Day-Trips Galleries

Berkeley Hills Park Walk 2009 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers on a connect-the-dots park walk in the Berkeley Hills. Rich devised a circular route taking in a bunch of the best publicly-accessible rock outcrops and overlooks in the Berkeley Hills. Our day included a picnic lunch with a view at Cragmont Park, and a Plastic Jesus sound-effect sing-a-long at John Hinkel Park. Most of us ended our excellent day in Berkeley with dinner at the Jupiter Brew Pub on Shattuck Avenue.

Berkeley Hills Park Walk 2009

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers on a connect-the-dots park wal ...

Updated: Nov 16, 2009 7:51pm PST

Mount Tam 2009 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers to Mount Tamalpais in Marin County. A gorgeous sunny day for a 7-mile double loop. One 6-mile canyon and ridge trail loop around Middle Peak, and a bonus 1-mile loop on the paved trail around East Peak. Gorgeous views all around.

Mount Tam 2009

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers to Mount Tamalpais in Marin Co ...

Updated: Oct 25, 2009 12:48am PST

Five Lakes 2009 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers to Five Lakes Basin in Granite Chief Wilderness, above Alpine Meadows near Lake Tahoe. It was a baking hot day, but fortunately the hike was short and there was some shade available. It was great seeing old friends we haven't hiked with for a while.

Five Lakes 2009

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers to Five Lakes Basin in Granite ...

Updated: Sep 26, 2009 9:31pm PST

Donner-Judah 2009 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers to Donner Peak and Mt Judah, near Donner Pass. Extremely warm day, but a fine hike with excellent company. Here are Geno's photos from this hike and my photos taken here in 2007.

Donner-Judah 2009

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers to Donner Peak and Mt Judah, n ...

Updated: Aug 30, 2009 4:17pm PST

Mount Lola 2009 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. It'd been several months since I'd been able to hike with the group, so it was great to get out. Rich planned out an excellent dayhike to the summit of Mount Lola, northwest of Truckee, back a few miles off Henness Pass Road. It was a very warm, dry day, but everyone completed the hike OK. Excellent scenery and terrific company. We missed Bonnie and Jean and a couple of other friends who couldn't join us. Thanks go to our drivers who were willing to drive us in on the rough road!

Mount Lola 2009

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. It'd been several months sinc ...

Updated: Jul 19, 2009 8:07pm PST

Mt St Helena 2009 : Bonnie proposed a hike to Mt St Helena in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park at the top of Napa Valley. Great idea! The weather cooperated nicely. Bonnie, Jean and I met my friend Pat, who came up from the Bay Area. On the way, we passed a rock climbing venue where I climbed with a college class back in the 1970s. We also watched hang gliders and parasailers soaring over the summit. We capped the day with an italian dinner in Calistoga. Another day well spent!

Mt St Helena 2009

Bonnie proposed a hike to Mt St Helena in Robert Louis Stevenson State ...

Updated: May 12, 2009 7:56pm PST

Boreal Snowshoe 2009 : Snowshoe hike near Boreal Ridge, planned by Howdy. An excellent day, ideal weather, great company.

Boreal Snowshoe 2009

Snowshoe hike near Boreal Ridge, planned by Howdy. An excellent day, i ...

Updated: Apr 01, 2009 9:51pm PST

Rancho Seco Vernal Vista 2009 : Dayhike with Jean at Rancho Seco Lake, 25 miles south of Sacramento. It was a cool, breezy day, in between rain storms. For more information about this area, check out SMUD - Rancho Seco Recreation Area and Cosumnes River Preserve.

Rancho Seco Vernal Vista 2009

Dayhike with Jean at Rancho Seco Lake, 25 miles south of Sacramento. I ...

Updated: Feb 12, 2009 9:33pm PST

Cronan Ranch 2009 : Let's not have any jokes about Cronan the Barbarian. This was a highly civilized dayhike, suggested by Geno and organized by Bonnie. We visited Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park near Coloma, along the South Fork of the American River. It was a January day but the weather felt like April or May.

Cronan Ranch 2009

Let's not have any jokes about Cronan the Barbarian. This was a highly ...

Updated: Jan 20, 2009 8:09pm PST

Bear Valley-Arch Rock 2009 : County hike planned and organized by Mike D. He picked a fine route at Point Reyes National Seashore, on the Bear Valley Trail. Nice choice for most of us who haven't been out hiking for a while, to get back into shape. Thanks to Mike for organizing the hike and helping us check out various dining options at Point Reyes Station afterward.

Bear Valley-Arch Rock 2009

County hike planned and organized by Mike D. He picked a fine route at ...

Updated: Jan 03, 2009 10:36pm PST

New Year's Echo 2009 : New Year's Day 2009 snowshoe mini-trek with Jean. We parked at the Echo Lakes Sno-Park off US 50, near Echo Summit. The skies were quite sunny and the weather was mild. We ventured over to the crest at Johnson Pass, overlooking Hwy 89 and the Upper Truckee River Canyon. We looped around some boarded-up cabins to check out the view. We contemplated a venture up toward Echo Lake, but decided to make it a short trip and head back to the trailhead. A fun little jaunt, just about a mile total. Nice warm-up for more snowshoeing this winter!

New Year's Echo 2009

New Year's Day 2009 snowshoe mini-trek with Jean. We parked at the Ech ...

