I didn’t expect this newly-opened preserve, an easy drive from San Jose, to have up to 40,000 hikers.
The Thatching Ants
July 2019
Tag: first visit
Calories Up, Caution Down
June 2019
What started as a cloudy day turned mostly clear as I hiked to the top of Mission Peak Regional Preserve.
A Lonely Highway
May 2019
In May I walked down an old section of Highway 1 that’s set aside for pedestrians and cyclists. Meandering a mile and a half down the highway provides plenty of hazy ocean views, geology lessons, steady wind, and the graffitied remains of a World War II-era bunker.
During a long weekend I ventured to a state beach to see a shipwreck, one of my favorite state forests, and improvised a trip along Highway 1 to parts unknown.
Floating on the Wind
April 2019
Ed Levin County Park provided many views, not always on the ground. Paragliders and sweeping Bay Area views made this a memorable hike.
Varying Trail Conditions
March 2019
Calero County Park is a good local getaway for easy, somewhat scenic, hilly day hikes. The trails range from wide to narrow, dry to wet, and from grand views to cozy forests.
The Wrong Way to Horseshoe Lake
March 2019
Seeking a good view, I found the wrong entrance to Skyline Ridge. Even better, I took a wrong turn that lead the right way. But the view was worth getting mixed up.
Spring Greets the Northern Redwoods
March 2019
The first decently-warm weather of the season drew me to a redwoods preserve just south of San Francisco, within sight of the Pacific Ocean.
Well, That Was a Short Hike
March 2019
A straightforward hike through intermittent rain with views of a nearby reservoir. And that’s about it.
The Camera, the Pack, and the River
February 2019
After weeks of rain, I took a through a city park that was decidedly un-urban. I brought a GoPro camera, with mixed results.