US West East Bay Monthly Meet Up - at Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park - Sunol CA

For everyone I was chatting with about the OwlCam,



That’s the official site that shows the subscription info and the different models. If you guys have any questions about what model I’m running just shoot me a message.
Nozz
 
EastBay OB Gear SWAP & Potluck! - Rally Point is out

Join us on **May 18** at **11 AM** for a fun day of swapping overland gear and sharing delicious food! This event replaces our regular meetup on May 11 due to Mother's Day.

**Location:**
Paul's Place
- 37°36'14.0"N 121°52'43.3"W
- 37°36'14.0"N 121°52'43.3"W


NOTE: 1 week later, 2 hours earlier and a different place
 
Hi East Bay OB crew,

reminder that we will have our SWAP Meetup Tomorrow Sunday (May 18th)

**Different Location:**
Paul's Place
- 37°36'14.0"N 121°52'43.3"W
- 37°36'14.0"N 121°52'43.3"W
- a few hundred feet just down the road from the Park

**Different Time and Action:**
- 11 AM
- bring overland gear to swap and delicious food to share!

Looking forward to see many of you.

Armin
 
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EastBay Crew,

quick reminder - meetup Tomorrow Sunday Jun8th - usual Place - usual Time (1pm).

Looking forward to see many of you
Armin
 
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Hello All,

I hope your summer is going well. A few of us are planning an unorganized trip to Dunderberg, Kavanaugh Ridge and Leavitt Lake from Aug 6-12. We'll be camping at "Dunderberg Lake" from at least the 6th to the 9th, 38.06990, -119.27341, and then maybe over to Leavitt. Come join us for all or part if you are interested. All the best, D
 
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Hi East Bay OB crew,

reminder that we will have our Meetup Tomorrow Sunday (Aug 10th) in the usual spot at the Pleasanton Ridge Park.

Looking forward to see many of you.

Armin
 
Hi East Bay OB crew,

reminder that we will have our Meetup Tomorrow Sunday (Sep 14th) in the usual spot at the Pleasanton Ridge Park.

Looking forward to see many of you.

Armin
 
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EastBay Crew - Roger and I are planning a 4 day get out of here event Thursday 10/9 - Sun 10/12. Location tbd likely along 395 ie Death Valley to bridge port - wanted to reach out if you are intested / have the time …? Cheers Armin
PS - will adjust the Oct meetup as well but the rally point feature is broken at the moment
 
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EastBay Crew - got a few questions about whats going on with OB - figured I share this update from Michael

Cheers Armin
PS reminder no Meetup this upcoming Sun - but welcome to join us for a trip to explore sierras, 395 area.
 
EastBay Crew - got a few questions about whats going on with OB - figured I share this update from Michael

Cheers Armin
PS reminder no Meetup this upcoming Sun - but welcome to join us for a trip to explore sierras, 395 area.
Thanks Armin. most appreciated!
 
Quick reminder - no OB east bay meet this weekend - hope to see many of you in Mojave 2 weeks from now
 
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Hi East Bay crew,
great meetup yesterday and good see everyone.

as discussed I have created an email distribution list to help us while we struggle through the OB app issues.
If you are interested to sign-up send an email to subscribe to

OB eastbay email list : ob-eastbay+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Cheers
Armin
@TrailHawkGuy

subscribe to the OB eastbay email list : ob-eastbay+subscribe@googlegroups.com

---
### Schedule
#### **Next EastBay Meetups**
every **2nd Sunday** in each month - 1pm

#### **Upcoming trips**

##### 2025
- Nov
- [[007.01 - OB Anza 2025 Nov 20-23]]
- Dec
- 14th meetup
 
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and I forgot to add ... here is a preliminary plan for 2026


##### 2026

- Jan
- feb
- Death Valley panamint
- Russ

- Mar
- 3/20(?) - Mojave Trail Guardian
- Kent / Armin

- Apr
- eastern part of joshua tree ? old mining area

- May
- Shasta or Lassen back country discovery

- Jun
- Kavanah ridge / bodie west sierras / bristle cone mammoth
- Michael Norton

- Jul
- Owyhee Oregon - 10 day trip
- Roger / Armin

- Aug
- Sep
- hennesy pass / bowman

- Oct
- Trail Guadian - Mojave or Lake Mead?
- Kent

- Nov
- Dec
 
Hi East Bay crew,
great meetup yesterday and good see everyone.

