Locomotoring

This summer, we have been hunting for stargazing opportunities. To bring the hunt closer home, we wondered if we could go up to one of our local parks at night. As far as idea goes, it isn’t a terrible idea. Monte Bello Open Space Preserve is on the list of San Jose Astronomical Association. We decided to try Russian Ridge Mindigo Hill Gateway, a more familiar haunt within a few miles of Monte Bello. We got ourselves an after-hours astrophotography permit from Mid-peninsula Open Space and made plans for a 10 am to 2 pm shift.

We have driven up to Mindigo Gateway often, it is one of our favorite hikes. Fom Woodside Road, we could see the fog clinging to the mountain top. We clung to hope – microclimates, we murmured. On hikes, I have loved this fog. Hiking on a foggy morning is moving meditation at its peak and fog drips are simply, magical.

As we wound our way through Skyline, the sunset had turned the sky nearly garnet red. Many were parked along the road admiring the sunset. Where we were headed, down the windy and narrow Alpine road, the fog got denser by the minute and hope faded at the same rate. The sliver of the moon was struggling to peek through the fog. When we missed the parking at the trailhead, we knew it was time to turn back around.