Bay Area Outdoors and Beyond...

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T23:08:00.000-08:00

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Sometimes its good to reflect at the holidays and see that Christmas is not about stuff, but about the gift that God gave us in Jesus Christ.

I'm looking forward to celebrating with family and maybe even get out on a trail in the next day or two. I pray that your Christmas is a special one!

From my family to yours, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Latest Happenings plus Three Great Hikes

2010-11-10T21:15:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last post. As usual I've been keeping my self pretty busy putting lots miles on my CR-V and filling up my GPS and hard drive. Unfortunately, all of this activity has gotten in the way of my writing (It's a nice problem to have).

First off, I want to mention my new photography website www.dhmphoto.com. This site focuses on some of my favorite photography images and gives me an opportunity to showcase my photographic work.

One of my recent creations is a 2011 Calendar. The calendar is available features 13 of my favorite photos from the past year from locations all over the state (Bay Area and Beyond!). You can see a preview of the calendar by clicking the 2011 Calendar link at www.dhmphoto.com (or just click the calendar image to the left). Calendars can be purchased for $20, however, there are only have a limited number available, so get your order in soon before they are gone. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Okay, enough of the marketing and sales pitches. Here's a few quick tips to some great Bay Area hiking locations for this time of year.

Land's End Coastal Trail in San Francisco - The Fall months can be one of the best times of the year to visit San Francisco, especially when Indian Summer keeps coming back. In fact, this weekend's forecast looks to be perfect! One of my favorite hikes in the City is along the northern coastline of San Francisco's inlet providing excellent views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge from outside of the gate. The trailhead is on El Camino Del Mar near Lincoln Park and the easy trail goes all the way to the Sutro Heights Park and the Sutro Bath Ruins if you choose to trek the full 2+ miles. Along the way, stop at Mile Rock Beach and enjoy the sights of the rocky beach (sorry no sand). You can see more details on my trip report using the link above. It hasn't yet been added to the Backpacker magazine web site.

Tomales Point Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore. I've written about this trail before and now is the time to check out the Tule Elk along the Tomales Point trail. It's rutting season and it's quite an experience to be among these magnificent creatures. There are more than Elk at Tomales point too, be on the look out for weasels, coyotes and many sea birds. Again, this weekend should be perfect for a trip to Point Reyes. Check out the link for more information.

Highland Trail Loop - Loch Lomond Recreation Area in Felton. Tucked away in the Santa Cruz mountains is a great lake with a Scottish name - Loch Lomond. The Highland Trail climbs about 900 feet and getting to the top can be a bit strenuous, but rewarding. Once at the top, the trail winds through some redwoods and then hugs the lake shore for a very pleasant stroll back to the marina trailhead. This hike is a good workout and also provides great scenic opportunities. Check the link above for more details including directions to the trailhead.

Well, I hope this gives you some encouragement to get out and explore our incredible outdoor opportunities we have in the Bay Area. I would love to hear from you, especially if you go out to any of these places.

Mt. Wittenberg Loop - Pt. Reyes National Seashore

2010-05-02T01:04:00.000-07:00

I've been spending a good bit of time behind the camera lately, but not as much time on the trail as I would like. I knew I was in need of a good hike so I called up my buddy Tim and convinced my son Ron (and his friend Ray) that a trip to Pt. Reyes was in order. I've done a few hikes in Pt. Reyes and the latest ones have been closer to the coast. I wanted to explore the inland areas and possibly catch some wildflowers and decided on a trip up to Mt. Wittenberg, the highest point in Point Reyes National Seashore (1407 ft.). I've been wanting to hike up to Mt. Wittenberg for quite some time and thought this would be a great opportunity to get up there.

I love loop hikes and Pt. Reyes is usually very accommodating! There are two trails that connect the Bear Valley Trailhead to Mt. Wittenberg: the steeper Sky Trail (2.2 miles by topo) and Horse Trail (3 miles by topo, but more like 4 miles). The question was do we take the shorter steeper route up or the longer gradual ascend with the steeper descent. We went for steep up!

The Sky Trail was in great condition and showed little signs of the constant rains we have had. One of the first things I noticed among the ferns was the thousands of Forget-me-nots (pictured right) that lined the trail. Most of the trail is under a canopy of Pines and California Bay Laurels and the sunlight that filtered through really lit up these little blue flowers along with larger Yarrow. It was magical (yeah, I know, tough guy hikers aren't supposed to think of things as magical, too bad!).

My plan for the day was to hike and not focus on photography. In fact, I didn't even bring my tripod! However, I couldn't help but stop and load pixels, especially when we came across a nice patch of Douglas Irises. (pictured left) Tim and I would stop frequently for photographic opportunities, while the boys continued on up. At one point we caught up with the boys who were coming down looking for us. Oops! When we made it to the trail junction at the base of Mt. Wittenberg, the boys were waiting for us again. We got our first look at the ocean from here and the meadow was scattered with poppies and miniature lupines.

The trip up to the top was uneventful. The summit is heavily wooded and does not really provide much in the way of views, however, you need to get up there just to check it out. Back down from the summit, we continued on the Z Ranch trail under a very dense canopy of small pines towards the Horse Trail.

The trip down Horse Trail was pleasant. More ferns, irises, forget-me-nots and yarrow. The trail was a bit more beat up and muddy. They don't call it the Horse trail for nothin'! We were soon hiking next to a meadow and close to Bear Valley Visitor's center and back at the trailhead.

Point Reyes continually surprises me and this 6.3 mile hike was no exception. This is a hike that can be done anytime of the year (although Horse Trail may be more difficult after heavy rain). I would rate this a moderate hike. The elevation gain wasn't too bad, but did give me a good workout!

I would love to hear from you and always appreciate your comments. For more details including a map and waypoints, checkout my trip report at Backpacker Magazine's website.

Use the map below to get directions to the trailhead:

View Pt. Reyes - Bear Valley Trailhead in a larger map

Carrizo Plain, The Temblor Range and Beyond...

2010-03-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

About 5 years ago I received an email with a photo entitled, "God Spilled the Paint" (Pictured left). As you can see, it is a spectacular image with unreal color and plenty of inspiration. After seeing this, I knew I had to go there! The problem was, I didn't know where "there" was. The only thing I knew was that is was taken near Bakersfield. (A note about this photo, many people have tried to take credit for it, but the credit for this beauty goes to Frank Kee, www.keesphotos.com. He gave me permission to use the image for this story. Thanks Frank!)

As many who know me know, I keep a pretty busy schedule and for the past several years as springtime approached, I never forgot about the photo, but also never tried hard to find this elusive spot. Last year I had a successful wildflower expedition along the Merced River Canyon and Hite's Cove Trail, and as spring approached this year, I was certainly looking forward to more poppies and Yosemite. I warned my wife and boss (the one at work too) that I was planning on taking time off work when conditions were right for wildflower season. The rains kept coming and in the beginning of March, I started doing research checking out Carol Leigh's Wildflower Hotsheet and Theodore Payne Wildflower Hotline. I still was planning on a trip back to Hite's Cove, but the reports further South were more encouraging. I started thinking again about how "God Spilled the Paint" and decided that this was the year I may venture south and try to have my own colorful experience.

I started to research the aforementioned photo and found it was taken in the Temblor Range and that the Temblor Range (pictured left) was located on the eastern edge of the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The best part about that, was the promising reports about Carrizo Plain that were popping up and even more, fellow hiker and Backpacker friend FourWheelBob was planning a trip to Carrizo and I was welcome to join him and the other Backpacker.com forum followers for the weekend.

A week out, my plan was set, Thursday was to be a day trip to Hite's Cove, the rest of the weekend, Carrizo Plains and the Temblor Range. Every day I looked at the latest Wildflower reports and my plans changed daily too! On Tuesday, I saw some photos from Hite's Cove and it really wasn't close to what I experienced there last year. I also read a very promising report from another photographer, Andrew from lightandpictures.com, about a location near Carrizo called Cottonwood Canyon (pictured right). I emailed Andrew and he strongly encouraged me to check out Cottonwood Canyon and after seeing his photos, I agreed. So, two days out, I decided to ditch Hite's Cove and Yosemite to focus on the southland.

With camping and camera gear loaded up (and plenty of junk food), I headed out 0-dark-hundred and in what seemed like no time (4+ hours) I was with camera in hand on the corner of Shell Creek Rd and HWY 58 (Tidy Tip pictured left) taking in lots of flowers and color. I moved on and slowly wound my way to Carrizo Plain with lots of expectations. When I arrived, I was blown away with all the color and flowers, not just in the plain, but the hillsides surrounding the Carrizo Plain and Soda Lake were covered with bright yellow and splotches of purple.

Somewhere out there in that color was where "God Spilled the Paint". What I didn't realize was that the Temblor Range, right in front of me, was over 20 miles long and seemed way off in the distance, a colorful distance, but still a ways away. I set up camp and headed to Cottonwood Canyon for the late afternoon light while checking out the possibilities along Soda Lake Rd for the rest of the weekend. Cottonwood Canyon and the Caliente Range along HWY 166 was awesome and just about everything Andrew had said it was.

Friday, I focused on Carrizo and started out photographing a cool barn in early morning light, then headed for an expansive field of Hillside Daisies (Monolopia, pictured left). The wind was picking up which always makes it challenging for photographing flowers, but I managed to deal with it! My plan for the day was to explore and just see what I could see. I kept eying the Temblor Range as I headed out towards Soda Lake. I found plenty of places to stop and try out my new Macro lens and photographed plenty more Hillside Daisies and phacelia (cool purple flowers) and Tidy Tips and Lupine and Baby Blue Eyes and many more.

Gradually, I was heading east and getting closer to the Temblors. They were taunting me with purples and bright yellows and a little orange here and there. I made it to Elkhorn Road which follows near the base of the Temblor Mountains and started venturing the many narrow offshoots leading closer to the the tempting colors higher up to the east. The first road I took ended at a locked gate but I was still too far away to really see "God's Paintbrush" as I wanted, so I found myself over the gate and left my car way behind to get up close and personal with the Temblor Range.

It was thrilling! The CF card in my camera began filling up with views from a ridge just below a beautiful hillside. I knew this was nothing like what Frank Kee had seen, but was excited none the less. I made it back down to the car and journeyed south, taking every dirt road that brought me closer to the Temblors. Some vantage points were better than others, but one thing I noticed was the color was getting better! I managed to get on one side road that brought me up so close to the color that I was ecstatic. Not far above and in front of me was a series of ridge lines filled with deep, bright yellows (Hillside Daisies) to the right and an expansive purple (Phacelia) patch to the left. Time to put in a new memory card in my camera!