as discussed I have created an email distribution list to help us while we struggle through the OB app issues.
If you are interested to sign-up send an email to subscribe to

OB eastbay email list : ob-eastbay+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Cheers
Armin
@TrailHawkGuy

subscribe to the OB eastbay email list : ob-eastbay+subscribe@googlegroups.com

---
### Schedule
#### **Next EastBay Meetups**
every **2nd Sunday** in each month - 1pm

#### **Upcoming trips**

##### 2025
- Nov
- [[007.01 - OB Anza 2025 Nov 20-23]]
- Dec
- 14th meetup


Looks like the email list subscription process is a little more cumbersome:
Dave helped me put this together

---
Subscription Guide: OB East Bay Google Group

Group Address:
ob-eastbay@googlegroups.com
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for joining the OB East Bay Google Group. Please read the instructions carefully, as the final steps differ depending on whether you are using a Gmail account or a non-Gmail email (e.g., Outlook, Yahoo, Company Email).

Part 1: The Universal First Step (All Users)

The subscription process begins with an email request, regardless of your email provider.
  1. Compose a New Email:
  2. Wait for the Confirmation Email:
    • Google Groups will send an immediate auto-reply confirmation email to the address you used. Check your Spam/Junk folder if you do not receive it within a few minutes.
  3. Open the Confirmation Email:
    • This email will contain a "Join Group" button or link.

Part 2: Choose Your Path


A. If Subscribing with a Gmail/Google Account

This process is straightforward because your email address is already tied to a Google identity.
Step
Action
Description
1.
Click the Link

Click the "Join Group" button in the confirmation email you received (from Part 1).
2.
Go to the Website

This will open the Google Groups website in your browser. You may see a permission error like "You don't have permission to access this content." IGNORE THIS MESSAGE.
3.
Final Click

Look for the large "Join Group" button on the page (usually near the top). Click it.
4.
Finalize Settings

A pop-up will appear allowing you to choose your display name and email subscription settings (e.g., receiving every message, digest, etc.).
5.
Done!

Click the final "Join Group"button in the pop-up. You are now subscribed.

B. If Subscribing with a Non-Gmail Account(Outlook, Yahoo, etc.)

Because your email is not automatically a Google Account, you must first create a Google Profile for that address to access the group's website.
Step
Action
Description
1.
Click the Link

Click the "Join Group" button in the confirmation email you received (from Part 1).
2.
Log In / Create Profile

The website will prompt you to Sign In or Create a Google Account. You MUST create a Google profile associated with the non-Gmail email address you used to subscribe. You are not creating a new @gmail.com address.
3.
Log In

Once your profile is created, log in using that new Google identity (with your non-Gmail address).
4.
Go to the Website

The group page will load. You may see an error like "Content unavailable" or a permission error. IGNORE THIS MESSAGE.
5.
Final Click

Look for the large "Join Group" button on the page (usually near the top). Click it.
6.
Finalize Settings

A pop-up will appear allowing you to choose your display name and email subscription settings.
7.
Done!

Click the final "Join Group"button in the pop-up. You are now subscribed.

Part 3: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


I clicked the link, but I see a "You don't have permission" error. Am I doing something wrong?

No, this is a common part of the Google Groups process.
The group is private, so simply clicking the link in the email is not enough. You must ignore the error message and look for the second, separate "Join Group" button on that same webpage and click it to complete the process.

I clicked the link, but I see "Content unavailable."

This usually means your browser is confused about which Google account is logged in.
  • On that error page, click the link to "switching accounts."
  • Log out of all Google/Gmail accounts.
  • Log back in only with the email address you used to subscribe, and try to repeat the steps above.

I never received the confirmation email after sending the request.

  • Check your Spam/Junk folder first. The email often gets filtered there.
  • If it's not in Spam, ensure you sent the email to the correct address: ob-eastbay+subscribe@googlegroups.com.
  • If you still cannot receive it, please contact the group owner for a manual invite.

What if I want to unsubscribe later?

Simply send an email to the special unsubscribe address:

ob-eastbay+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

You will receive a confirmation email to finalize the unsubscribe request.
---
Let me know if you need / have any other details or instructions! and thanks again for the patience.

