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,…
Spending time outdoors reminds me that I am usually not in control. The conditions dictate what is possible. I’m looking forward to hiking in the Big Sur over the holidays, but the Soberanes Fire burned over 132,127 acres this summer. …
Outdoors California is a treasure trove with coastal mountains, redwoods, the Sierra/Cascades, and the desert. People often drive past the Central California on their way to somewhere else. Pinnacles National Park, about 30 miles South of Hollister, is an excellent…
Life has been especially busy recently with family and work. This Thursday night and Friday, I’m planning a 24 hour adventure to a California National Park. My original plan was to leave Thursday night, summit an objective on Friday, and return…
REI Let’s Camp, glamping, & other campaigns are increasing the popularity of camping & backpacking. With more parks using quotas, the campaigns are also increasing the popularity of backcountry reservations. Obtaining a coveted site can take planning and a little luck,…
How can families safely explore the backcountry in winter when poor weather can transform an adventure into a survival situation? Visiting warm spots like the CA coast is one solution. Another approach is reserving a backcountry National Park or Forest…
I visited a popular local park with my boys today. At noon ~75% of visitors disappeared in line with the 12:05 Patriots/Broncos kick-off. A few years ago, I climbed the tallest peak at Lake Tahoe (Mt Freel) on Super Bowl…
Drought stricken Sierra had its first significant snowfall last week. What better time for a quick one night trip to climb one of Northern California’s iconic peaks, 9735’ Mount Tallac. Tallac towers overs Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake, & the Desolation…
Glaciers carved Yosemite Valley and once covered the Sierra. Remnant glaciers dot the Sierra but are rapidly receding. Several recent articles have documented the disappearing glaciers of the Sierra – especially the Lyell Glacier in Yosemite. I’ve also climbed amidst…
California hosts many of America’s best long distance trails. The trails mirror California’s diversity, but the trails and routes all showcase the best of California and are over 30 miles in length. The trails range from the John Muir Trail…