I continued my journey south finding more great overlooks and vantage points of the Temblor Range. I was thrilled with what I had seen and captured and knew this trip was a success. I left Carrizo Saturday morning and headed out to discover more places (more to come later on that). God certainly spilled paint this year, like He does every year. I feel fortunate that I had a chance to get out there to see it.

Notes to know before you go: There is no cost to enter the Carrizo Plain National Monument and camping is also free, but at a first come first serve basis. The campgrounds are rustic and dry. The standard vault toilets are available, but you need to bring in all your water and pack out your trash. The two main roads, Soda Lake Rd & Elkhorn Rd were mostly dirt roads but in good conditions. Conditions could quickly turn for the worst after a rain.

For more photos, check out my Smugmug Gallery.

Below is a map showing a variety of places I visited and more photos from the trip. Check it out! Feel Free to contact me if you have any question.

View Wildflower viewing areas near Carizzo Plain in a larger map

My favorite Hillside of the Temblor Range

Carpeted and Colorful Hillside of the Temblor Range

Colored patches of Hillside Daisies, Phacelia and Poppies on hills of the Temblor Range

Cream Cups (Platystemon californicus)

Hillside Daisies and Sky Lupine on Cottonwood Canyon Road

Tansy Leaf Phacelia

Baby Blue Eyes

Painter Anita Hampton at Shell Creek Rd.

Sky Lupine up close in morning light

Showshoeing in Yosemite - Now is the Time!

2010-02-04T16:07:00.000-08:00

The approaching snow storm in the Sierra's reminds me that for the next couple of months, the conditions are great for donning the winter gear and putting on your snowshoes. One of my first articles on Bay Area Outdoors and Beyond was a snowshoe hike up to Dewey Point in Yosemite. In fact, that hike is featured in the latest issue of Backpacker Magazine (March 2010, page 29). This is a great hike and definitely doable as a day hike or overnight-er. You can check out the hike from the previous article or at Backpacker Magazine.

By no means is Dewey Point the only snowshoe hiking in Yosemite. There are a number of great winter trails available in the park and they are not just for snowshoes either. Many cross-country or Nordic skiers also partake.

Why snowshoe? Not only is it great exercise, it also is a way to see Yosemite in a way few people ever do. Winter is my favorite time to be in Yosemite. The crowds are diminished and the trails offer solitude and scenery most only found in picture books.

Yosemite has three main areas containing marked winter trails: Badger Pass and Glacier Point Road, Crane Flat and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (Click on the preceding links for brochures and trail maps for each area). The Valley Loop Trail in Yosemite Valley can also provide some great snowshoeing if enough snow has accumulated.

Badger Pass is the home of the Badger Pass Ski Resort, but it also has the most hiking options. Badger Pass even offers a Ranger guided snowshoe walk ($5 donation requested, conditions permitting). Dewey Point is by far the most popular of the routes, but each of the trails provides an adventure.

Crane Flat is located at the intersection of Big Oak Flat Road and the Tioga Road (Hwy 120). The Gin Flat Loop Trail is the most adventurous of the hikes, but the short hike down to the Tuolumne Grove is my favorite. I did this hike last year during a moderate snow storm and it took my breath away. The 2 mile round trip hike (I went beyond the grove for a 3 mile trip) is straight forward and descends down to Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias where the Tunnel Tree is a main feature. Unfortunately, it is just a shell of what it once was. Human intervention seems to do that. Most of the "Tunnel Trees" I've been to have fallen or are dead. While not as grand as the Mariposa Grove, the trees Tuolumne Grove are just as inspiring.

Getting to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias can be tricky in the winter months. The road to the grove is often closed in the winter and it is a 2-mile trek to get to the trails. However, it is well worth it. You're out there for the snowshoeing and sightseeing anyways! The longest trail is the Loop Road (8 miles) and provides access to most of the more popular trees in the park, Fallen Monarch, Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree. Many hikers, I mean snowshoers, opt for the lower grove hike (.8 miles one way) featuring the trees mentioned previously.

When snowshoeing or cross country skiing, be aware of the weather forecast and your physical condition. Be aware of avalanche conditions; most of the winter trails in Yosemite avoid avalanche areas, but check with the Ranger Station for conditions and warnings. Don't forget to hydrate; your body still needs plenty of water, even though you may not feel like it in the cold. If you are new or inexperienced for snowshoeing, start out with smaller hikes first. Know what you are getting into. Snowshoeing on a hard-packed snow trail is a lot different from two feet of fresh powder. Breaking a trail can be exhausting; take turns leading the way with your group. If you are following, try to step into the leaders footprints when you can.

Snowshoeing is a fun sport and just about anyone can do it. Snowshoe rentals are available in the valley and at Badger Pass and also at your local REI store. It is a great way to wash away the winter blues and energize your spirit. Now is the time!

Yosemite - Pothole Dome Loop, An Adventure for All

2010-01-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

Guarding the western edge of Tuolumne Meadows is a big chunk of granite called Pot Hole Dome. Compared to the some of the other domes surrounding Tuolumne, you wouldn’t consider this one as anything special. It rises to only 300 feet above the meadow and you won’t find many climbers dangling from its sides or a register up top. But what you will get if you venture to the dome is a great family friendly hiking experience with grand views of Tuolumne Meadows and chance for up close wildlife encounters (of the good kind).

My first experience with Pot Hole dome was 6 years ago on a family camping trip to Tuolumne Meadows. I had gathered 8 families together to experience the wonders of Yosemite. I actually was able to get 5 campsites all together, not something possible today. Our group consisted of all ages from my three year old daughter to my 70 something father-in-law. I was challenged to find activities for all ages. A coworker of mine (and Tuolumne expert) Ken, suggested I check out Pot Hole Dome and he also gave me some pointers to enhance the 3 mile journey. The hike was a hit!

I recently had an opportunity to get back to Tuolumne Meadows with some visitors from Germany, David and Philipp. The guys had never hear of Yosemite (can you believe that?) and I knew I couldn’t let them leave California without experiencing Yosemite. My original plan was to take them to Yosemite Valley for the tourist stuff the first day and then a hike up to Cathedral Lakes the next day (a future article). The Big Meadow fire closed our access to the Valley and we had to change plans. After securing a campsite in the Tuolumne Meadows campground, I considered our options. It was already the afternoon but we had a little time to explore and I wanted to take them somewhere special. I recalled the great experience I had at Pot Hole Dome, shared it with them, they agreed to the trek and we headed out.

The trailhead (pictured above) for Pot Hole dome is along the Tioga Road at the western edge of Tuolumne Meadows. It’s tough to miss the two parking areas near the dome and the two trail routes to the dome (depending upon which lot you park in). I prefer the western most trail that circles the meadow instead of the one that cuts across. Not only does this route give you a little extra trail time, it also puts you at the edge of the meadow and a full perspective of Tuolumne. Once you arrive at the dome, there are several footpaths through the trees. Pick one and start up the gradual incline to the top. There are no marked trails, but none are really needed. A number of granite dikes (pictured left), lines in the granite that look like grout, lead up the dome and lead the way. The slope of the dome isn’t too bad and in no time you arrive at the high point providing great views of Tuolumne Meadows.

After reaching the top, most visitors take in the sights, turn back around and head back to the car. That’s fine, but there is so much more to see. Rather than heading back the route you came, descend the dome away from the road in a north easterly direction towards the Tuolumne River. There is no trail, no markers, but it’s not hard to find your way. Once you get down in the trees, continue heading in the same northeastern direction until you are off the dome and encounter a trail. Head left (north) on the trail and enjoy the quite walk through the pines. Watch for deer through the trees. I’d be surprised if you don’t see any here.

The trail winds through the trees heading north and will start to head west. Once it turns, you will see a lightning struck tree ahead (see photo below) and a small meadow to the right, cut across the western edge of the meadow to another trail that follows the Tuolumne River. Take a right and very soon you will be out of the trees and at the river. The rocky shores of the river here make a great picnic spot. On our trip there, we were visited by a couple of deer crossing the river within 10 feet of us.

When done at the river, pick yourself up and locate the narrow trail running south through the trees and skirt the meadow back towards the trailhead. If you are fortunate like we were, you will be treated to another wildlife show as deer gather in the meadow. In our case, does and fawns came in view every 100 feet or so and then we encountered a herd of 19 deer, 18 of which were some pretty big bucks with full racks!

Too soon, the road and trailhead will come into view signaling the coming end to the adventure.

Pothole Dome is a great place to hike and explore and is an adventure that almost everyone can enjoy. Although the hike up the dome is a bit steep in parts, it's a short trek and provides some great views of Tuolumne Meadows and the peaks beyond. The hike can be up and down the dome or encompass much more of the meadow and the Tuolumne River too.

Below is a Google map showing the GPS track and route of this trip. You can also view my preliminary trip report at Trimble Outdoors.

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Buck hiding in the woods

This tree is your cue to head right cutting across the meadow

Here's Philipp at the gateway to the meadow near the river

Doe crossing the Tuolumne River

A doe, juvenile and a fawn. I had their attention.

Eight of eighteen bucks in the meadow

More of the bucks (and one doe).

Cathedral Peak towers over the meadow

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and thank you for stopping by Bay Area Outdoors and Beyond!

2009 was a busy year for me and I'm aware at just how far behind I am in my updates. In the coming weeks I will have at least 5 hikes and a couple of other locations I will be writing about. Here's a sneak peak: hikes and outings in San Francisco at Land's End, Golden Gate Park and the Golden Gate Bridge; Loch Lomond in the Santa Cruz mountains and some great things from Point Lobos near Monterey. On the "Beyond" side, I've spent more time in Yosemite and have a few spectacular hikes queued up out of Tuolumne Meadows - Pot Hole Dome and Cathedral Lakes plus a nice trip up to Half Dome. In addition to Yosemite, I've visited Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas and also did a little hiking in Victoria B.C. I feel others would enjoy.

Some of the neglect of this site is because I have been focusing a lot of effort on my photography. Providing great photos is one of the best ways to share the many great places and opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy the "Great Outdoors" (okay, that's pretty cliché, but it's true).

For now, I will be working on sharing more hikes and other outdoor destinations in addition to providing some backpacking and photography tips that I find useful.

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you join me for a great 2010!

