Almaden Quicksilver

Quicksilver, as in mercury (Hg). Nearby waterways feature signs warning not to consume any fish caught there, due to enduring contamination from the long-closed mines.

I've biked to (and past) the Hacienda entrance to Almaden Quicksilver County Park many times, but had never started a hike here. Many years ago, I did hike a different section of this park—what I remember most was starting at a trailhead located in an ordinary suburban neighborhood. (New to the Bay Area, I found that odd at the time.)

I was surprised to see fog in the valley, but that would not be the biggest surprise of the day. [By far.]

The Monday hiking group is ramping up, and now ... I will be a regular.

Our route afforded a view of the nearly half-full Guadalupe Reservoir from the “other” side. How many times have I biked along Hicks Road, gazing across the water at the hills and trails of this park?

We had a destination in mind: the site of the Hidalgo Cemetery. Although I'd presumed that the lack of headstones suggested that they might have been simple wood markers, back in the day, a little research revealed that the remains had actually been relocated years ago.

The Santa Clara County Park system is running their last “Pix in the Parks” challenge. How could we not do this?

We took turns posing with the requisite marker before realizing there was a quivering creature on the ground, directly below the sign. Folded up, it looked like this:

We might not have noticed it at all, in that state; but when we first spotted it, it wasn't hard to identify.

Barely able to move, it was likely more frightened of us than the other way around. [Of course, we did not disturb it.]

A pleasant hike—a little over 6 miles—and the closest I've knowingly been to a (live) bat.