Tom was a frequent visitor and volunteer at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve. A bench has been installed in Tom’s memory along Bald Peaks Trail, where he took his final run.
The Bald Peaks overlook where Tom’s bench is located has fantastic 360 views, including the Coyote Valley and beyond to the east, and the Santa Cruz mountains to the west. Tom loved this area and on a clear day enjoyed pointing out all manner of landmarks on the distant horizon.
Visiting the bench requires a fairly strenuous 6.4 mile hike with over 1,100 ft of elevation gain (i.e., a lot of up, and a lot of down). From the Rancho Cañada del Oro parking lot you can take the Rancho Canada Del Oro via Serpentine Loop Trail (trail map). Doing the loop clockwise is recommended for a slightly more gradual climb. Give yourself 3+ hours for the hike. Bring plenty of water and a windbreaker. Feel free to contact Tom’s brother Andy for more info or to plan a time to hike up to the bench.