Here's a preview of some things to come:

Some fun on Half Dome

Nevada Falls in the Fall

Colorful Vernal Fall in Fall

The Golden Gate Bridge from Eagle's Point

Cypress Trees at Land's End

Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco

Upper Cathedral Lake in Yosemite

Cathedral Peak in Yosemite

Numerous bucks in Tuolumne Meadows

More deer near Pot Hole Dome

Sunset at Point Lobos near Monterey

Harbor Seals and a Sea Otter in Point Lobos

Rainbow Mountain in Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas

Loch Lomond Lake in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Yosemite - North Dome Loop

2009-08-20T23:30:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of years, I've wanted to venture to the North Rim of Yosemite Valley. I've scoured the topo maps looking for a variety of hikes and after a buddy of mine (Mark) told me about his hike to North Dome with his brother, I knew I had to go there. I didn't want to do the normal out and back from Porcupine Creek like most hikers do. I saw an option for a perfect loop and decided I had to do it.

After several failed attempts to get out there, I finally had a weekend free (okay, one where my wife let me get away) and gathered some of my hiking buddies, Tim, Tony and Rafael and headed out to Yosemite for a 2 day 10+ mile hike. Why do this as a two day hike and not a single day? Because I can! Splitting this trip into two days, allowed for a much more relaxed trip, knowing we had no time limits to get where we were going and could stop for whatever photo opportunity came our way. With a crescent moon and clear skies forecasted, we were also hoping for some great night shots over the valley. We weren't disappointed!

To paraphrase a famous quote, "what goes down must come up"! That was the story of our journey. We arrived at the trailhead at Porcupine Creek(~8100') early and got our packs on were quickly on our way down towards North Dome. The trail near the trailhead is actually an old paved road for the first .7 miles. The road starts out nice and deteriorates the further you get into the forest. Once past the "road", the trail crosses a couple of seasonal creeks (including Porcupine Creek) and roams through a typical "Yosemite" forest, mix of pines and firs and decent underbrush and lots of dead-fall all around.

Within no time (about 1.7 miles) we were at a four-way junction (photo on the right). We almost took the wrong trail, but thank goodness I looked at the topo map a little closer. The first trail heads to the left and down to Mirror Lake and Yosemite Valley via Snow Creek Trail (okay, something I want to do, but not that day). The next trail marker, about 20 ft later was the North Nome Trail to the left. The other trail marker to the right indicated Yosemite Falls. That was going to be our trail on the way back.

Okay, we made it to the junction and now it was time to go down hill to the Dome, right, nope. Gotta go up to get down and that's what we did. As you gain elevation, the terrain also changes to more of a chaparral setting, a little more exposed, but starting to gain some nice views too.

Our main destination was North Dome, but we did have a planned stop along the way at Indian Rock. In fact, I think I was more excited about checking out Indian Rock than North Dome. Indian Rock (pictured left) is the only natural arch in Yosemite and it is spectacular! The Indian Rock trail is a .3 mile spur (.6 round trip, but the topo maps show it much further away) straight up hill to the top of Indian Ridge. The rock is a large outcropping of granite that includes a 15 ft granite arch and provides lots of exploring and photographic opportunities.

After a couple of hours hanging out at the arch, we continued on down to the Dome. It was really downhill this time. In about a half a mile, the trail splits up, to the left is the "established" trail that continues among the trees, but to the right the trail follows the granite of Indian Ridge. A more direct, but steeper route and the way we went. We followed the cairns and were soon greeted with an incredible view of Yosemite Valley and its many icons: Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Glacier Point, Illilouette Falls, etc.

We soon met back up with the "other" trail and were on a ridge above North Dome. Getting down to North Dome was more fun. The trail down drops about 200 feet very quickly and soon we were among the trees at the base of North Dome (Numerous trail camps are among these trees). The gradual slope up North Dome was rewarded with a face to face view of Half Dome. We hung out at the dome for a while and headed back up to a trail camp we found on the ridge above the dome. Still fantastic views of everything, but we didn't have to haul our packs and gear down and then back up. One word of caution to those planning an overnight trip to North Dome, there is no water within a mile. You need to pack in water.

A breezy afternoon turned into a calm and perfect evening, barely a breeze and a clear night. Shutters were clicking all around our campsite. The sunset wasn't as spectacular as I was hoping but it was special. The stars were incredible and after draining my camera battery, I hit the sleeping bag under the stars (no tent for this trip). I kept waking up that night, not because I had trouble sleeping, but because I couldn't keep my eyes off the sky. Morning was just as nice. I worked on draining another battery on the sunrise, packed the packs and then were back on the trail before 8am.

The route back quickly descended on a granite trail and into a forest filled with Red Firs. It was more lush than the route from the trailhead and I thoroughly enjoyed the stroll through that part of the forest. We crossed a dry Arch Rock Creek and made it to Lehamite creek for a needed refill of our water bottles. After the creek, the trail back takes a sharp right. The marker is easy to miss (right Tony and Rafael?), you have to look back and to the right to pick up the route. There are a number of nice established trail camps here near the creek.

Remember that paraphrased quote I mentioned? Well here is where it really came into play. The first part of the trail was a gradual climb including a section through a nice meadow filled with ferns, corn lilies and other wildflowers. After that meadow it's a steep grade and a good push back to the four way trail junction. Getting back to the trailhead seemed longer, but we eventually made it and headed back to the Bay Area.

In a little more than 24 hours we hiked a great loop trail, saw some incredible sites, had lots of laughs and experienced the best night ever sleeping under the stars. I strongly encourage you to get out to North Dome and Indian Rock. It is a popular but less crowded destination and definitely a must do hike. I would rate the difficulty level of the hike a 7 (mostly because of the last steep section and length as a day hike).

Below is the track on a Google Map. You can view my preliminary trip report on Trimble Outdoors. You can also view more photos from the trip on my SmugMug photo gallery.

This site does not support embedded trip maps. View the trip &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href='http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripId=495746&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_source=embedmap'&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;here&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; instead.

On the edge at North Dome

Our campsite on a ridge above North Dome

Sunset shades of Yosemite Valley

I love star trails. This is a 5 minute exposure. The focal point is the North Star.

Morning view of North Dome and Half Dome

A San Francisco Gem - Crissy Field to Baker Beach

2009-07-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back I managed to get out and explore more parts of San Francisco. What started out as a straight photography trip turned into a great little hike featuring lots of wildflowers, the Golden Gate Bridge, Civil War gun mounts and a great beach.

My photography buddy Tony and I headed out with a plan to get shots of the Golden Gate bridge and then at the San Francisco Zoo. What started out as a foggy and overcast day in the east bay, turned into a beautiful sunny day by the bay. We ended up at Crissy Field, found a parking spot and grabbed our cameras headed to Torpedo Wharf for our first views of the Bridge.

Wanting more, we located the trailhead to the California Coastal Trail and headed up for more views of the iconic golden gateway to the bay. The trail up is moderately steep, but within minutes hikers are treated to full displays of wildflowers and more spectacular views of the Golden Gate bridge and the City by the Bay.

Still wanting more, we continued along the trail and came across Battery East (above), one of several Civil War (and later) battlements and ammunition caches created to defend the SF Bay. Part of the trail actually goes through a small tunnel with a very low clearance (good thing I'm short). Further along is the main tourist vista area for the southern view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Still not satisfied we decided to check out the view from the "other side" and followed the trial below the bridge and on the west side. More batteries and gun mounts are along the trail. We saw the trail marker indicating that Baker Beach 1.0 mile and decided to go for it! The hike to Baker Beach was a good hike on a very well maintained trail with a mix of blacktop paths and dirt and sandy trails.

Once the trail hits Lincoln Blvd, there are two options to the beach, the longer, but more gradual descent to the main parking area or the steep and surprisingly fun Sand Ladder (right). Guess which route we took. The Sand Ladder was a series of small diameter logs (about 8") connected together with cables and then laid down the moderately steep sandy hill to provide stair type steps. Very cool!

The hike from Crissy Field to Baker Beach is an easy to moderate hike with some elevation gain and loss. It is a must do venture that can be done anytime of the year, but best in the morning hours to avoid the wind and fog. However, the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands from Baker Beach on a clear evening can be stunning. Parking at Crissy Field fills up quick and can be tough to find at peak times.

The hike is about 3 miles round trip. I had technical difficulties with my GPS and did not get a good track of this trail (my bad!). I will attempt to recover the trail and post it if I am able. Your comments and questions are welcome!

More photos from this trip, including the San Francisco Zoo, can be found at my SmugMug Gallery.

View Crissy Field to Baker Beach in a larger map

Baker Beach and the Golden Gate Bridge

Bumble bee collecting pollen from a yellow Bush Lupine

Great views of the Golden Gate bridge from the "outside"

Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Point near the south view vista

Yosemite - The Pohono Trail

2009-06-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been following my adventures, you may think I should have called my blog, Yosemite (and sometimes the Bay Area) and Beyond. That's okay, I love Yosemite and can't get enough of that incredible place, even on one of the busiest weekends of the year - Memorial Day Weekend. My wife and daughter flew to Colorado to visit friends and I heard Yosemite calling. My original plan was to hike along the North Rim of the Valley from Porcupine Creek to North Dome, then to Yosemite Point and back to Porcupine Creek. I talked so much about my Memorial Day trip to Yosemite, I was soon leading a group of nine!

The Yosemite weather report and trail conditions were burned into my computer screen in the weeks before the trip and it wasn't looking promising. Although the North Rim of the valley around North Dome and Yosemite Falls was clear of snow, the trail from Porcupine Creek to North Dome was reported to have 75% to 100% snow coverage. Plus, Tioga Road had not opened yet. I made a number of backup plans, which is more challenging when you have a party of nine, especially for Memorial Day weekend in Yosemite! However, I was fortunate and able to switch my permit to Glacier Point and the Pohono Trail. It was actually my fourth choice, but it ended up being a great option.

I had hiked part of this trail before with my son when mapping the Senitnel Dome Loop hike for BACKPACKER magazine. I knew the upper section of this trail had great views and destinations, but was not familiar with the rest. No matter, we had the permit! Early Saturday morning, the nine of us gathered at Glacier Point parking area, two rookies (Bert and Rafael), two energetic boys (Ron and Ray) and four seasoned veterans (Gary, Tim, Tony and myself) and one superstar (Bob, lots of stories about his exploits and climbing El Cap 25 years ago).

The goal for the day was to get from Glacier Point to Bridalveil creek. The topo map showed it to be about 5.5 miles (really 6.4) and I figured it would take us about 5 hours. Not because the trail was too tough or my fellow hikers were slow, but because I knew about all the photographic opportunites along the way! Incredible views of Yosemite Falls (Upper, Middle Cascades and Lower), El Capitan, Three Brothers, Merced River and too many others caused us to frequently stop and take it all in. The views were captivating and breathtaking.

Our first real break was at the Sentinel Creek crossing. A spur trail follows the creek downstream towards the rim and up on a point (I call it Sentinel Point). This was the first of several vertigo inducing locations. 3500ft drops straight down to the valley floor. More stops along the way at Taft Point and Profile Cliff. The packs came off and the cameras came out. Some were more daring than others, but we all had our gut wrenching peeks over the edge.