Updated: Jan 01, 2009 9:41pm PST

Eagle Peak 2008 : Dayhike on the north side of Mount Diablo, with Alameda Frank, Bonnie, Jean, Jim, and Tiocampo Frank (yours truly). Bonnie suggested Mount Diablo as a hiking venue, and we decided to do something other than the summit loop for a change. We knew we were meeting Alameda Frank at the Mitchell Canyon Trailhead, and were pleased to also meet Jim who came over from the SF Peninsula. The original plan was to go up the Mitchell Canyon Trail and back down over Eagle Peak. Alameda Frank suggested we do an all-hiking-trail route up the north side of Eagle Peak and return on the Back Creek Trail. This turned out to be much better than the original idea, which would have been vehicle-width fire trail much of the way. Jean and I had to return to Sacramento fairly early, so this ended up being a fast, relatively short hike, but a very enjoyable one. Here are Jim's photos from this hike.

Eagle Peak 2008

Dayhike on the north side of Mount Diablo, with Alameda Frank, Bonnie, ...

Updated: Nov 12, 2008 1:28am PST

Round Top - Winnemucca Lakes Loop 2008 : Rain-dodging dayhike with Dave, Jean, and Frank.

Round Top - Winnemucca Lakes Loop 2008

Rain-dodging dayhike with Dave, Jean, and Frank.

Updated: Oct 18, 2008 9:04pm PST

Loch Leven Lakes 2008 : Windy, cool, sunny dayhike to Loch Leven Lakes with Bonnie, David, and Jean.

Loch Leven Lakes 2008

Windy, cool, sunny dayhike to Loch Leven Lakes with Bonnie, David, and ...

Updated: Oct 14, 2008 10:00pm PST

Castle Peak 2008 : Sunny summit hike to Castle Peak with Bonnie and Jean. Clear skies, warm temps, fine company.

Castle Peak 2008

Sunny summit hike to Castle Peak with Bonnie and Jean. Clear skies, wa ...

Updated: Sep 28, 2008 4:11pm PST

Shot Rock Ramble 2008 : Rich came up with another excellent venue for our monthly county hike. It was a rambling cross-country hike in the open granite area near Shot Rock Vista on Highway 88. In bright, warm sunshine we hiked down across a basin, over a bunch of exfoliated granite, and up to a small lake in a hidden basin. After lunch we continued on and hiked up to a ridge overlooking the Bear River. Our group got scattered about a bit, but we kept in touch via walky-talky and met up again out in the big granite basin. All that was left was a long hard scramble back up to the cars at Shot Rock. By unanimous vote we reconvened for dinner at Plasse Resort by Silver Lake, further up Hwy 88. It was a splendid day, and very nice to see some old buddies we haven't hiked with for a while. Thanks as always to Rich for coming up with another great hiking location. Important caveat: This off-trail hike is recommended only for hikers who are OK with scrambling through large boulder fields and dealing with manzanita and willow thickets. Time now to check out photos from Mike and Geno.

Shot Rock Ramble 2008

Rich came up with another excellent venue for our monthly county hike. ...

Updated: Aug 24, 2008 8:50pm PST

Lyons Lake 2008 : Smoky dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. We hiked up the Lyons Creek Trail off the Wrights Lake Road, into Desolation Wilderness. Most of us visited Lyons Lake, some visited Sylvia Lake, and one went to both! Conditions were dry but lots of wildflowers were still evident. Smoke conditions improved as the day progressed. Low water eliminated any problems with mud or difficult creek fords.

Lyons Lake 2008

Smoky dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. We hiked up the Lyons C ...

Updated: Aug 09, 2008 11:07am PST

Jamison Lake 2008 : Hike with Rich at Plumas-Eureka State Park near Graeagle. We hiked from Jamison Mine up the canyon of the same name, to Jamison Lake. This was a planned event for the County Hikers but none of the other regulars could make it. Thanks to Rich for being willing to do the hike with just the two of us! It was a sunny day that seemed initially like it would be cold and windy, but the sun warmed things up pretty nicely. We hiked up to Jamison Lake, where we ate lunch and rested. As we left the lake, we found an even better shaded lunch spot near the lake outlet. We'll go there with the group next time we come back. This area has all kinds of other lakes and peaks to visit. It is a bit of a farther drive than usual, but this is an area we've wanted to visit for a long time. After the hike we drove around Graeagle and the Lakes Basin, to Gold Lake and then on to Sardine Lake. We checked out the approach to Sierra Buttes for a possible future hike. After that, we stopped for dinner at the Bassetts Station Cafe. We drove out and back via CA Route 89 from Truckee. Thanks to Rich for driving us on this trip, and for providing all the flower IDs!

Jamison Lake 2008

Hike with Rich at Plumas-Eureka State Park near Graeagle. We hiked fro ...

Updated: Jun 08, 2008 11:13pm PST

Red Hill Above the Fog 2008 : Day Hike at Sonoma Coast State Park with Rich and the County Hikers. We hiked from Pomo Canyon Campground to the summit of Red Hill and then down to Shell Beach. We did this as a shuttle hike, leaving Rich's car at Shell Beach and then taking everyone up to Pomo Canyon in my van. It was a great day for a hike: all sunny at first, with ocean fog lying offshore. As we hiked to the top of Red Hill, we could see the fog rapidly closing in, soon to blanket everything down low. I experienced technical difficulties with my camera when we reached the summit. Both of my memory cards were filled, so I decided to give my camera the day off from that point on, instead of taking the time to delete old photos. Time was better spent hiking and enjoying the company of friends. (For a more complete photo collection, please check out Bonnie's Pictures.) The fog enveloped us with cool, moist air as we descended to Shell Beach. We then picked up my van from Pomo Campground, and regrouped for a hike to a cove about 3/4 of a mile south of Shell Beach. After the hikes everyone agreed with the idea of dinner at the Washoe House a few miles inland near Cotati.

Red Hill Above the Fog 2008

Day Hike at Sonoma Coast State Park with Rich and the County Hikers. W ...

