Hiked the Stanford "Dish"

May 6, 2008 at 4:23 PM
12 comments

Today's hike was much closer to home. We hiked the recreational trail called "the Dish" that is just above Stanford University. It's called the Dish because of the huge signal dish you pass about half way around the loop. I am always reminded of the movie "Contact" when I pass this dish.

Stanford_dish

The "loop" starts at a ranger station with a sign warning about the mountain lions in the area. We did not have the suggested "pepper spray" or "walking sticks" but we were together and ready to fight off a cat if we had too! The trail is paved and goes UPHILL fast past fields of grass and flowers. California oaks are everywhere as are ground squirrels and crows. The hike took us just over 1.5 hours to complete. The day was bright and sunny and the walk was fabulous.

Stanford_hills

12 comments

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Just hosted a research group from Stanford here at work about a month ago. Great kids.

Love that movie. And sounds like a good day. ;)

soo green!

I'm sure you're aware that it's actually used in a SETI project, right?

really? that is so cool!

green for NOW... summer in the CA foothills means brown!

[this is good]

have you ever been near their particle accelerator ?

Yeah, the actual dish, of Dish fame, is or at least was used in an actual SETI effort - not as large as the one that was borrowing time at Arecibo, but real, nonetheless. I used to be a radio guy, and went up there to look in the windows one time - equipment doesn't exactly look new, but certainly usable. The Stanford Linear Accelerator is very close by, runs under 280 in fact.

Deborah replied to Ivysgrandkid’s comment:
May 7, 2008
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Ben and I used to go to the facility that has the particle accelerator for IMPROV classes. The class instructor was renting space for the class from them and we would have to go through the gated entrance every week. There was a sign noting there could be stray particles.... It was just a "bit" creepy.

Ivysgrandkid replied to Deborah’s comment:
May 7, 2008
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wow! I'm hoping I can get to visit the accelerator , I often pass it when im coming up from Mountain View on the scenic high way. and hell yeah that sign is creepy! and you know for sure that those particles wont be flying about slowly!