From Taft Point we headed inland to Bridalveil Creek, crossing a few ephemeral streams along the way. Although we left the rim and views of the valley, we still had the pleasant sights and sounds of the forest. Who needs an iPod when you have that! We finally arrived at the footbridge over Bridalveil creek. Bob beat us all there and had staked a claim to a great campsite. One that could handle our whole group. He even had firewood piled up next to the fire ring!

We got the camp setup and Gary had a special surprise for dinner: Beef Fajitas! Not our normal backpacking fare, but he was training for the JMT and decided the extra weight was a good thing and the meal was a great thing! The original plan was to hike from Glacier Point to the Bridalveil Creek Area and base camp there two nights. The second day would be a day hike to the Dewey Point area and back to base. We would then return to Glacier Point on our last day (Monday). It's great to have a plan! There was some talk about doing the whole Pohono Trail to the Wawona Tunnel, but we did not leave a car there and would have to get a ride back to Glacier Point. What the heck, we figured it would all work out so the plans were changed.

The next morning we had a great breakfast (using the left over fajitas with some freeze dried eggs) and broke camp. Our next destination was Dewey Point (2.5 miles) and possibly beyond. I was surprised by the amount of uphill we had to get from Bridalveil to Dewey, in fact, I had told the guys it was going to be mostly downhill. Oops, my mistake! I had been to Dewey Point before, but from Badger Pass by way of snowshoes. Winter or summer, this was still a spectacular location. There is no water at Dewey Point and we planned on going further to find a camp, but it was such a great place to be, we located a nice site near the point (not on the point) to setup camp. Rafael and the boys headed back to a creek to get water and we relaxed for the rest of the day, had dinner and then waited for the sunset.

The snow capped hills to the east kept us captivated and I was really looking forward to being out in the open for the sunset and stargazing. It was just a day past the new moon and I expected great things. The sunset didn't dissapoint (although I didn't get much color on Half Dome) and the stars were quickly out. I knew there were some great possibilities later in the night, but was already beat and turned in after my son Ron and I took some photos and watched all the lights on the face of El Capitan from the headlamps of the climbers. I ended up waking up at 3:30 am and peeked out my tent door. WOW! What a site! I won't forget that anytime soon. I can only imagine what it must have been like 100 years ago before all the light pollution. Now we have to travel hours or days to see a night sky like the one I saw that night.

The next day was a blur. Sunrise, breakfast, packup, hit the trail! Only 5.5 miles to go, but so many more photo ops. Crocker Point and Stanford Point kept our miles per hour way down and our happiness meters way up! Each point we visited brought us a differnent vision of the valley and a wonder at how, seeing the same thing over and over, can be so fresh. Once we were passed Stanford Point, the major descent was upon us. With a 3000ft drop in 3 miles, I expected some switchbacks, but the first two miles were pretty much straight down with a few level spots in between. The last mile brought the switchbacks I was expecting, but the trail also provided a myriad of wildflowers and classic views of Yosemite Valley. The valley views were similar to Tunnel View without the cars, buses and people. I really enjoyed that!

We made it to the tunnel with smiles all around. A few of the guys decided to pass on Dewey and head back towards Glacier on Sunday. They camped out near Sentinel Dome and were waiting for us when we arrived at Tunnel View.

One thing that really stuck out on this hike was how few people we encountered along the way. Of course, there were the day hikers going to Taft Point or Dewey Point. But, there really were not that many to feel like we were being over run or smothered. The fact was that the valley was packed (as witnessed by the slow moving stream of tail lights leaving the valley Sunday night). Not a lot of people make it up to Glacier Point and even less hike the whole Pohono Trail. We saw no one on the trail Monday until we got within a mile of the tunnel.

The 13 mile Pohono Trail is a moderate hike that can be done in one, two or three days (stretching it, but worked well for us). The scenery from the trail and featured points is unmatched (execpt maybe from the North Rim, it might be a tie) and the relative solitude for being that close to the valley can't be discounted.

Although this hike has not yet been published for BACKPACKER, you can view my rough draft map and report of this hike at TrimbleOutdoors. The link has many more specific details about the hike including waypoints and the ability to check it out on Google Earth( you may have to register for a free account to access parts of the report). You can view more photos (better quality and higher resolution) from this trip on my SmugMug site.

I welcome your comments. Thanks for taking the time to check out this hike.

Classic view of the valley, without the crowds or fumes.

Bachelor's Button

Bob and Bert on the snowy trail

Dewey Point

Star trails at Dewey Point

View from my tent. WOW!

Pt. Reyes – Coast Camp Loop

2009-05-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places to hike in the Bay Area is Point Reyes National Seashore and with Saturday’s forecast called for high temperatures in the East Bay I headed north to cool off some and scout out Coast Camp, one of the backcountry campgrounds in Pt. Reyes. I’m taking my Royal Ranger boys there for a three day backpacking trip next month and needed to check it out first so this was a perfect opportunity.

One of the things that drew me to Coast Camp is the relatively short distance it is from the trailhead. n addition, it is very close to the beach (a big plus with the boys).

There are two routes to Coast Camp: Coast Trail (2.8 miles) & Laguna Trail (1.8 miles). Today’s plan was to check out both routes by creating a loop hike and make sure there were no surprises at the campground (like water supply issues, etc). I also wanted a good look at the beach area since I know that will be a main feature of next month’s trip.

The trailhead for each route is within a quarter mile of each other near the Point Reyes Hostel off of Limantour Beach Rd (see map below). A parking lot is located at the Laguna trailhead past the hostel. This is the preferred parking area; however, if that lot is full, there is some parking along the road at the Coast trailhead just before the hostel.

My hiking buddy Tim joined me on this trip and we started out on the shorter route (Laguna Trail). One of the first things that caught my attention was the abundance of quail at the trailhead. I just love quail (to watch, not eat) and enjoyed seeing them skitter along the trail ahead and hearing their distinctive calls. The topo map (Tom Harrison’s is the best) showed a short climb to a ridge and then gradual decent to Coast Camp. The topo was spot on, but what it didn’t show was how nice of a trail it is. If you’ve read my previous entries, you know I’m a sucker for wildflowers. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of flowers I encountered along the trail. Okay, this wasn’t Merced River Canyon wildflowers, but there were quite a number of different types. Here’s a list of the wildflowers I could name: Lupine and Bush Lupine (lots of em), Morning Glory, Indian Paintbrush, Monkey Flower, California Poppy, Forget-Me-Not, Bowl Tube Iris, Yarrow, Blue Eyed Grass, and more that I could not find names to. The trail was also filled with wildlife. I mostly spotted rabbits and a myriad of birds, however, I did see lots of evidence of coyotes, and by the look of its scat, these critters must be very content and full coyotes. In no time at all, we met up with the Coast Trail and were at Coast Camp.

Coast Camp is behind a bluff separating the campground and the beach. The campground is broken up into two sections. Campsites 1-7 are nestled among the native bushes (including poison oak) and more private and protected from the other area containing campsites 8-14. This area is more in the open and contains two group sites. The open area definitely is more susceptible to the coastal winds and each camper I ran into commented on the high winds of the night before.

Coast Camp has potable water spigots and vault toilets adding some conveniences that most backcountry locations lack (although most of the time I’d rather dig a hole than enter the vault). I’ve termed this type of backpacking: slackpacking. I think slackpacking is a perfect introduction to the wilderness for the young and reserved. I have had very successful trips simple because I was joined by others (wife) who refuse to dig a hole.

Santa Maria Beach is a very short hike from the camp along a narrow trail.
It is an idyllic spot with a seemingly endless sandy coastline. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the brown pelicans skimming over the water and the other, smaller, seabirds looking for lunch. We encountered a number of day hikers coming from Limantour Beach (parking lot is 2 miles away). Campfires in this area are only allowed on the beach and not in the camps. Finding wood may be tricky. I didn’t see a lot of driftwood along the shore and will probably need to pack in some firewood or find a friendly mule (did you say something Tim?). Fortunately, it is a fairly short hike.

We left the beach and headed north on the Coast trail. The trail is a basically a gravel fire road, fairly level and only 2.8 miles back to the trail head. The first part of the trail is exposed and follows along the coastline. The slight morning breeze was welcomed as we started to feel heat of the day. After a mile or so, just past some wetlands, the trail turned inland and we came across a glade of Alder trees along a creek. It was very peaceful. Coming out of the glade we were again “exposed” and the trail had such a gradual rise you barely noticed it. The trail head came up sooner than expected and we were done.

This was a perfect hike and although my main purpose was to check out Coast Camp for an overnight trip, it worked out nicely as an easy day hike. Although I preferred the more scenic and shorter Laguna trail, the Coast trail is good for those that don’t want to deal with any elevation or those who wish to ride their bike to the campground or beach.

I don’t know if there is a bad hike in Pt. Reyes. Every hike I’ve done within this National Park has exceeded my expectations. The variety of wildflowers alone made the trip worthwhile (okay, the flowers will be gone by summer, but you know what I mean) however there was much more to see and experience. If you are looking for a nice day hike or an easy backcountry experience, go to Coast Camp. Permits can be tough to get during the spring and summer, but it’s worth the effort.

For more information on backcountry camping in Pt. Reyes, see the Pt. Reyes website.

I hope to have the GPS route uploaded shortly.

View Coast Camp Trailhead in a larger map

Santa Maria Beach

Wildflower Update

2009-04-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

I had an opportunity to get my camera (and me) back to Hite's Cove Trail last Sunday to try to capture more of the incredible wildflowers of the Merced River Canyon. I am happy to report that lots of wildflowers are still carpeting the hill sides, however, the poppies are definitely fading. The endless sea of orange that I experienced ten days before was replaced with a more colorful scatter of yellows, blues, reds, whites and purples. I wish I could list off all the types of wildflowers that I saw, but I just don't know the names (yet).

I also spent a little time up on Mission Peak on Saturday. The hike up was grueling as ever, but the hills were bright green with lots of little purple flowers down low. It was pretty crowded, but definitely a good hike and a great time.

The next month is the perfect opportunity to get out and to get your boots on, see some wildflowers and enjoy the many trails of the bay area and beyond.

Merced River Canyon - Oh Wow!

2009-03-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

There is a very special event happening right now a few hours drive from the Bay Area. An explosion of wildflowers has erupted along the hillsides of the Merced River Canyon East of Mariposa along Highway 140. Some say they have never seen so many wildflowers in bloom along the canyon.

