On a warm (80s) spring day, the Bay Area Women’s Midweek Hiking Group set out to summit Black Mountain, the third peak in our Bay Area Six Peaks Challenge. Though we've hiked to the Black Mountain summit several times, we continue to be surprised that the initial and last steep climbs test our endurance.

The ascents were tough, but our encouragement of one another and our laughter and shared determination helped us push through the challenging stretches. As we neared the summit, sweeping views of Silicon Valley opened up below us. The shimmering sprawl of SV juxtaposed beautifully with the terrain surrounding us.

At the top, we paused to rest, hydrate, and take a group shot. Black Mountain may not have been as easy as expected, but it delivered in both challenge and beauty.