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Woodland star graces the way along the Upper Oil Canyon Trail at Antioch’s Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve.
<br><I>Photo by Ger Erickson</i>

Spring puts the petal to the metal
Spring’s technicolor show is about to take the stage, and our neighborhood boasts some of the best seats in the house.

Mar 17, 2011 | 0

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JD catches a breather atop Meteor Hill overlooking Mt. Diablo’s Donner Canyon.<br><i>Photo by Ger Erickson</i>

Old dogs enter golden years of rusty gears
JD’s about to turn 12. His hardcore hiking days are nearly done. It won’t be long before his old bones can’t take the pounding, before he feels an unfamiliar twinge in those Jack Russell sinews.

Feb 17, 2011 | 0

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Saturday, Jan. 29 at Mt. Diablo. A fissure in the fog reveals the shadow of Meridian Ridge. <br><i>Photo by Ger Erickson</i>

Grey unveils gift of the here and now
A northeast breeze drove waves of fog up to the crest, where they collided with a southwest wind streaming in from the ocean and shattered like breakers against coastal cliffs.

Feb 02, 2011 | 3

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We ve gone through a year s worth of issues to bring you some of the funniest lines to almost grace the Press.<br>Photo by Justin Lafferty</br>

Timeless hours editing preverbal dominoes
Not so fast, A.D. 2010. Before you take your final bow and stride off stage, your presence is required at the podium. One more item remains on the awards ceremony agenda – something to do with Dubi...

Dec 30, 2010 | 0

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Trickster imposter risks icky outcome
Aware that the gods were notorious suckers for stories, I’d struck a bargain with Ohlétteh: I would weave an entertaining tale, and he would let me keep my camera.

Oct 21, 2010 | 2

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Mythic trickster stalks the snapshot
I knew that the gods aren’t omniscient. They can be deceived by other gods – even humans. But tricking The Trickster? Was that possible? And if possible, was that such a bright idea?

Oct 12, 2010 | 2

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Coyote-man Ohlétteh (oh-let -tay), the Native American Miwok’s mythic creator and trickster, is ambushed by a paparazzo at Round Valley Regional Preserve.<br><i>Photo by Ger Erickson</i>

Tryst with the mythic trickster
I took a step back. In all my wanderings I’d never seen anything as terrible as those gaunt and hungry eyes. They were not human.

Oct 05, 2010 | 3

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Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010. Shortly after sunrise, a bobcat patrols its territory on the Summit of Mt. Diablo.<br><i>Photo by Ger Erickson</i>

Fleeting glimpse of the cat in the shadows
A bobcat’s handsome markings and diminutive size might inspire you to offer the cuddly looking creature a saucer of milk. Resist that temptation.

Aug 09, 2010 | 0

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Peak experience
A bright and enchanting moon rose last Saturday evening on the inaugural outing of the Delta Valley Athletic Club Hikers: 17 intrepid souls who assaulted Mt. Diablo’s 2,369-foot Eagle Peak. Leadi...

Jul 29, 2010 | 0

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A gopher snake throws a hissy fit in response to a photo-op at the Los Vaqueros Watershed. Hikers and campers who take it upon themselves to kill rattlesnakes (an illegal activity) sometimes mistake the non-venomous gopher snake for the rattler.
Photo by Ger Erickson

When pangs for fangs go over the top
Popular mythology puts the Northern Pacific rattlesnake on the ornery quotient somewhere between James Carville and Attila the Hun. The reality is more prosaic.

Jul 14, 2010 | 0

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