Most of the Yosemite themed blogs that I follow (LittleRedTent, YosemiteBlog, Michael Frye Photography, etc) have been touting the proliferation of color for the past week or so. I finally couldn't take it any longer and took a day off of work (I was maxed out on my vacation time and had to take a day off anyway) so I could seek out and try to experience the massive quantities of California Golden Poppies I have been reading about. I was also aware of a storm coming this weekend and chances are many of the poppies would start losing their petals after the first rain. I couldn't let that happen without seeing them in full bloom first.

My day started pretty early, 3:45 am. Of course, I really didn't get much sleep either because of my anticipation of what I would discover (and not wanting to oversleep). I had packed the car the night before (but still forgot the bag with all my camera filters, dang!) so I was out the door before 4:00am. Of course, morning is not the right time to photography wild flowers, especially poppies, since they don't open up unless the sun is out. My plan (because I am a planner), was to head to the valley for some morning sunrise shots, then out along Hwy 140 for the wild flowers and then back to the valley for some late afternoon and sunset shots and then home. I thought it was a good plan, and it was!

I arrived in the valley about 7:40am and played around at Cathedral Beach and the Swinging Bridge and Sentinel Bridge and Yosemite Falls. All wonderful and beautiful places for photography, but not really my what I was after. I was coming back from the short hike to Lower Yosemite Falls just before lunch time and decided the sun had been out long enough and I couldn't wait any longer so it was time to take a drive. There were two places I had scoped out(with the help of Michael Frye's The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite), Incline Road and Hite's Cove Trail (did I mention I was a planner?).

My first stop was Incline Road, a narrow (very narrow in parts) frontage road that parallels Hwy 140 on the opposite side of the Merced River for a few miles. To get to Incline Rd from Yosemite Valley, turn right on Foresta Rd and then a quick left after you cross the bridge. It only takes about 15 minutes (give or take) to get there from the Valley Entrance. Following Incline Road will immediately provide lots of golden eye candy on the steep hillsides on your right hand side. I stopped at one of the first spots on the side of the road where my car would fit and jumped out with camera and tripod in hand. I travelled the road on foot and by car for a couple of hours, but I only got about a mile in.

Not all the best scenes were right along the road, some places you had to work for. The steep hillsides are a challenge to navigate, especially carrying the camera gear and not wanting to casue any damage to the flowers, but I saw an incredible carpet of glowing gold up higher on the hillside beyond a tangle of fallen and live oaks. It was well worth the scramble.

So many flowers so little time. I could have spent the whole day along that stretch, but wanted to see more. I then headed out to the Hite's Cove Trail a bit further down Hwy 140. The trail head for Hite's Cove Trail is at the Savage's Trading Post. Although the whole trail is 4.5 miles, the wildflowers are in the first two miles and the best display is only a hundred yards up the trail. There was so much to see there, I really didn't go further than a quarter mile in. However, I do plan on hiking the whole trail in the future.

Although the poppies may start to fade, others will start to take their place. The California Golden Poppy was by far the most prevelant, I must have seen 6 or 7 different types of wildflowers on my trip. There is still plenty of time this spring to get your fill of wildflowers. You can keep track of the status of California wildflower locations at the California Wildflower Hotsheet. This was a great trip and experience. Normally, I get excited about going to Yosemite, but this was extra special. I encourage you to go out and see some of the incredible color out there this Spring (I love it when a plan comes together!).

I want to give a special thanks to Michael Frye who helped me refine my "plan". I also want to thank Edie at View from the Little Red Tent for the constant updates on the conditions along the Highway. I encourage you to check out their sites and galleries. They don't have to get up at 3:45am to get to the valley and I envy them for that.

Use the map below to get directions to the two locations I visited.

View Larger Map

Below are more of my favorite photos. To see even more photos (and at a higher resolution), check out my new Photo Gallery. As always, your comments are encouraged and appreciated!

Firefall at Horsetail Fall - Second Attempt, A Little Love

2009-02-21T00:12:00.000-08:00

I just got back into town from my second attempt to photograph the Firefall at Horsetail Fall in Yosemite. I'm going to make this quick and follow up with more details later. Of the two nights, tonight's Firefall was the best, although it was more of a spark then a fire, I really got to get an idea of what this phenomenon can do. There was light on Horsetail Fall the entire first night, but it never really lit up just the "falls" to create that Firefall efect. However, it was still beautiful none the less!

Tonight, the light on the falls disappeared just before sunset, but as our group waited, a slight glow started to appear in the water and then you could see it start to glow a faint orange. Unlike the previous night, only the falls lit up and not any of the granite around it. We were at a different location from the previous night with a different vantage point and a different look. Below are a couple of photos I quickly picked out. I've done some "normal" processing to the shots and warmed them up a bit to try to show what we saw there.

So I didn't see the blazing Firefall, but I did get a little taste of it and I liked it! It was definitely an enjoyable trip that I will make again next year.

Taken Feb. 19, 2009 from the El Capitan Picnic Area

Taken Feb. 20, 2009 from East of the El Capitan Picnic Area

Firefall at Horsetail Fall - First Attempt

2009-02-16T19:47:00.000-08:00

I mentioned last week that I was heading to Yosemite to capture the elusive Firefall at Horsetail Fall. The weather forecast for the weekend was pretty gloomy, 80 - 100 percent chance of snow showers each day. Of course, with snow showers, brings clouds. Clouds block the sun and the sun is a primary requirement for capturing the Firefall. That really didn't matter to me, I was still heading out to the park with my photography (and backpacking) buddies, Tim and Tony.

We left the very dark East Bay at 4:30, hoping to get in the valley early enough to take advantage of any morning light we could find. We were not disappointed! Saturday was a beautiful day. To top it off, Friday saw some pretty heavy snow fall so we were able to view a true Winter Wonderland. We enjoyed light on El Capitan and Yosemite Falls and enough blue skies and sun to really brighten our day.

The evening was fast approaching and we headed out to the El Capitan picnic area to join the dozen or so other photographers patiently waiting (and praying) for clouds to stay away. I was able to meet up with Chuck Cagara, the photographer who took the magical Firefall photo I posted last week. It really was a pleasure talking with him and getting his take on the Firefall and Yosemite. Okay, back to the Firefall. When we arrived at the picnic area, there was a lot of light on Horsetail Fall. However, there was not a lot of water coming down the fall, but it was enough to reflect the sunlight shining on it. Now we just needed to wait for the red glow to appear as the sun set. A couple of times the clouds passed in front of the sun and the fall went dark (Boo!). The sun came back (Yeah!). However, about 20 minutes before sunset, the approaching storm decided to make its advance known and we never saw any other light on the Fall. I did get a nice photo of Horsetail Fall in full light.

We still had two other opportunities for catching the Firefall, unfortunately, the storms coming in were too much. All is not lost though. I had a great time with my friends and filling up the 16GB SD card in my camera (a quick selection of photos below).

I am not done though. I am headed back to the Yosemite later this week. Check back for Firefall at Horsetail Fall - Second Attempt.

Valley View

El Capitan in Morning Light

The mists from Tunnel View

Yosemite Chapel under heavy snowfall

Contrast in Yosemite Meadow

Tuolumne Grove in snowstorm

Majestic (and fearless) Buck

Snowy Merced River

Did I mention it snowed hard?

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls

Bridal Veil Fall

Lower Yosemite Falls

The Firefall at Horsetail Fall - Yosemite Valley

2009-02-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

For those that have followed this site, you probably have figured out that I have an affinity for Yosemite, some, like my wife, may say an obsession. Most people experience Yosemite in the Spring and Summer but I'm told the best time to see Ansel Adam's playground is the Winter. One of the most spectacular, and elusive, Winter highlights in the valley is the "Firefall at Horsetail Fall".

Not many people even know that there is a Horsetail Fall in Yosemite! Horsetail Fall is an ephemeral fall and usually gone by late Spring. The firey glow happens when the sunset hits the ribbon stream coming down the eastern side of El Capitan.

Yosemite's original Firefall was a real bonfire pushed over the cliffs at Glacier Point where eager spectators watched the glowing embers fall to the valley below. The first firefall, using real fire, started in 1871 and eventually it was a staple attraction in the valley until 1968 when the event was stopped because of the damage it was doing to the valley's meadows.

The first time I heard about the "natural" firefall and saw images of it's existence was last June while in the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village. I was there with a few friends preparing for a 5 day trek into the back country and saw a stunning photo of a glowing ribbon of fire. After seeing that, I knew I had to experience it in person.

I started doing some research and found that the best time to see the Firefall was in February. The best information I found was at LittleRedTent.net and YosemiteBlog.com. Edie at LittleRedTent is a Yosemite Valley resident and a regular contributor to YosemiteBlog. She has a very informative article on How to Photograph Horestail Falls and also has many galleries of beautiful photographs. YosemiteBlog.com has always been a favorite site of mine and Lyod just started a forum and someone asked a question about the Firefall and a wealth of information was presented from a number of different sources. Rather than rehash all the little details, I'll get down to the point. The best time to view the Firefall is in the middle of February. This year's optimal time is February 12 - 22. For a detailed explanation why this is the case, check out Photographer Michael Frye's excellent article on Photographing Horsetail Fall. There are two locations to photograph the Firefall: the El Capitan Picnic area on Northside Drive and near the Merced River on Southside Drive. Just look for the mass of photographers. One word of caution, getting to these locations can be trickier than you think depending upon the traffic pattern setup in the valley. Sometimes all traffic is routed on one road or another which means a one mile hike to get to your spot. Bring snowshoes just in case!

Knowing the time and place is all well and good, however, the weather must cooperate. The Firefall does not exist if the sun is not setting on it. This weekend's forecast is for snow showers off and on so there is a good possiblility I'll be looking at gray clouds and snow flakes, but heck, I've got to try. I think now you know why I called the Firefall elusive.

The spectacular photo above of the Firefall is courtesy of CHUCK CAGARA from www.MagicalLightPhotography.com. Chuck is a marvelous photographer and I encourage you to check out his website. His work has inspired me and I am hoping to experience something similar, wish me luck!

Año Nuevo State Natural Reserve - A National Geographic Experience

2009-01-18T15:56:00.000-08:00

This past weekend's adventure took us to Año Nuevo SNR located between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz on Hwy 1. Año Nuevo is not your typical coastal state park. Although there are hiking trails and nice beaches, the main feature of this park is that it is the breeding grounds for a large colony of Northern Elephant Seals. Every winter hundereds of elephant seals come to the beaches of Año Nuevo Point to molt, give birth and mate.