Armin
 

Attachments

  • Subscription Guide_ OB East Bay Google Group.pdf
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Last edited:
Quick reminder that we will have our Meetup Tomorrow Sunday (Dec 14th) in the usual spot at the Pleasanton Ridge Park.
- US West - East Bay Monthly Meet Up - at Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park - Sunol CA

This will be an exciting meeting. Russ and Bennet have put together a comprehensive guide covering all the navigation apps and resources.

so come prepared with your knowledge and questions for a great group discussion. we'll cover things like

- What apps have you found most reliable in the areas you travel?
- Have you encountered situations where your navigation tools failed? What was your backup?
- What features do you wish navigation apps had for overlanding?
- How do you balance digital navigation with traditional map and compass skills?
- What's your strategy for managing battery life on multi-day trips?

Russ and Bennet - I can't wait.

Looking forward to see many of you.

Armin
@TrailHawkGuy

OB eastbay email list:
- subscribe via email ob-eastbay+subscribe@googlegroups.com
- OB eastbay - Google Groups

---
### Schedule
#### **EastBay Meetups**
every **2nd Sunday** in each month - 1pm


## Upcoming Events and Trips


### Q4 2025
* 2025-12-14 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up - Topic - Navigation

### Q1 2026
* 2026-01-11 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
* 2026-02-08 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
* 2026-02-13 to 2026-02-16 OB - TRIP - Death Valley Panamint - Russ - (Hold dates)
* 2026-03-08 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
* 2026-03-14 to 2026-03-16 SoCal expo
* 2026-03-19 to 2026-03-23 OB - Trip - Mojave TG event - dates? TBD

### Q2 2026
* 2026-04-12 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
* 2026-04-16 to 2026-04-20 OB - Trip - eastern part of joshua tree ?
* 2026-05-10 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
* 2026-05-15 West Expo - flagstaff
* 2026-05-22 to 2026-05-26 OB - Trip - Shasta or Lassen back country discovery ?
* 2026-06-14 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
* 2026-06-19 to 2026-06-30 OB - Trip - Owyhee Oregon - 10 days - Roger / Armin
* 2026-06-26 to 2026-06-29 PNW - Expo

### Q3 2026
* 2026-07-12 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
* 2026-07-17 to 2026-07-20 OB - Trip - Kavanah ridge / bodie west sierras / bristle cone mammoth - Michael Norton - (hold)
* 2026-08-09 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
* 2026-08-22 to 2026-08-25 Top_shop trip to colo expo
* 2026-09-04 to 2026-09-08 OB - Trip - hennesy pass / bowman lake ?
* 2026-09-13 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up

### Q4 2026
* 2026-10-11 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
* 2026-10-15 to 2026-10-19 OB - Trip - Trail Guadian - Mojave or Lake Mead? - Kent
* 2026-11-08 OB - Eastbay - monthly-meet-up
 
## Follow-up: Overlander Navigation Tools & Resources

EastBay Overland Crew,

thank you for the great discussion on navigation tools and strategies for our overland adventures!
And my special thanks to Russ and Bennet on preping all this and making it happen. And for those of you that couldn't make it hope the below is of use as well.

As promised, they together a comprehensive guide covering all the navigation apps and resources we discussed.

HERE it is: Navigation Tools - Overland East Bay

It includes:

- Detailed descriptions of each app and its best use cases
- Pricing information for premium services
- Specific features that make each tool valuable for overlanding
- Links to essential websites and resources
- Pro tips for building a reliable navigation kit
- Discussion questions for continued conversation

## Key Takeaways from Our Conversation

**Redundancy is critical** - Having multiple navigation options downloaded and ready to use has saved many of us from difficult situations. Consider using at least two different apps with offline maps as backups for each other.

**Free doesn't mean inferior** - Apps like Organic Maps and Avenza (with free maps) can provide excellent functionality without subscription costs. Don't overlook these options when building your navigation toolkit.

**Know before you go** - Taking time to download maps, check land ownership boundaries, verify current closures and fire restrictions, and understand the capabilities of your tools before you leave cell coverage makes all the difference.

## Next Steps

I encourage everyone to explore the apps mentioned in the guide that you haven't tried yet. Many offer free trials or have free versions that let you test their functionality before committing to a subscription.

Please feel free to reply to this email with additional resources, tips, or experiences you'd like to share with the group. I'm happy to update the guide as we discover new tools or learn more about existing ones.

Looking forward to our next adventure together!

PS: more Death Valley Info is coming soon

Armin
@TrailHawkGuy

OB eastbay email list:
- subscribe via email ob-eastbay+subscribe@googlegroups.com
- OB eastbay - Google Groups