Updated: May 19, 2008 9:39pm PST

Annadel Roundabout 2008 : Dayhike at Annadel State Park near Santa Rosa with old and new friends. Jean and I picked up Lisa and Mary in Davis, then drove on to the Channel Drive Trailhead, where we met Barbara, Paul and Cheryl. Paul leads hikes with a group called North Bay Hikes, and had recently visited Annadel. He offered to show us some rare wildflowers which had recently been in bloom. We also welcomed the opportunity to do a nice roundabout loop tour through the heart of the park. It is a repeat of a hike that Lisa and I did with Karen in 2004. Today, we enjoyed cool mild weather and dry trails. Thanks to Rich for helping ID most of the flowers after the trip. There is still one more that I haven't figured out.

Annadel Roundabout 2008

Dayhike at Annadel State Park near Santa Rosa with old and new friends ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2008 10:14pm PST

Bear Valley-Coast Camp Looparoo 2008 : Fun dayhike at Point Reyes National Seashore with the NorCal Hikers, planned and organized by Paige. We had a luncheon date with the Divas at Coast Camp. Thanks ever so much to Rich, Bex, and Theresa for help with flower identification!

Bear Valley-Coast Camp Looparoo 2008

Fun dayhike at Point Reyes National Seashore with the NorCal Hikers, p ...

Updated: Mar 17, 2008 11:22pm PST

Bad Idea on a Good Day 2008 : I like to be different at times, and not do the same thing that everyone else is doing. Usually it's no big deal, but sometimes there is a price to pay. This was one of those days, as I joined my friends on a snowy hike toward Castle Pass near Donner Summit.

Bad Idea on a Good Day 2008

I like to be different at times, and not do the same thing that everyo ...

Updated: Mar 03, 2008 11:00pm PST

Diablo 2008 #1 : Dayhike at Mount Diablo with Bonnie and Jean. We hiked the Classic Summit Loop, with a Bald Mountain Trail variation. Here are Bonnie's photos from today's hike. This is the same trip that Bonnie, Daniela, and Lee and I did in October 2005. Geez, has it been this long since we hiked here? Today was a great day, with excellent weather but hazy skies. That didn't take away from the enjoyment. This was my first hike since having cataract and lens replacement surgery, so many thanks to Bonnie and Jean for doing this hike with me. Thanks also to Bonnie for driving us and to Jean for buying dinner!!! Oh yeah, this is Diablo 2008 Hike #1, because we plan to come back while the weather is still cool.

Diablo 2008 #1

Dayhike at Mount Diablo with Bonnie and Jean. We hiked the Classic Sum ...

Updated: Jan 20, 2008 12:20am PST

American River New Year's Day 2008 : Dayhike with Bonnie, Jean, Karen, and Tom along the Middle Fork of the American River near Highway 49. This is an area we've visited before, in 2005 and 2007. On this day we had originally planned a hike to Black Diamond Regional Preserve, but decided there wasn't enough time to get the hike in and have Bonnie back in town by 4:00 PM. So this hike was our Plan B, but it turned out just fine. We visited a scenic old quarry on the south side of the River, between New York Bar and Murderers Bar. The quarries are reached by following a jeep road above the old limestone processing plant site.

American River New Year's Day 2008

Dayhike with Bonnie, Jean, Karen, and Tom along the Middle Fork of the ...

Updated: Jan 10, 2008 11:08pm PST

San Francisco Five Peaks 2007 : Rich came up with another outstanding idea for a San Francisco dayhike. We hiked a loop of about 7 miles, visiting five peaks along the way. Come on along!

San Francisco Five Peaks 2007

Rich came up with another outstanding idea for a San Francisco dayhike ...

Updated: Dec 19, 2007 11:41pm PST

Hecka Windy Mission 2007 : Dayhike ascent of Mission Peak (2517') above Fremont in the East Bay, with Rich, Natalya, Carol, and Tom. It was extremely windy the entire way, with the only respite while we were hunkered down below the summit, having lunch. At times the wind must have gusted above 50-60 MPH. The windiest part was along the ridge leading to the summit. Other than that, this was a great hike, climbing about 2100 feet in approximately three miles.

Hecka Windy Mission 2007

Dayhike ascent of Mission Peak (2517') above Fremont in the East Bay, ...

Updated: Oct 22, 2007 8:13pm PST

Grouse-Hemlock-Smith Lakes 2007 : Dayhike to a chain of lakes in Desolation Wilderness near Wrights Lake, with David Link and Jean Alford. We hiked up to Grouse Lake, Hemlock Lake, and Smith Lake. The ascent included a bit of cross-country rambling and route-finding, as we lost the trail a couple of times. We had waypoints loaded into a GPS and a good map, so getting lost was never a problem. We improvised our way around, and had a fun and enjoyable trek on a sunny fall day. Some recently fallen snow had mostly melted off and did not cause us any problems.

Grouse-Hemlock-Smith Lakes 2007

Dayhike to a chain of lakes in Desolation Wilderness near Wrights Lake ...

Updated: Oct 08, 2007 10:48pm PST

Judah Loop 2007 : Bonnie came up with a great idea -- hike the Mount Judah Loop near Donner Pass off Old US Hwy 40. Our group consisted of Heide, Jean, Bonnie, and me. It was a great sunny day for a hike, with strong winds on all the summits we visited. We checked out Peak 7696, Donner Peak, Mount Judah, and Mount Lincoln, and a couple miles along the PCT. The skies were relatively clear on this hike, a refreshing change from the smoky views of recent weeks, from all the wildland fires throughout the region. We had a great hike ... be sure to check out Bonnie's Pictures. Here are some of my other Tahoe Trips showing this area.

Judah Loop 2007

Bonnie came up with a great idea -- hike the Mount Judah Loop near Don ...

Updated: Oct 02, 2007 11:53pm PST

Granite Chief 2007 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers, with a couple of new friends from the Yahoo Sacramento Hikers. The day started with a surprise birthday gift for Rich, thanking him for setting up one cool hike after another. After driving to Squaw Valley, we took the Squaw Valley Tram to High Camp, saving almost 2000' and 7 miles of hiking and climbing. What the heck! It wasn't our idea to put the tram there! From High Camp, we hiked 4 miles (round-trip) to the summit of Granite Chief, a cool peak at 9006'. We had a great lunch, with new and old friends. On the way back, we took a shortcut, which as is often the case, wasn't such a great idea. We survived, and more importantly, had a fun hike. Check out Bonnie's photos from this hike!

Granite Chief 2007

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers, with a couple of new friends ...

Updated: Aug 26, 2007 5:57pm PST

Twin Peaks Return 2007 : Jean and I returned to the Barker Pass Trailhead, where I hiked with Karen about a month previously. This time we were determined to reach the summit of Twin Peak. To see more photos from this beautiful area, please see Barker Pass-Twin Peaks Recon 2007.

Twin Peaks Return 2007

Jean and I returned to the Barker Pass Trailhead, where I hiked with K ...

Updated: Jul 15, 2007 8:30pm PST

Larry's Rockbound Ramble 2007 : Searching for the Enchanted Pools, near Wrights Lake, on the edge of the Desolation Wilderness. Larry (AKA WimpeHIker) led Renée and me on a rambling hike on the Rockbound and Tyler Lake Trails, then short XC down to the upper Enchanted Pool. From there, we went to the lower Enchanted Pool, then XC up a gully and on slabs back to the Twin Lakes Trail and back to the trailhead. It was a warm, sunny day. The water was lower than normal, due to the light snowpack, but there was still plenty of water to enjoy. This is a special place. If you go there, be gentle and leave no trace!

Larry's Rockbound Ramble 2007

Searching for the Enchanted Pools, near Wrights Lake, on the edge of t ...

Updated: Jul 01, 2007 1:20am PST

Grouse Lakes Ramble 2007 : Dayhike ramble with Rich and the County Hikers, exploring some easy but interesting terrain in the Grouse Lakes area, north of Emigrant Gap off I-80. We hiked an out-and-back loop of about 5 miles, mostly on-trail but with a bit of XC thrown in. A great sunny day in the subalpine Sierra.

Grouse Lakes Ramble 2007

Dayhike ramble with Rich and the County Hikers, exploring some easy bu ...

Updated: Jun 24, 2007 9:06pm PST

Barker Pass - Twin Peaks Recon 2007 : Dayhike with Karen, from Barker Pass near Tahoe along the PCT, to the edge of Granite Chief Wilderness. We contemplated an ascent of Twin Peaks, but decided to call it a recon hike instead. It was a bright, sunny day, with clear skies and mild temps. Lots of water flowing down the east side of the sierra crest, with lingering snow patches and plenty of wildflowers. Great day to explore a new area where neither of us had ever been. Another jewel in the backyard! We're still looking for clues about Laura Palmer ...

Barker Pass - Twin Peaks Recon 2007

Dayhike with Karen, from Barker Pass near Tahoe along the PCT, to the ...

Updated: Jun 17, 2007 7:07pm PST

Ralston Peak 2007 : Bonnie and I planned a day hike to the summit of Ralston Peak. We were joined by Daniela and Gail. This was a strenuous but enjoyable hike, on a sunny, hazy day. The hike is about 4 miles from trailhead to summit, with about 2700' of elevation gain. This peak has a commanding view of the southern portion of Desolation Wilderness, so I've provided an area map identifying most of the peaks in addition to a large-scale topo map showing the hike. Also included is a fairly decent 360° panorama from the summit of Ralston Peak. Enjoy! While you're at it, check out Bonnie's photos from this hike.

Ralston Peak 2007

Bonnie and I planned a day hike to the summit of Ralston Peak. We were ...

Updated: Jun 04, 2007 12:38am PST

Tomales Point 2007 : Dayhike with to Tomales Point with Rich and the County Hikers. Beautiful, spectacular scenery on a cool, windy, bright, sunny day. Lots of wildflowers. Lots of wildlife. New and old friends. Learning and re-learning what a long hike is all about, and how to take care of each other.

Tomales Point 2007

Dayhike with to Tomales Point with Rich and the County Hikers. Beautif ...

Updated: May 21, 2007 7:03pm PST

Round Top Saddle 2007 : Snowshoe trek to the saddle below Round Top Peak, near Carson Pass. A sunny day on the snow, with Bonnie and Dave. Recent storms added to the nearly-gone snowpack, so we decided to check it out. Bonnie and I devised this trip a few days previously, and Dave was a welcome last-minute addition to our crew. It was a great day to be alive in the outdoors. Be sure to check out Bonnie's Photos.

Round Top Saddle 2007

Snowshoe trek to the saddle below Round Top Peak, near Carson Pass. A ...

Updated: Apr 29, 2007 11:00pm PST

Red Hill Hiking Hood 2007 : Dayhike to the McCormick Addition of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, near Kenwood California, with the Dave and Bill Hikes. We hiked to the summit of Red Hill, where we enjoyed a windy, cloudy vista as we ate lunch. The sun began to break out as we hit the trail again. This area is next to Hood Mountain Regional Park, and is accessed from that park. I joined Bill and Dave on a rainy but otherwise pleasant day. Our group of 21 hikers completed a hike of about 8 miles, with about 2300 feet gain and loss. It was great hiking again with this group, and especially with Karen and Jerry! Here are photos from my Hood Mountain hikes in 1988 and 2006.

Red Hill Hiking Hood 2007

Dayhike to the McCormick Addition of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, near ...

