Love All (of Nature) – Interpreting Shakespeare for the Out of Doors
I am in the middle of binge watching Criminal Minds on Netflix right now. On the show they do these bookend quotes – at the beginning and/or end of each episode – that tie a famous quote into the situation at hand. My unfulfilled ambition is to make a tumblr of my cat, Herman, looking like a doofus as these wise words are quoted. I would call it “CriminalMindsCat” and…
Foraging like Gold Miners: Miner’s Lettuce
There is a really cool community of hikers and hiking bloggers on Twitter. On Fridays at 9am PST they do this awesome little session called #hikerchat. Since I have started at my new job I have been unable to tweet in for #hikerchat, but since I wasn’t feeling very ambitious today I decided to take this week’s conversation topic and run with it – Foraging. I don’t do much foraging,…
Take a Groveland Hike! – Smith Peak, Stanislaus
Did you know today is “Take a Hike Day”? Neither did I until Trails’ Guide informed me! To celebrate I am posting about my favorite “local” Groveland hike – Smith Peak! Smith Peak Fire Lookout, Stanislaus National Forest/Groveland, CA Trailhead: I park at the Pines Campground then hike up to the peak along the dirt road. I think at certain times of year this road open to vehicles, but doesn’t that…
Brews & Hiking Boots: Western States Trail & Auburn Ale House
This weekend Curtis and I helped a friend transport his car up to Foresthill – both out of the kindness of our hearts and out of the hope that we would be able to make a return visit to the Auburn Ale House. Not only did we manage to hit up the ale house, but hike a small spur of the Western States trail near his house. And yes, I…
Foresthill Park: Best Use of Chainsaw Art in a Public Park
Last weekend I visited Foresthill, CA – a small little town near the American River. It is a small little remnant of a Gold Rush town with a hidden treasure: The Foresthill Memorial Park. Or more specifically, the chainsaw bear art located within the Foresthill Memorial Park. It appears that instead of cutting down trees the park instead has someone carve the trunks into whimsical bears (and one eagle). Have…
Jordan Oak, Stanislaus National Forest: A Quick Trip for Tree Huggers
There are many different types of oak tree: Valley Oak, Poison Oak, and the Canyon Live Oak are all pretty common in the Groveland area. The Jordan Oak tree is one of the biggest Live Oak trees you have probably seen. I don’t claim to be very knowledgeable in trees/forests/silviculture/botany/soils. I mean, I try to remember how to identify some important ones – but I’m happy to learn (or relearn)…
Haiku about tomorrow’s Calaveras River Fun Run
Not running too far, But waking at 5 AM? I should go to bed. I’m doing the Calaveras River Fun Run 5K tomorrow. It’s at 8am, but I have to get up pretty early to get to Stockton in time. Good night!
Road Trip Jams
This is embarrassing, but Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off – before it was overplayed on the radio – might have been the official “jam” of my drive to Colorado this summer. It was a good choice mostly because when stuck in a car for 12 hours shaking it off is good for rest stops and getting over the anxiety of NEVER GETTING THERE. Shaking it off on the drive to Colorado…
Hello! I am a 30-something outdoors-lady, backpacker, and resident of Groveland, California - 
Follow Me: