10/30-10/31
Save Mount Diablo is sponsoring four — count ’em — events this weekend in its efforts to save open spaces in the increasingly congested area around everybody’s favorite local mountain. On Saturday, you can sign up for 1) volunteer trail work with the East Bay Trail Dogs, doing erosion control at Galvin Ranch’s northern fire road. Call leader Harry Silcocks at 925-443-3925 for details; or you can go for 2) an afternoon loop hike (2-5:30 p.m.) in Round Valley Regional Preserve — a leisurely six-to-seven-mile walk featuring panoramic autumnal vistas of Mt. Diablo’s eastern foothills. Rain or recent rain may cancel. Call Jean Ward, 925-634-7467. On Sunday, visit 3) Wright Canyon, a riparian canyon open only by special arrangement, for a two-mile uphill jaunt capped by spectacular views (call Warren Tighe at 925-256-4117 to reserve). It happens at 10 a.m., rain or shine. Also Sunday, hikers are invited to visit 4) SMD’s acquisitions — Silva Ranch and the Morgan Ranch “Red Corral” property, where you can learn about the “Revenge of the Jumping Frog” while taking a six-mile walk. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at the Three Springs Entry of Mount Diablo State Park at 9 a.m. All these events have a purpose: to help spread awareness that open spaces are for everyone, and that they’re worth preserving. Visit SaveMountDiablo.org — Kelly Vance
10/29-10/30
Young Dunks
Sophomoric water polo?
The Cal men’s water polo team continues its youth wave this season, one year wiser and hopeful of putting their experience to the test in the tough Pac-10 conference. Coach Kirk Everist’s No. 5-ranked team is heavily stocked with sophomore players brought in as freshmen last season, including goal-scoring machines Brian Kinsel and Andrija Vasiljevic, center John Mann, center defender Marty Matthies, and Brian Bacharach. Despite some recent trouble with archrivals USC, UCLA, and UC Santa Barbara, the Golden Bear dunkers find themselves in friendlier waters this weekend, against Loyola Marymount (Friday at 3:30 p.m.) and Pepperdine (Saturday, game time to be announced). Both games are at UC Berkeley’s Spieker Aquatic Complex. For more info, visit CalBears.collegesports.com/sports/m-wpolo — Kelly Vance