Updated: Apr 15, 2007 8:20pm PST

Black Diamond Preserve 2007 : Return trip to Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, with Rich and the County Hikers. Beautiful sunny day, mild temperatures, and great people. We hiked in the western portion of the preserve on this trip, visiting Nortonville Townsite, Coal Canyon Trail, lunch at Jim's Place, and returning via the Black Diamond and Manhattan Canyon Trails.

Black Diamond Preserve 2007

Return trip to Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, with Rich and th ...

Updated: Apr 01, 2007 9:45am PST

March of the Elephant 2007 : March had snow, thanks to a stormy end to February. Perfect conditions for a snowshoe dayhike and ascent of Elephants Back, near Carson Pass, with Bonnie and Jean. They wanted to go snowshoeing, so I suggested this as our destination. I had been here before, on a great daytrip with Jason, David and Bex in 2005. Here are Bonnie's photos from today's hike.

March of the Elephant 2007

March had snow, thanks to a stormy end to February. Perfect conditions ...

Updated: Mar 25, 2007 6:03pm PST

Pine Mountain - Marin 2007 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers, to Pine Mountain near Fairfax and Mountain Tamalpais, on a sunny hazy day in Marin County. This was one of those hikes where we did more than we planned to do. It all turned out just fine. We hiked just a tad under 9 miles. Thanks as always to Rich for putting this hike together, and to everyone in our group for a great day.

Pine Mountain - Marin 2007

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers, to Pine Mountain near Fairfax ...

Updated: Jan 22, 2007 9:37pm PST

Cool Auburn Trail 2007 : Dayhike with friends on the Quarry Trail along the Middle Fork of the American River, between Auburn and Cool. A frosty day with temps below freezing, but a good day nevertheless. We made a couple of side trips, which added to the enjoyment and showed us more of what this area has to offer. Thanks to Karen for organizing this fun hike! Here are some photos from the same hike in 2005 with Bonnie and Jean. For another view, check out photos from Cassandra and others to come.

Cool Auburn Trail 2007

Dayhike with friends on the Quarry Trail along the Middle Fork of the ...

Updated: Jan 15, 2007 10:12am PST

Salmon Falls - Folsom Lake 2007 : Dayhike on the Sweetwater Trail at Folsom Lake, with Karen, Theresa, Cassandra, Steve, and John. We started at the Salmon Falls Trailhead, on an easy hike to enjoy the day and also to locate a few geocaches. We also explored the lakebed a bit, as Folsom Lake has not yet begun filling. It was great to hike again with Karen and Theresa, and to meet new friends Cassandra, John, and Steve.

Salmon Falls - Folsom Lake 2007

Dayhike on the Sweetwater Trail at Folsom Lake, with Karen, Theresa, C ...

Updated: Jan 09, 2007 12:12am PST

San Francisco Urban Wilderness 2006 : An ambitious dayhike in San Francisco, with Rich and the County Hikers. We started at Point Lobos, hiking around Lands End and terrific views of the Golden Gate, to the Lincoln Park Golf Course, where we set off down 34th Avenue to Golden Gate Park. We hiked around Spreckels Lake, the Polo Fields, Lloyd Lake, Prayer Book Cross, and Stow Lake, where we ate lunch in the Taiwan Pavilion by Strawberry Hill. We then zig-zagged our way down 9th Avenue and up the stairs to Grand View Peak, then over and up to Golden Gate Heights Park, where we enjoyed awesome panorama views. After that, we descended to the Mosaic Steps, and made our way to the Judah Street Light Rail Line. We took the train to 46th Avenue, where we caught the 18 Bus, which took us back our cars at Point Lobos. There, we capped our day with dinner at Louis' Restaurant, where we caught a beautiful sunset as we dined. It was a great ride home, and another incredible trip, thanks to Rich! Altogether, we hiked about 7.3 miles and rode Muni Transit for another 3.5.

San Francisco Urban Wilderness 2006

An ambitious dayhike in San Francisco, with Rich and the County Hikers ...

Updated: Dec 22, 2006 3:24pm PST

Sonoma Mountain Cloud Hike 2006 : Dayhike with Karen and Jerry, on a Dave and Bill Hike at Jack London State Park, on a cloudy, rainy day. We hiked to near the summit of Sonoma Mountain on a trail network so new it is not yet shown in the Park Brochure. Met a lot of great people! This is a(nother) great group to hike with! I wasn't able to capture the route in my GPS, but there were some cartographers in our group, gathering info for a new topo map. I may be able to get our route from them. Here is information on my other hikes on Sonoma Mountain.

Sonoma Mountain Cloud Hike 2006

Dayhike with Karen and Jerry, on a Dave and Bill Hike at Jack London ...

Updated: Dec 16, 2006 8:31pm PST

Briones Peak Loop 2006 : Dayhike at Briones Regional Park with Rich and the County Hikers. We hiked a loop from Bear Creek Staging Area, where we met Alameda Frank and Marcy. A pleasant fall day, starting out with low clouds that soon cleared up to bright sunshine. We hiked an easy loop of about 6.75 - 7 miles, over the park's undulating ridges, near Lafayette in the East Bay Area. Another great hike with great friends! Just what we all needed, to hopefully leave all the week's stresses behind. Thanks again to Rich, for setting it all up! For more information about this hiking area, check out Jane Huber's Bay Area Hiker web site.

Briones Peak Loop 2006

Dayhike at Briones Regional Park with Rich and the County Hikers. We h ...

Updated: Nov 20, 2006 8:50am PST

Davis-Pantoll-Steep 2006 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers, to Mount Tamalpais State Park in Marin County. We hiked from Stinson Beach up the Matt Davis Trail. We had lunch at the Pantoll Ranger Station, then descended back to Stinson Beach via the Steep Ravine Trail and the Dipsea Trail. Spectacular views, great weather, lots of redwoods, douglas fir, and ferns, excellent trails, and fine company.

Davis-Pantoll-Steep 2006

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers, to Mount Tamalpais State Park ...

Updated: Oct 22, 2006 12:44pm PST

Fourth of July Peak 2006 : Dayhike from Woods Lake to Fourth of July Peak, on a sunny fall day, with Bonnie and Jean. Wispy clouds, a dusting of snow, dry golden grass, dead flowers, and shining golden aspen trees. Here are Bonnie's photos from the hike.

Fourth of July Peak 2006

Dayhike from Woods Lake to Fourth of July Peak, on a sunny fall day, w ...

Updated: Oct 19, 2006 11:49pm PST

Nattkemper-Goodspeed Trail 2006 : Dayhike with old friend Jean and new friend Amy, up the Nattkemper-Goodspeed Trail, from Sugarloaf Ridge State Park to Hood Mountain Regional Park. It was a warm and sunny fall day, above the Valley of the Moon in Sonoma County. (A note about Amy: She is an experienced solo sierra trekker. She survived a near-fatal fall in 2003, followed by several days alone, near-fatal infection, subsequent rescue, several surgeries, and ultimate survival and recovery. Check out her book Angels in the Wilderness.)

Nattkemper-Goodspeed Trail 2006

Dayhike with old friend Jean and new friend Amy, up the Nattkemper-Goo ...

Updated: Jul 04, 2007 8:24pm PST

Mount Rose 2006 : Dayhike to Mount Rose, with Bonnie, Bree, Jean, and Gail from the County Hikers. Mount Rose is in Nevada, near Lake Tahoe, between Incline Village and Reno. Happy to find that the hikers trail has been re-routed off the old access road. Encountered several other surprises on this hike, all pleasant. It was a cool, sunny day, with just a touch of hazy forest fire smoke.

Mount Rose 2006

Dayhike to Mount Rose, with Bonnie, Bree, Jean, and Gail from the Coun ...

Updated: Sep 17, 2006 11:31pm PST

Mount Tallac 2006 : Day hike up Mount Tallac near Lake Tahoe, with Bonnie and Bree. A beautiful, sunny day, great company. The skies were a bit hazy, from distant wildfire smoke, but that didn't spoil the day. Bonnie, what a great idea! Thanks for inviting us!

Mount Tallac 2006

Day hike up Mount Tallac near Lake Tahoe, with Bonnie and Bree. A beau ...

Updated: Aug 29, 2006 10:16pm PST

Crystal Range 2006 : Dayhike to Twin Lakes and Island Lake with Rich and the County Hikers. Sunny, clear, warm day. Plenty of water in the creeks, but not enough to cause problems. Pleasantly surprised that this popular hiking area was not overwhelmed with people. This allowed us to enjoy a fine day with excellent company, in a very scenic area.

Crystal Range 2006

Dayhike to Twin Lakes and Island Lake with Rich and the County Hikers. ...

Updated: Jul 16, 2006 4:35am PST

American Canyon Dayhike 2006 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. Initially he planned a trip to Alamere Falls on Point Reyes Nat'l Seashore, but the onset of cool, rainy weather led to a shorter trip, closer to home. We hiked down American Canyon Creek to Poverty Bar, on the Middle Fork of the American River. It was a short but fun hike, as the weather cooperated nicely. The power and strength of the river was impressive; definitely not something to trifle with!

American Canyon Dayhike 2006

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. Initially he planned a trip t ...

Updated: May 22, 2006 12:32pm PST

Donner Camp 2006 : Day trip with the County Hikers, to the Donner Camp area near Prosser Creek Reservoir, in Truckee. 2006 is the 160th Anniversary of the ordeal of Donner Party, in their attempt to cross the Sierra Nevada. Our day trip was planned by Howdy and Katrina, who shared their knowledge of the subject and guided us along portions of the Emigrant Trail. Most of the hikers in our group used snowshoes, with a couple on skis. It was a cool day, with cloudy weather. The snow cover was very thin on our hike, no more than 6 inches at the deepest. It was amazing to think about how the area looked with 12-foot snow depths, as it was for the Donner Family in 1846.

Donner Camp 2006

Day trip with the County Hikers, to the Donner Camp area near Prosser ...

Updated: Feb 19, 2006 9:44pm PST

Sugarloaf Ridge Meet-up 2006 : Dayhike at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Sonoma County. Rich asked me to coordinate the monthly County Hike, so I used the opportunity to invite folks from the NorCalHikers and Sacramento Hiking Outdoors Yahoo groups, in addition to the County Hikers. We ended up with a terrific group of 19 hikers, from all over the place. We got in a nice hike at the park, with several variations, actually, as some opted for longer or shorter, shadier or sunnier routes. We followed the hike with an excellent group dinner, at the Vineyards Inn restaurant in Kenwood. It was a great day. Everyone who said they would join us, did so, and everyone had a good time. Thanks to all for a great day! Here are links to photos from others in our group: Lady Maritel Jeffrey Neil Wannabp Jason If anyone else has photos from this Sugarloaf Park dayhike, and wishes to have them linked here, please contact me.

Sugarloaf Ridge Meet-up 2006

Dayhike at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Sonoma County. Rich asked me ...

Updated: Apr 30, 2006 7:20pm PST

Blue Ridge - Cold Canyon 2006 : Dayhike to Blue Ridge and Cold Canyon, near Lake Berryessa, with Rich and the County Hikers. Short, but strenuous, and very enjoyable. A nice warm and sunny respite from rainy days, before and after this day. A jewel of a hiking destination, less than an hour from Sacramento. But don't try it on a hot day!

Blue Ridge - Cold Canyon 2006

Dayhike to Blue Ridge and Cold Canyon, near Lake Berryessa, with Rich ...

Updated: Mar 20, 2006 9:13pm PST

Big Rock Ridge 2006 : Dayhike to Lucas Valley Preserve, in Marin County with the Rich-less County Hikers. Rich planned this trip, but went whale-watching instead. Bree, Dick, and Michael and I went to the Preserve and had a great dayhike, climbing Big Rock Ridge. Great weather, excellent views, fine company.

Big Rock Ridge 2006

Dayhike to Lucas Valley Preserve, in Marin County with the Rich-less C ...

Updated: Jan 30, 2006 10:56pm PST

Berserkely Wet 2005 : Dayhike around and above the UC Berkeley campus, with Rich and the County Hikers. A rainy day, an interesting little hike, great friends. After viewing these photos, be sure to check out Bonnie's Photos. She took great pictures of the interesting houses and other features, which I seem to have overlooked.

Berserkely Wet 2005

Dayhike around and above the UC Berkeley campus, with Rich and the Cou ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2005 3:23pm PST

Marin Headlands 2005 : Dayhike from Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands with Rich and the County Hikers. We also visited Point Bonita Lighthouse, and had a nice dinner out afterwords. Another great day!

Marin Headlands 2005

Dayhike from Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands with Rich and the Coun ...

Updated: Nov 24, 2005 12:04pm PST

Cool Auburn Trail 2005 : Dayhike with Bonnie and Jean. We hiked on the Quarry Trail, where CA 49 crosses the American River. We hiked about 4.25 miles upstream on the Middle Fork of the American River.

Cool Auburn Trail 2005

Dayhike with Bonnie and Jean. We hiked on the Quarry Trail, where CA 4 ...

Updated: Nov 27, 2005 12:11am PST

Mount Diablo 2005 #2 : Summit loop dayhike at Mount Diablo State Park, with Bonnie and Daniela. We were joined by a new friend, Lee, at a designated meeting point along the way. Cloudy but pleasant weather. An excellent hike.

Mount Diablo 2005 #2

Summit loop dayhike at Mount Diablo State Park, with Bonnie and Daniel ...

Updated: Nov 24, 2005 11:14pm PST

East Bay Labyrinth 2005 : Easy day hike with County Hiker friends, at two East Bay Regional Parks near Oakland, CA. We are in search of labyrinths!

East Bay Labyrinth 2005

Easy day hike with County Hiker friends, at two East Bay Regional Park ...

Updated: Nov 26, 2005 11:22pm PST

Echo Lake 2005 : Dayhike to Echo Lake and beyond, with Rich and the County Hikers. My first visit to this trailhead, and hopefully not the last.

Echo Lake 2005

Dayhike to Echo Lake and beyond, with Rich and the County Hikers. My f ...

Updated: Nov 27, 2005 7:51am PST

Castle Peak 2005 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers, to Castle Peak, near Donner Pass.

Castle Peak 2005

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers, to Castle Peak, near Donner P ...

Updated: Nov 27, 2005 8:43am PST

Mount Diablo 2005 #1 : Dayhike around Mount Diablo in Northern California. A nice, sunny day -- warm but not too hot. A great hike, organized by Bonnie. Same hike as 2004, except in a counter-clockwise direction, rather than clockwise. Our group consisted of Bonnie, Daniela, Bree, and Frank.

Mount Diablo 2005 #1

Dayhike around Mount Diablo in Northern California. A nice, sunny day ...

Updated: Nov 26, 2005 4:01am PST

RL Stevenson State Park 2005 :

RL Stevenson State Park 2005

Updated: Dec 05, 2005 11:59pm PST

Easter 2005 : Easter Vacation 2005. Munchkin and Frank go skiing and take another ride on the Vallejo Ferry, and present an example of what Easter is all about.

Easter 2005

Easter Vacation 2005. Munchkin and Frank go skiing and take another ri ...

Updated: Nov 26, 2005 12:21pm PST

Black Diamond Preserve 2005 : Dayhike at Black Diamond Preserve, with Karen, Lisa, Ron, Paul, and Jennifer. A day well-spent. I visited here in 2004 with the County Hikers.

Black Diamond Preserve 2005

Dayhike at Black Diamond Preserve, with Karen, Lisa, Ron, Paul, and Je ...

Updated: Nov 26, 2005 10:19am PST

Las Trampas Ridge 2005 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. Rich, Dick, Bree, Heide, and I hiked at Las Trampas Ridge Regional Park, near Walnut Creek. Did we manage to dodge the rain? How about the mud? How about the poison oak? Check it out!

Las Trampas Ridge 2005

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. Rich, Dick, Bree, Heide, and ...

Updated: Nov 26, 2005 9:46pm PST

Elephant on Snowshoes 2005 : Terrific snowshoeing expedition with David, Bex, and Jason. We climbed the Elephant's Back, near Carson Pass, then made our way over to Winnemucca Lake.

Elephant on Snowshoes 2005

Terrific snowshoeing expedition with David, Bex, and Jason. We climbed ...

Updated: Dec 04, 2005 9:21pm PST

Sugarloaf in the Clouds 2005 : Dayhike at Sugarloaf State Park. Cloudy start, rainy finish. Challenging trek with old and new friends. This place deserves a return visit, in better weather.

Sugarloaf in the Clouds 2005

Dayhike at Sugarloaf State Park. Cloudy start, rainy finish. Challengi ...

Updated: Nov 28, 2005 7:22pm PST

Point Reyes - Sky Trail to Limantour 2005 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. Point Reyes National Seashore. Point-to-point hike from Sky Trail to Limantour Spit.

Point Reyes - Sky Trail to Limantour 2005

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. Point Reyes National Seashore ...

