Few apps have improved day to day life like Uber or Lyft. Hikes are no exception. Most trailruns & hikes are traditionally loops or out and back routes unless a drop off or car shuttle is arranged in advance. Uber…
Cycling & Hiking Big Sur along CA 1 without Cars
Visiting the Big Sur delivers a unique experience due to limited access. Landslides, fires, and floods buffeted the region over the last 12 months. CA 1 Northern auto access is closed to a bridge outage at Big Sur. Southern access…
Backpacking with Kids to Camp Lake in Emigrant Wilderness
Granite peaks, cool mountain lakes, and a relatively easy permit system make the Emigrant Wilderness an excellent destination. The 113,000 acre Emigrant Wilderness borders Yosemite National Park to the north shares many of Yosemite’s features. In July I went backpacking…
Heather Lake Snowshoe in Sequoia National Park
Adventures that often do not go according to plan make for the best memories. In late May, Mark my frequent adventure partner and I visited Sequoia National Park. Heather Lake, Pear Lake, and Alta Peak (11,204 feet) were our destinations…
Monte Bello Backpacking with Kids above the Clouds
Monte Bello Open Space Preserve is one of the best introductory backpacking trips in the Bay Area. This Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) protects a watershed in the Santa Cruz Mountains about Palo Alto. The Black Mountain Backpack Camp…
Weekend Recharge: Mori Point Flowers, Whales, & Fog Trailrun
Feeding humpback whales, blooming flowers, and expansive vistas make Mori Point an excellent destination. After a busy week at work, I usually recharge with a trailrun to clear my mind. Mori Point, part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, in Pacifica…
Visiting Chinese National Parks in Sichuan and Yunnan
I recently returned from an outstanding family trip to Southwest China. We visited the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan. Both provinces border Tibet and are traditional crossroads. Yunnan is further south and borders Burma and Laos. Sichuan had many important…
Big Basin State Park Packrafting on Waddell Creek
Not all adventures turn out as planned. I recently hiked and packrafted Waddell Creek in Big Basin State Park. Big Basin is California’s oldest State Park. The 30+ mile Skyline to the Sea trail bisects Big Basin as it descends…
Pinnacles National Park Family Camping
Pinnacles National Park is an excellent family camping destination for the spring & fall. The park is located ~100 miles south of San Francisco between the Central Valley & the Salinas Valley. Pinnacles protects volcanic peaks, accessible caves, interesting hikes,…
Packrafting Pescadero Creek
Packrafting Pescadero Creek is an ideal spot for my first packrafting adventure. First, Pescadero State Beach protects a unique ecosystem. The state beach & adjacent & Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve protect the mouth of Pescadero Creek, the largest marsh between…