24, Friday, 6pm. I joined Public Display Art for another walk. Not raining this time. Many a dozen of us. Again, not quite liking the walk. Sure, visited some venues that otherwise I wouldn't have gone to, but no commentory or explaination at all this time. The guide is very nice. Out of the 5 on his itinerary, I've been to two, 1 was too busy so wouldn't let us in.

The window display in Ghost (a gift shop with horoscope leaning) has a motorized sculpture. Interesting.

The one I liked the most is Gallery Mack, quality pieces from established artists. Especially Paul Cunningham (glass), David Vernau (bronze), Raymond Wiger (wire). Mack has been around for 50 years. It recently moved to Belltown. I definited will come back.

Monthly self-guided art walk in Seattle:

• Pioneer Square: 1st Thursday
• Capitol Hill: 2nd Thursday
• Belltwon: 2nd Friday
• Downtown: 4th Friday