Updated: Dec 04, 2005 11:17am PST

Annadel 2004 : Dayhike at Annadel State Park, with Lisa and Karen. Nice trails, great company, lots of different plant communities. Getting along with mountain bikers.

Annadel 2004

Dayhike at Annadel State Park, with Lisa and Karen. Nice trails, great ...

Updated: Dec 03, 2005 7:21pm PST

Golden Gate Urban Trek 2004 : Dayhike and Ferry Boat Loop Trek, from SF Presidio, to Lombard Street, to Coit Tower, to Ferry Building, to Sausalito, to Fort Baker, to Golden Gate Bridge, and back to SF Presidio. Another great daytrip, with Rich and the County Hikers!

Golden Gate Urban Trek 2004

Dayhike and Ferry Boat Loop Trek, from SF Presidio, to Lombard Street, ...

Updated: Dec 03, 2005 2:07pm PST

Regency Gate to Mount Olympia 2004 : Hiking with Lisa, Karen, and Paul. We started out looking for the waterfalls in Darwin Canyon, from the Regency Gate Trailhead near Mount Diablo State Park. We never found the waterfalls, but we ended up climbing Mount Olympia instead. A very enjoyable (and strenuous) day. We also met some of the furry local residents.

Regency Gate to Mount Olympia 2004

Hiking with Lisa, Karen, and Paul. We started out looking for the wate ...

Updated: Dec 04, 2005 10:33pm PST

Picnic and Canyon 2004 : Picnic with the Sacramento Yahoo Hiking Group, followed with an American River Canyon dayhike on the Stevens Trail near Iowa Hill several days later.

Picnic and Canyon 2004

Picnic with the Sacramento Yahoo Hiking Group, followed with an Americ ...

Updated: Dec 03, 2005 11:03am PST

Crystal Range 2004 : Dayhike to Twin Lakes and Island Lake in Desolation Wilderness, with Karen, Lisa, and Eric from the Yahoo Sacramento Hikers Group. A great day in the mountains! My first time hiking in this area, despite living in Sacramento since 1980. A few days after our hike, a serious forest fire occurred near Wrights Lake.

Crystal Range 2004

Dayhike to Twin Lakes and Island Lake in Desolation Wilderness, with K ...

Updated: Dec 03, 2005 10:45am PST

Round Top Lake 2004 : Dayhike to Roundtop Lake and Winnemucca Lake, with Lisa, Maria and Jeff. We had a fun hike, and managed to avoid most of the serious rain that began to fall, as we completed the loop.

Round Top Lake 2004

Dayhike to Roundtop Lake and Winnemucca Lake, with Lisa, Maria and Jef ...

Updated: Dec 02, 2005 9:35pm PST

Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach 2004 : Dayhike from Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach. Drank a pint at an authentic English pub. Learned that coastal trails can be very steep, with significant climbs. Witnessed the constant parade of container ships passing through the Golden Gate.

Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach 2004

Dayhike from Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach. Drank a pint at an authen ...

Updated: Dec 02, 2005 8:09pm PST

Grouse Ridge 2004 : Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers

Grouse Ridge 2004

Dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers

Updated: Dec 02, 2005 6:44pm PST

Vallejo Ferry 2004 : Munchkin and Frank take two trips to San Fransicso on the Vallejo Ferry. The first was a simple visit to Fisherman's Wharf. The second included a strenuous dayhike to the Presidio National Cemetary, to visit Grandpa's gravesite. Both trips were a lot of fun! This is a great way to visit San Francisco.

Vallejo Ferry 2004

Munchkin and Frank take two trips to San Fransicso on the Vallejo Ferr ...

Updated: Dec 11, 2005 12:10am PST

Sly Park Loop 2004 : Easy day hike with Sacramento Hiking Friends, AKA a Rich Hike. Hiking around Fleming Meadow, near Sly Park, California. Very nice weather; sunny but not too warm at all. A great day with good friends.

Sly Park Loop 2004

Easy day hike with Sacramento Hiking Friends, AKA a Rich Hike. Hiking ...

Updated: Nov 28, 2005 11:22pm PST

Baldy-Devil's Backbone Loop 2004 : Sunny weather in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. A group of SoCalHiker friends hiking together in a strenuous loop, over Old Baldy and the Devils's Backbone. Would they make it to the summit? Would they make it to the Baldy Ski Lift in time?

Baldy-Devil's Backbone Loop 2004

Sunny weather in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. A g ...

Updated: Nov 26, 2005 3:41pm PST

Mount Diablo 2004 : Mount Diablo summit loop dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. A little sun, a little rain, then a little pizza and beer.

Mount Diablo 2004

Mount Diablo summit loop dayhike with Rich and the County Hikers. A li ...

Updated: Nov 27, 2005 3:50pm PST

Black Diamond Preserve 2004 : My first hike with Rich and the County Hikers, and my first visit to Black Diamond Regional Preserve, near Antioch. Fun all the way around!

Black Diamond Preserve 2004

My first hike with Rich and the County Hikers, and my first visit to B ...

Updated: Nov 29, 2005 6:34pm PST

Donner X-C Ski Intro 2004 : Munchkin and Frank go cross-country skiing at Donner Memorial Park. We set out to go snowshoeing, but ended up skiing instead. We had a blast!

Donner X-C Ski Intro 2004

Munchkin and Frank go cross-country skiing at Donner Memorial Park. We ...

Updated: Nov 28, 2005 11:39pm PST

Round Top Lake 2003 : Dayhike with Munchkin and Frank. This gallery is part of the Farmer Family Adventures.

Round Top Lake 2003

Dayhike with Munchkin and Frank. This gallery is part of the Farmer Fa ...

Updated: Dec 01, 2005 8:11am PST