As you can imagine, the park is a very popular destination, not only for us Bay Area enthusiasts looking for something to do, but also for people from all over the world who come to this part of the coast to partake in a live "National Geographic" experience. To regulate the flow of visitors during the peak times (December 15- March 31), the park provides/requires guided walks to view the elephant seals in their natural habitat. The cost of the tours are $7.00 per person, plus $7.00 for parking. Reservations are recommended, if you don't have a reservation, get there as early as possible (first tour is at 9:00am). The hike to the elephant seals is about 3 miles round trip, half of it walking on a trail and half on sand. It is a pretty easy trek.

The best times to come to the park are from late December to early February. That is when the animals will be at their most active. It is not uncommon to see the Bull seals battle for a harem or watching a seal being born. On our visit we saw some bulls jockeying for position, but no real fights. We did see a lot of newborn pups (first picture above) and even some amorous males (right).

There are more than just elephant seals at Año Nuevo. Many sea birds and other mammals can be seen within the park. In fact, we had very special encounter with a coyote (left). While approaching our first group of elephant seals near the beach, one of out party spotted a coyote coming towards us on the beach. Of course, that got my attention! I sure was glad I had my zoom lens with me. The coyote made a bee line for an area just out of view. We soon saw that he was feeding on some sort of carcass and at one point had pulled a rib cage into view. He certainly had his fill and headed in the reverse direction after about 20 minutes. Wow! Below are more photos of the coyote with his 'brunch' in addition to a few other select shots. You can check out many more photos on my Picasa Web Albums.

Año Nuevo is a must do on any list of outdoor adventures. In fact, you still have time to check it out this year before the elephant seals head back to sea. I encourage everyone to go and participate in your very own National Geographic Experience!

Certainly a tough looking character

We finally see what he was chomping on. Not much left.

Done for now. Heading back with a full stomach.

Big bull blocking the trail

Brown Pelican in flight.

Crowded beach

Face off. Too bad, the one on the left backed down right away.

Bayfront Park - Menlo Park

2009-01-14T11:40:00.000-08:00

Tucked away in an industrial section of Menlo Park where Marsh Rd and Bayfront Expressway converge is Bayfront Park. It is a city park built on a former landfill with an easy wide gravel road surrounding the park and a spiderweb network of paths and trails among the hills on the interior. I was looking for a new place to hike close to home and I recalled passing this park many times when heading towards the Dumbarton Bridge from Marsh Rd. I had a little time off during the week so I decided to head across the bay and check it out.

The entrance to the park is right off Hwy 101 on the Marsh Rd. exit. Instead of turning R on Bayfront Express way, go straight into the park. There are a couple of parking lots and some parking on the street. There is a restroom at the parking lot, but no water, so be prepared.

View Larger Map

There were no trail maps available but I did know that there was a main trail that circled the park (Thanks Google Maps!).

With camera in hand, (well actually monopod in hand attached to my 50-500mm zoom lens, attached to my camera) I headed out onto the trail. Immediately to the right was a pond filled with a various waterfow, but mostly ducks (Canvas back and Northern Shovelers). I'm not sure what I said or did, but most of them took off when I got near. (pictured left) It was great!

I continued on the loop trail enjoying the easy stroll and keeping my eyes open for what the park had to offer. The salt marsh to the South provided a colorful moon-like landscape while the grassy hills of the park provide a nice balance.

The park is visited by over 180 different species of birds. and in my short time there I ran into a number of different ones : ducks, egrets, sanderlings, sparrows, etc. After traversing about 1.5 miles into loop trail, I headed into the interior of the park and gained a little elevation. Once inside, a myriad of trail options abound. Narrow hiking trails, bike paths and a gravel road provide many possible paths. I meandered for a while and just explored and headed in the general direction of the trail head.

While Bayfront Park may not be one of the most picturesque of the Bay Area Parks, it does provide a nice variety of trails and hiking options. I understand the park can get pretty crowded on the weekends so get there early for the best parking.

You can check out the trail I mapped on my TrimbleOutdoors account. It should be on the BACKPACKER web site soon. Comments and questions are welcomed and encouraged.

Sanderling among salt deposits

Wide trail that loops the park

Grassy fields on the interior of the park

Salt ponds

Northern Shoveler

Salt Marsh and SF Bay as seen from the interior of the park.

Colorful Salt Marsh

San Fransisco Wanderings

2008-12-13T00:53:00.000-08:00

I decided to take the family out on a quick day trip and thought it was time to do something in "The City". San Francisco is just across the bay from me, but always seems so far away. The original plan was to head to Golden Gate park and check out the recent changes to the Stienhart Aquarium and the new California Academy of Sciences, but then I found out that the main thoroughfares into Golden Gate Park are closed to cars on Sundays. Not knowing the area very well, I didn't want to mess with the hassle, especially with the family along. After delving into my memory a bit and a little research, I came up with three places for our venture: Land's End, The Palace of the Legion of Honor and the Sutro Baths. The goal for the day really wasn't to do hiking (Hey, I'm allowed!), but to just to get out of the house for a bit.

In my youth (It seems strange to be able to say that), I used to love heading out to Eagles Point (pictured above) at Land's End for its spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge from outside the gate. With the forecast of a beautiful November Day, I thought it would be a perfect place to take the wife and kids. Close by Land's End is the Palace of the Legion of Honor, a spectacular fine art museum focusing on treasures from 14th - 18th Century Europe and also featuring an impressive Rodin exhibit including an original bronze cast of The Thinker (pictured to the right).

A short drive from the Palace of Legion of Honor is the ruins of the Sutro Baths. The baths, built in 1896, was the world's largest indoor swimming complex. It was quite the destination with seven swimming pools, an observation deck that sat thousands and a structure of concrete, steel and 100,000 panes of glass. All that is left now are some concrete walls and remnants of some pools, but it is a fun place to explore.

We hit all three places and had a great time indoors and out (though the kids did get tired of the museum). We still did a little bit of walking, okay, a lot of walking (especially in the museum. I also scoped out a nice hike for the future: The Land's End Trail. This trail goes from Eagle point to the Sutro Baths (pictured to the left) and I am planning on working out a loop hike which I hope to feature soon. I'm not providing a lot of details for this trip, but I won't apologize, I'll let you find your own experiences there. Here's a web site with nice map.

I encourage you to head to "The City" and see some great sites and check these places out. There's quite a bit of variety and you can spend a few hours or the whole day. I've provided some links below for more details on each location. Enjoy!

Land's End - Located on El Camino del Mar St on the Eastern edge of Lincoln Park.
Palace of the Legion of Honor - Located at 34th Ave & Clement St in the center of Lincoln Park.
Sutro Baths - Near the Cliff House on Point Lobos Ave and Merrie Way.

small Rodin sculputre

Great Egret at the baths

Closeup of the Great Egret

Kids playing on the Ruins

Coyote Hills Bird Watching

2008-11-22T23:35:00.000-08:00

I just purchased a new zoom lens, okay, a monster zoom lens (Simga 50-500mm) and decided I had to see what this thing could do. Weighing in at 4 pounds, it is quadruple the weight of my camera. My REI Hiker walking stick provided stabilization, but just barely (I can't wait until Christmas).

I knew the perfect place to go: Coyote Hills in Fremont. The coastal hills and wetlands are a great place to view wildlife, especially birds. Even though we arrived later than I wanted, I was hoping some of the critters were still out and about. We (Ronald and I) parked in the "free" lot and headed into the park. It wasn't looking too good, there was not much action in the sky.

The first bird we came across was a Golden-crowned Sparrow (At least I think it was one). There were a number of them playing in the reeds on the side of the trial and I snapped off a few shots. I soon spotted a number of hawks circling above me, but they were right in the sun and there was no way I could get a shot of them. In fact, the hawks teased me the whole time I was there. Always out of reach even with the monster lens!

A bit further down the trail we came to a small canal with a number of Mallard Ducks bathing. I was hoping for Egrets and Herons, but the ducks would have to do. I hefted the 15" of lens through the reeds and kept the shutter busy. The ducks did not disappoint and I appreciated their cooperation.

We walked a bit further towards Dairy Glen, but it became apparent that we weren't going to see much more. Heading back to the car, a couple of guys on mountain bikes passed us and I heard one of them say to his buddy, "Did you see that lens?". I smiled, stood a bit taller and continued on.

Coyote Hills is a great place for hiking, biking and wildlife viewing. The terrain varies from plank walkways through the wetlands to trails along the bay. The park connects to Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge to the South and the Alameda Creek Trail to the North. You can check out a nice loop trail at Backpacker.com (I didn't map this one, but it is still a good trek). I've posted a number of photos below. Click on them to see a better resolution pic.

Fall Spectacular - Tomales Point Trail

2008-11-16T00:21:00.000-08:00

At the Northern most edge of Pt. Reyes National Park is Tomales Point, a peninsula situated with Tomales Bay to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West. It is also a spectacular place to hike! I first got the idea to try this trail out after discovering Tom Mangan's blog: Two-Heel Drive. Tom picked up my story on Cloud's Rest and the number of visitors to this site sky rocketed (Thanks Tom!). Tomales Point is listed as one of his top 5 best hikes and since I love Point Reyes and had a Saturday free, I gathered the group of usual suspects (Tim, Tony, Bob and my son Ron) and we headed north.

We could not ask for better weather: no fog, no wind, a clear sunny day! The 4.9-mile hike to the end of the trail took us a lot longer than on the way back. The photographic opportunities were tremendous. Of course, the coastal scenery was great and we gazed at the high cliffs, crashing waves and pristine beaches as we headed to the point. There were parts of the trail where one can see the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean on one side and deep blue waters of Tomales Bay on the other.

I had heard about the wildlife in the area, especially the Tule Elk and we were not disappointed. Right off the bat we were entertained by a little long-tailed weasel (pictured left), popping up and down among the grasses in front of us. It looked like he was teasing us. Besides the elk and weasel, we saw or heard a myriad of wildlife: black-tailed deer, sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, black oystercatchers, seaguls, California red-sided gartersnake, turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons.

We continued on and soon had our first siting of the Tule Elk (pictured below). A large bull elk was standing proud on the bluff, reminding me of the Hartford commercials. As we came closer, we saw a dozen or so females mulling about. Apparently the bull wasn't happy with all the attention and he gathered his herd and moved them away. We could see more bulls in the distance so we continued on the trail with cameras in hand.
The group of bulls were next in a series of encounters with the Elk. The most memorable was a National Geographic moment. Two rutting bulls decided to lock horns. Cameras were ready, but apparently, my brain wasn't. I had the wrong settings on my camera and although I captured the perfect moment when they came against each other, a 1/60 shutter speed, fast moving elk and excited hands make for a very bad photo(pictured left)! Picture or not, the memory is in my head and it is one that will last a long time!

