It’s Our Fault Hike revealed hidden seismic activity

Jenny Hammer led a wonderful Trail Trekker hike, “It’s Our Fault,” this past Saturday, that explored the Hayward Fault as it makes its way through the El Cerrito Hills and East Richmond Heights.

This hiker is straddling a section of pavement on Olive Street in East Richmond Heights that has shifted due to the movement of the Hayward Fault.

Over fifty hikers attended this El Cerrito centennial hike and benefited from the expertise of Dr. David P. Schwartz, a Seismic Geologist from the U.S. Geological Survey, who has done much research on the fault and on earthquake and seismic issues. The hike was also useful in providing information about what we can do to prepare for the inevitable quake as the CERT Area 2 Coordinator Marlene Keller, was on hand to answer questions and distribute information about disaster/earthquake safety.

What was great about the hike was how it made the experience of  the Hayward Fault seem very real. You could actually see the fault, on the Berkeley Country Club (formerly Mira Vista) golf course, and crossing actual streets in East Richmond Heights.

You could see where sections of curb have been cracked and shifted (or offset) over the years by the gradual slippage of land along the fault. You could even straddle these sections, which many hikers did.

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