Grant County Park

Sunday's hike began an hour earlier than the hike on Saturday, but it was much closer to home. Even so, I still managed to be late. There must be a part of my brain that compensates for time and distance, along with other factors like traffic, temperature and the latest political tracking poll, to ensure I arrive exactly five minutes after I should.

My destination was Grant County Park, located in the east foothills of San Jose. As soon as I stepped out of the car, the cold air had me searching for a pair of gloves, which I couldn't find. I would later discover them staying warm on the living room floor. My hands quickly sought refuge in my jacket pockets.

Solitary oak trees stood atop grassy, rolling hills. As we reached higher elevations, the suburban sprawl and southern tip of the bay came into view. While San Francisco's towering skyscrapers were amazing, San Jose's sheer size astounded me. Looking down upon us from the summit of Mount Hamilton was University of California's Lick Observatory.

Our thirteen-mile hike took us by Grant Lake, all the way north to Deer Camp and as far south as Twin Gates. It lasted nearly six hours with stops for lunch and photographs. The hike was the longest one I ever completed and will likely be a precursor to Yosemite's Half Dome later this year.