I think the blue trail at Miller Canyon would be suitable for Saturday. It's about six miles round trip with moderate elevation gain. We should start early to avoid the afternoon heat. I would recommend bringing at least two liters of water per person and some snacks for the summit. The views from the top are supposed to be quite good this time of year. Let me know if you would prefer a different trail. I have also heard positive things about the ridge loop but that route is closer to eight miles. Either way I think we should plan to meet at the trailhead parking lot by 7 AM. There is a coffee shop nearby called Trailhead Brew that opens at 6 if you want to grab something before we head up. I can bring my day pack and a lightweight first aid kit just in case. The weather forecast looks clear with highs around seventy five degrees. I will check conditions again Friday evening and send a quick note if anything changes.

One more thing the trailhead has limited parking so arriving early should help us secure a spot. If the main lot is full there is overflow parking about a quarter mile down the road. I have not hiked this particular trail before but several friends have mentioned it is well maintained and clearly marked. The elevation gain is steady rather than steep so it should be a comfortable pace for our group.

I ended up using the walnut board for the shelf project and it turned out really well. The grain pattern had some nice figure that I did not notice until I applied the first coat of oil. I used a simple Danish oil finish and it brought out the warm brown tones nicely. The shelf is about 36 inches long and 10 inches deep which fits perfectly in the alcove. I installed it with hidden brackets so it appears to be floating. My next project might be a small side table using the cherry planks I have in the shop. The joinery will be basic mortise and tenon with a slight taper on the legs. I think the cherry will darken nicely over time with some natural light exposure. I still need to decide on the final dimensions for the top piece. I am thinking maybe 28 inches wide and 18 inches deep with a rounded edge detail.

The finish selection for the cherry is still something I am thinking about. I have used tung oil on cherry before with good results but I may try a shellac based finish this time for a slightly different look. Shellac tends to warm up the color even more and provides a nice traditional feel. I will probably do a few test pieces on scrap wood first to compare the options. If you have any recommendations I would be glad to hear them. I plan to start milling the lumber next weekend once I finalize the design details.