I highly recommend this 10-mile hike. I imagine it will be a bit different during "normal" Pt. Reyes weather (windy, foggy, etc.). I would rate this trip as an easy to moderate hike. There is an elevation change of about a 1000 ft over the course of the trip. Most of the trail was well packed but it did get soft and sandy as you neared the point. A rough draft (very rough) trip report and map of this hike and additional photos can be found on TrimbleOutdoors. The polished version will be available soon at BACKPACKER magazine and more photos will be on my Picasa web albums as soon as I can go through them. Thanks for taking the time to read about this trip. Your comments are welcome and appreciated.

After the faceoff

Elk everywhere

Silhouette of Pelicans

Cypress Trees at Pierce Point Ranch

Clouds Rest - A Heroic Acheivement

2008-10-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday (October 18), I headed to Tenaya Lake with a few friends to tackle Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park. We arrived at the Sunrise Trailhead on the South side of Tenaya Lake at about 7:00am. Soon after we got there, a caravan of vehicles pulled up and out poured multitude young energetic souls on a mission. Many were gathered around the back of a pickup truck, unstrapping a contraption and pulling it out. The device appeared to be a cross between a sled, a wheel barrow and a wheel chair (I came to find out later it is called a Trail Rider). It soon became clear that this thing would be headed up the trail and not only that, there would be a person riding in it.

Curious about what was going on, I discovered that the trip was the brain child of Nick Cunningham, the Director of Generation Fate, a non-profit organization that works with foster children. I asked Nick what inspired this event and he said "I was sitting at the top of an active volcano in Guatemala enjoying the breathtaking view of a sprawling rainforest like I had never seen before. I was in a state of awe and euphoria gazing over the beautiful landscape sure that I was the luckiest man in the world. When suddenly, and to this day I am not sure why, it dawned on me that kids who use wheelchairs could never make it to where I was sitting." He had a vision to change that and the Nobel Heights crew was born.

Riding on the sled would be a special young man, Austin Taylor, a 20 year old paraplegic and "Guinea Pig". Austin was placed in the Trail Rider and supported by a team of volunteers, headed up the challenging trail to the top of Clouds Rest.

My buddies and I left ahead of the group talking about Austin and how special it was to be a witness to this momentous event. As we tackled different parts of the trail, we wondered how the heck anyone would be able to get that sled, let alone carrying someone in it, up the mountain.

In a few hours, we arrived at the top of Clouds Rest. The last part of the trail is a narrow shoulder with steep drops on both sides. Surely they wouldn't make it up there. However, 20 minutes after we arrived, up came the crew. Excitement bristled among everyone at the summit. Here we were almost 10,000 ft in elevation and with us on top of the mountain was Austin, a 20-year old young man "who has used a wheelchair since birth".

Being on top of Clouds Rest was an awesome experience and having the opportunity to see the heroic act of Austin and the entire Nobel Heights Crew made it that much better. I congratulate the whole team for their effort and inspiration.

(Austin looking out towards Half Dome and the Valley)

(On the way down)

note: some photographs were supplied by Nick Cunnigham.

Close To Home - Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge

2008-10-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

Along the bay in the shadow of the Dumbarton Bridge lays a Bay Area Gem: Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. The territory for this park encompasses much of the wetlands of the South-East Bay, but the headquarters is in little ol' Newark.

This park is teeming with birds of all sorts from waterfowl to raptors. Over 280 species can be spied at different times of the year. On a brisk Saturday morning, I packed up my new camera and headed out to play with my new zoom lens.

(Hundreds of birds reflecting in the bay waters)

The route I chose for this hike was a short 1.6 mile loop along the Tidelands Trail and then back through the Harrier Spur Trail. It just so happens that one of my first sites at the park was hundreds of birds gliding along the calm waters of the bay. There are trails that go out into the bay along the salt ponds, but many sections are currently under construction and closed. One of the main trails at the park is the Newark Slough, however the preferred method of travel for that route is a kayak!

The Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge is a great place for hiking and wildlife viewing. It is less crowded than its neighbor, Coyote Hills. Plus, parking is free!

You can get more information on this hike at BACKPACKER Magazine.

Yosemite Adventure - Lyell Canyon and Beyond...

2008-09-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

I love Yosemite and have always wanted to take a trip to and through Lyell Canyon. Lyell Canyon is connected to Tuolumne Meadows in the High Country of Yosemite. Last week I finally got out there and know why this was one of Ansel Adam's favorite places in Yosemite.

The plan for the week was to arrive in Yosemite Valley on Monday, drop of the car at the Trailhead parking and take a shuttle up to Tuolumne Meadows. The only problem was that the shuttle schedule changed and they only left at 8:00am. Oh well, we went ahead and drove to Tuolumne Meadows and prayed that we would find a way back to the car Friday (Prayers were answered with special thanks to Dale and JoAnne!).

With car issues out of our minds, we (my hiking buddy Tim and I) headed east on the John Muir Trail into Lyell Canyon. The hike into the canyon was easy and mostly flat with a 400 ft elevation gain over 6 miles. The canyon is really a large and long meadow with the Tuolumne River snaking through it. Tall grasses, fallen logs, tall trees, trickling sounds encompassed us along the trail.

Our six mile journey took longer than usual as I attempted to drain the batteries on my camera. We finally arrived at our destination, just past the trail junction that heads to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp. After setting up our trail camp, I went to work on the camera batteries again, took a break to eat dinner and then headed back to the river. While pumping water, I encountered a White Tailed Deer across the river and watched her for a while.

It was a full moon that night and I was excited to try my hand at some night time photography. The moon crested over the eastern ridge of the canyon and lit up the whole valley. It was a clear night and the stars shown brightly even with the the bright orb in the sky. The photo to the right shows the big dipper above Lyell Canyon. This was a perfect ending to a perfect day!

BACKPACKER magazine's writeup for the entire 5-day trip is now on-line. Check it out here.

Emigrant Wilderness - Chewing Gum Lake

2008-09-02T21:21:00.001-07:00

I just finished my second trip to Chewing Gum Lake (8700ft) in Emigrant Wilderness. Six weeks earlier, I enjoyed the abundant wildflowers of Emigrant Wilderness, the reflective waters of Chewing Gum Lake and the voracious blood thirsty mosquitoes. Now that September is here, most of the wildflowers are gone but so are the mosquitoes. The skies were clear for the weekend, but a steady wind met us at the lake Saturday evening and blew harder on Sunday. One advantage of all that wind is it provided incredibly clear skies and the best stargazing I have ever experienced in the back country. The photo below is an eleven minute exposure taken Saturday evening before the wind started to blow. The tree was briefly highlighted by my son's headlamp.

(click on image for a larger view)

Why hike to Chewing Gum Lake? At 4.5 miles, this destination is perfect for those who would prefer a leisurely hike (700ft elevation gain, 600ft elevation loss) as opposed to a death march! Hiking in early to mid summer will surround you in the wildflowers (vibrant Mule Ears pictured left) of Emigrant Wilderness. Even though the lake is a popular destination spot, it is a big enough lake that you can find isolation even on a busy holiday weekend.

Trailhead: HWY 108 East towards Pinecrest. R on Pinecrest Lake Rd. R on Dodge Ridge Rd. R on forest road 4N26 toward Aspen Meadows. Turn L at the signed junction for Gianelli Cabin and Crabtree Trailheads. Continue on dirt road approximately 2.5 miles to Trailhead. Note: Free Wilderness Permit must be obtained at Summit Ranger Station (Corner of Hwy 108 & Pinecrest Lake Rd) for any overnight stays. Also, there are no services at the trailhead, water or toilets. Plan accordingly.

Way Beyond...

2008-08-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

My goal at Bay Area Outdoors is to focus on activities in the Bay Area and Northern California; however, last week I took the family to Alaska on a cruise and had to share it. I will skip all of the usual cruise fare: over eating, over-indulgent, etc and focus one of the ports we visited: Juneau, Alaska.

I knew ahead of time that my son Ronald, friend Tim and I were going to do a "Guide's Choice" Adventure hike in Juneau. Guide's Choice meant I had no clue where we were going to hike. Not too comforting for an obsessive planner like me; however, I knew that no matter where we ended up, I was going to map it for Backpacker Magazine. They even sent me the new Garmin Oregon 400t to test out. Sweet!

We met our guide at the pier and he advised us we were going up the Perseverance Trail along side Gold Creek (pictured left) in the area where gold was first found in Alaska. It was a short drive to the trail head and we found ourselves in a canyon between Mt. Juneau and Mt. Roberts. There was a light drizzle as we began our gentle ascent up the trail. Our guide talked about the trail explaining that it was one of the original roads in Juneau and used by Miners in the Alaskan Gold Rush. We passed by an opening into the mountain, an old mineshaft. A chilly breeze hit us from the entryway as we passed it by.

The first part of the trial is basically a narrow road winding up the hill. Our guide, Dirk, a native Alaskan and local school teacher, explained that the trail had just been worked on and much of the vegetation on parts of the trail had been cut down, but not to worry, we would soon be in the heart of the rain forest. We soon turned a corner to a vista of "Snowslide Gulch" where, true to it's name, snow slides down from Mt. Roberts into Gold Creek. Just after the vista we got our first glimpse of Ebner Falls (pictured right), a picturesque 40ft drop into an aqua pool. If only it wasn't raining!

It was at this point we started encountering a lot of vegetation. Wild berries and wild flowers along with numerous other plants lined the trail. Salmon berries, watermelon berries, blue berries, eldeberry trees, monkshood, wild geranium(pictured below left), yarrow, cow parsnip, devils club, alder, Sitka spruce and Alaskan hemlock are just some of the fauna we ventured past.

We turned off the Perseverance trail onto the Red Mill Trail to get view from the Mt. Roberts side of the canyon. This made for a nice loop and a viewing of a few Mountain Goats dotted around the peaks. Dotted is the right term since all you really could see is a small white dot (if you were lucky). That was pretty much it for the fauna we saw. Yes I was expecting more wildlife, but not disappointed with where we were and the experience of hiking in Alaska.

Finishing up the Red Mill Trail, we returned to the Perseverance Trail were greeted with a snow capped view of Clark Peak. The trail soon entered a snow field and presented a magnificent view of Alaska Chief Falls (pictured below). This was the final feature destination of the hike. The falls cascade down the mountain about 300ft. We hiked a short distance to a vista of the falls where Dirk talked about the history of the place and the mines, minors and natives of the area. Alas, that was as far as the trail would take us. It was time to head back. We had a cruise ship waiting for us!

View more photos from this trip and other places visited in Alaska here.

Where to go, What to do...

2008-08-02T23:29:00.000-07:00

For the past three years I have been recording a number of hikes and trips for BACKPACKER magazine. I've traveled all over the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California exploring various parks and trails and have been wanting to catalog these hikes in one location. Finally, that list is a reality! Below is the list of hikes I've done for the magazine. Additional information for each hike can be found by clicking the link and reading the write up on BACKPACKER Magazine's web site. Venturing to these places has been a great experience and I hope that you will enjoy them as much as I have.

Bay Area
Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge - Newark, CA: Tidelands Loop
Mission Peak RP - Fremont, CA: Mission Peak - Ohlone Trailhead
Dry Creek Regional Park - Hayward, CA: Tolman Peak Loop
Rancho San Antonio - Los Altos, CA: Upper Wildcat Canyon Loop
Portola Redwoods State Park - La Honda, CA - : Pescadero Creek Loop
Garin Park - Hayward, CA: High Ridge Loop Trail
Sunol Regional Wilderness - Sunol, CA: Indian Joe Trail Loop
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP - Felton, CA: Cowell Redwoods Loop
Mission Peak RP - Fremont: Mission Peak via Hidden Valley Trail
Big Basin State Park- Boulder Creek, CA: Berry Creek Falls Loop
Pleasanton Ridge RP- Pleasanton, CA: Pleasanton Ridgeline Loop
Point Reyes NS - Inverness, CA: Point Reyes Glen Camp Loop
Big Basin SP- Boulder Creek, CA: Sequoia Loop to Sempevirens Falls

Beyond
Emigrant Wilderness - Pinecrest, CA: Chewing Gum Lake
Emigrant Wilderness - Pinecrest, CA: Camp Lake/Bear Lake
El Dorado NF - Loon Lake Reservoir, CA: Loon Lake to Spider Lake
King Range NCA - Shelter Cove, CA: Lost Coast Trail
Las Vegas, NV: The Strip (seriously, kinda)
Yosemite National Park: Dewey Point Snowshoe Hike
Yosemite National Park: Mist Trail
Yosemite National Park: Panorama Trail
Yosemite National Park: Sentinel Dome Loop
Yosemite National Park: Nevada Falls Loop
Yosemtie National Park: Lyell Canyon to Yosemite Valley
Yosemtie National Park: Mariposa Grove Loop
Yosemtie National Park: Clouds Rest
Legend
NP - National Park; NS - National Seashore; NF - National Forest;
NCA - National Conservation Area; SP - State Park; RP - Regional Park

African Safari in the Bay Area?

2008-07-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

Tucked away in the North Bay is a gem of a place called Safari West. Safari West is a wildlife preserve nestled in Santa Rosa, CA on a 400 acre ranch. The mammals at Safari West are native to Africa. There are cheetahs, giraffes, lemurs, antelope, ..., you get the picture. There are also a wide variety of exotic birds from all over the world.

Tours at Safari West require reservations and ours was scheduled for 1:00pm. I didn't know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised by what we experienced. We started the 2 1/2 hour tour with a walk through their aviary where we saw a number of spectacular exotic birds close up. My favorite was the Scarlet Ibis (pictured left). I had never seen a bird that color in my life. There must have been 20 different species of birds in there, all with their own unique flair.

Leaving the aviary behind, we ventured towards the cheetahs. On our way there, we stopped to look at some antelope in a nearby field. This was very close to a zoo setting and I was a bit surprised to not see these creatures running around the expansive 400 acres of the rest of the park. They did have a newborn with them and little guy sure was cute. Of course, the cheetah area was right next to them and for some reason, one of the cheetahs decided to make its presence known and the antelope instinctively started running. They were safe, if not a bit shook up. It must be tough on the cheetahs though. We moved on to the cheetah area. There are four cheetahs in the park, but they are kept separate.
It was amazing being up close to the sleek beast. We moved on to a few more exhibits, all of which were very similar to a zoo experience. Not what I was expecting, but I knew there was more to come. We saw lemurs, howler monkeys, foxes and several more exotic birds (Sarus Crane pictured on the left).

We finished up the walking portion of the tour and then our guide, Robert, pointed to one of the safari vehicles and motioned for us to get in. There were four seats at the very top and everyone wanted up there. The four young boys went first, one of which was my son Ronald. I can tell you he won't forget that seat for a long time! The first animals we encountered were the giraffes. I had heard they had a new born calf that was just three weeks old. We circled around the giraffes area and came up to a gate. Robert got out, opened the gate and took us through. Now we were really starting our adventure! We didn't go too far before the jeep stopped right next to a small herd of giraffes. There was still a fence separating us from them, but that didn't prevent us from having a very close encounter. One of the giraffes, a male, made straight for the boys sitting on the top of the jeep. Another, a female with spittle dripping from its mouth made straight for my wife! There were howls of shock and glee as these magnificent beasts came towards us. Fortunately, my wife was protected by the roof of the vehicle and managed to stay mostly dry. That was not the case for my son. The big guy decided to make his presence known and chew a little on my son's seatbelt. Robert offered to photograph this event for me since we were not allowed out of the jeep. Robert got some great shots and it was the perfect start to the safari portion of the trip.

The jeep continued on and we passed through four other areas. Each with a variety of animal, too many to list but I will try. We saw magnificent Impalas and stunning East African Crowned Cranes, Springbok Antelopes, White Rhinos, Gazelles, Impalas, zebras, Bongos, Cape Buffalo (very dangerous, just search YouTube), Wildebeest and a rare sighting of a Gemsbok (pictured to the left). Our guide commented to me that our group was able to see a good percentage of the animals out there.

One of my personal favorites was my own close encounter with an Ostrich. They are not the brightest, nor prettiest, but I was fascinated as one approached me. It kept coming closer and closer right towards me. It finally stopped within just a few inches of my camera lens. I think this was making our guide a bit nervous and he decided it was time to move on.

I truly enjoyed our time at Safari West and know I will be back there in the future. I was surprised at how "up close and personal" we were able to get to these awesome creatures. For more information about Safari West, checkout their web site: www.safariwest.com (I am in no way affiliated with Safari West, just a very satisfied customer!)

See more photos from this trip here.

Snowshoeing in Yosemite - Dewey Point

2008-07-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

With the heat of the summer, I thought it would be nice to remember that it is not always this hot in California. Here is a hike from this Spring in Yosemite. I hope you enjoy it. I know I did!

The goal of the weekend was to venture a trail in a way I've never done before, by way of snowshoes. I’ve been a GPS Map Correspondent for Backpacker Magazine for almost three years now and wanted to try something new. My favorite photograph of Ansel Adams is "Oak Tree, Snow Storm, Yosemite Valley, 1948". Many a time I have dreamed of journeying to Yosemite to sneak a glimpse of this grand place under a fresh snowfall. Alas, I must still dream…

Although the weather during our visit Easter weekend of 2008, did not produce the snowfall I had hoped, it did provide the next best thing: a series of perfect spring days! Small patches of snow still could still be found in shaded locations on the valley floor and there was plenty higher up. Since I had never been on snowshoes before, I decided to do a little test drive on Friday. Two-mile Ranger guided snowshoe hikes are offered daily at the Badger Pass Ranger station. The tour was free ($5 donation requested) and included the snowshoes!
I talked my kids to giving it a try and We hiked on 4 ft of hard packed snow up Old Glacier Point Road to the original Badger Pass ski runs where we were treated to great views of the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the back side of Half Dome (looks like a full dome from the back)! With a couple miles on my new RedFeather snowshoes, I knew that I'd be able to handle Sunday’s hike to Dewey Point.

On Saturday, I left the snowshoes in my car and with camera in hand headed into Yosemite Valley. I have been to Yosemite many times in the late spring and summer and expect the crowds, sometimes oppressive; however, I didn't expect the crush of people in the early spring. Maybe it was the beautiful weather, but most likely it was the Majesty of the park that beckoned everyone there. It didn't matter though; I got what I came for and more. Stunning vistas of the valley from Tunnel View; a prismatic Bridal Veil Falls glistening in the afternoon sun; an ice dome at the bottom of Upper Yosemite Falls and the grandeur of El Capitan dissipated the crowds from my mind.

Early Easter morning, with the valley images fresh in my mind, my hiking buddy Tim, son Ronald and I headed back to Badger Pass to put on the snowshoes and take in the sites of Dewey Point. On the road ahead I saw something; it was just a glimpse, a coyote, in his full winter camouflage. He stopped and glanced at me; the type of glance wildlife gives intruders and darted off and was gone. It was just a second of my life, but enough for me to realize the day ahead was going to be special.

It was cold at the trailhead, but what you would expect being surrounded by snow, pines, and firs. We geared up and with GPS in hand and the trailhead waypoint marked, began our trek on Glacier Point Road. You couldn't tell it was a road, there were machine groomed Nordic trails embedded in the snow. As we hiked, the only sound you could hear was the crunching of the snowshoes on the crusty trail. After about a mile, we left Glacier Point Road for Trail 18. The sign warned us: easier first mile, most difficult last 1.5 mile. No problem, we were ready for it. The trail marked by reflectors in the trees, guided us to a vast meadow. At the end of the meadow we picked up the narrow trail and now had the most difficult part left. The trail wound around the Red Firs and Lodge Pole Pines and gained and lost small amounts of elevation. I would not have called it difficult in the hard packed snow. It would have been more challenging had I been using cross country skis or in heavy powder.

In no time at all we reached the point and were rewarded! I was in awe with the view. I had already experienced similar views of Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, but this was different. Maybe because we were closer to the valley entrance; maybe it was the solitude. I did my best to drain my camera’s battery.

It was just the three of us at the point; such a stark contrast to the day before when I could feel the crush of the crowds on the valley floor. It was as if we had the whole of Yosemite to ourselves. We pulled out the JetBoil for some SanteFe Chicken and gazed at El Capitan just across the way, Cathedral Rocks below us and the rest of the valley beyond. After about a half hour of bliss, I heard sounds of others approaching, I glanced at them like the coyote did to me, not too happy with the intrusion. Within ten minutes, we packed up our stuff and we were gone.

Checkout this hike and the GPS route at BACKPACKER magazine.

Welcome to Bay Area Outdoors (and Beyond)

2008-07-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

I've been threatening to start up a blog for sometime so I can share some of my outdoor experiences. As my profile states, I am a GPS map correspondent for BACKPACKER magazine and have put a few miles on my feet in the past few years. Basically what that means is I use a GPS (global positioning system) receiver to record the hikes I go on and then get to share them with the public. What I hope to accomplish with this blog is to provide more detail on some of these hikes and also an avenue to share the photos and experiences of these travels. I encourage feedback and questions and hope to start posting soon.

Just for a start, here is a photo from last weekend's trip to Chewing Gum Lake in Emigrant Wilderness. Enjoy!