Gambolin Man, who hails from Berkeley, sent the following on Monday:

Same day you were on the Mountain, I was hiking her unheralded sister ridges at Las Trampas — have you ever been there? I am in awe every time I go there. There are two ridge hikes (running east to west, or is that west to east?) that are superb – an elevated landscape with faraway 360 views (I could see Mt. St. Helena!), Tuyshtak dominating ever so close (even though a 10 mile wide valley separates!), a roller coastery classic ridge hike along a mega-spine of tortured uplift – nice big rock formations, pretty zen sandstone gardens, fragrant black sage, up at the crests. And once up – this is tough, rugged country — it’s truly like being in an island in the sky.

(Downsides? Well, the usual suspects, especially car noise from the 680 below (Alamo, Danville side) But it’s not ever-present, and at times it just sounds like a roaring river. People stay away because of that, as well as cows graze there (didn’t see any on entire hike); it’s horsemen country (didn’t encounter a single horseman) – other than that, what downside, for cryin’ out loud???!!!) (Side note: the other ridge, Rocky Ridge, rises to over 2000 ft, and descends into intriguing and very remote / rugged EBMUD lands to Devil’s Hole, Ramage Peak, etc. . .only occasional air traffic this ridge.)

This hike sounds promising, though the Gamboleer tends to make all his hikes sound that way. He suggests a weekend day in February. Any takers? Gambolin’ Man’s last Las Trampas hike write-up is here. I’ve never been there so I figure it’s worth a look.

Bay Area Hiker write-up here.