TCT #41 -- Kevin Gong

Kevin at Channel Islands NP

I was head-over-heels to be able to interview my hiking hero, Kevin Gong!  Kevin is based in San Mateo County and since 1995 has been keeping a superb webpage documenting his hikes.  I don't remember when I discovered the site, but I've been referring to it ever since, especially for out-of-area hikes.  Kevin has organized this journal very well with statistics, photos, maps, and narrative all sorted into various categories such as region, month, rating, and more.  Kevin is married and has two teenaged sons.  The Gong family has been hiking and backpacking together since the oldest boy was 2 months old.  They've even done the John Muir Trail (233 miles, when the kids were both pre-teens)! 

Kevin Gong

Kevin and I chatted by Zoom, and I think I held it together without too much hero-worship oozing into the interview!  Give a listen:

Here's a link to the radio show TCT #41 - Kevin Gong:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v6dfE9QPfGGXDIJL99jKNFyVgRQLgm-U/view?usp=sharing

Here's a link to Kevin's hiking page:  http://kevingong.com/Hiking/index.html

This month's recommended hikes are all Bay Area based, and you can read about them on Kevin's Hiking Page.

Coyote Hills, October 2015

For an easy saunter on the edge of San Francisco Bay, go to Coyote Hills Regional Park just north of Fremont.  There are numerous trails of varying length and difficulty.  If it's open, there's a wonderful visitor center with an adjacent nectar garden filled with gorgeous flowers to fortify visiting pollinators.  There are also Tuibun Ohlone shellmounds and a village which you may tour (reservations required).  This park is a favorite of birders, too, so bring your binoculars.  Here's a link to the park's brochure:  https://www.ebparks.org/Parks/Coyote_Hills/

Lake Chabot, July 2011

If you want a medium outing, go to Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley and take the 8 mile walk around Lake Chabot.  Lake Chabot holds drinking water for East Bay communities, and to keep the supply safe, there are toilets spaced intermittently around the lake -- how convenient, unusual, and welcome!  Here's a link to the park's brochure:  https://www.ebparks.org/parks/anthony_chabot/

Mission Peak, May 2012

A challenge with a stunning pay off is to summit Mission Peak, at Mission Peak Regional Preserve in Fremont.  Get an early start and bring lots of water; you will gain 2,000' in elevation with very little shade.  Here's a link to the park's brochure:  https://www.ebparks.org/parks/mission/default.htm

Bring some money, as there are parking fees at the trailheads for each of these routes.

Finally -- cue the Hallelujah Chorus -- mark your calendar for Saturday, May 15!  Hopefully you meet the requirements and can join us on our "No Hugs Barred Hike - An Outing For Those 2 Weeks Past Their COVID Vaccination Series and Reward for a Year of Social Distancing."  Watch this space!