Point Reyes Backpacking the Southern Loop to Glen Camp: Lake Ranch and Coast Trail
I’ve been lucky in reserving last minute backpacking permits in Point Reyes during weekends forecasted to be rainy and miserable. Both times the permit was for Glen Camp. I think of Glen Camp as one of the less mysterious and alluring sounding camps in along the National Seashore (I’m looking at you “Sky” and “Coast” camps). To be fair, Curtis argues these names are more lazy than mysterious… but then…
Red Hill, Sonoma State Park: A Hike from Redwoods to Coastal Vistas
After going to Russian River Brewery for the second time last month I thought – why not see the real thing on our coast trip? Word on the street is that the outlet of the Russian River is plagued with sharks (not that different from other rivers – except these might be Russian Sharks!), so I was opting not to go for a swim… also because it is January, and the…
Backpacking Glen Camp, Point Reyes – Everything is Damp (thanks ocean)
Not only was my trip to Glen camp my first backpacking trip of 2014, but it is now my earliest backpacking trip done ever in the year! Starting out strong, 2014! Of course that meant it was consistently raining on the first day of the two day trip…. but considering I can not remember a single time it has rained on me while backpacking in California, I can’t really complain….
Steep Ravine Camping – My Favorite Campsite in California???
Last weekend I took a trip to the coast, North Bay Area, following a short work stop for Curtis in the bay area …Did you know the California regional forest service office is located on a strange abandoned navel island? Neither did we… Anyhow, it was an extended weekend of wet camping, wet backpacking, and then ‘I can’t bear to be wet at a KOA next to a dozen screaming kids…
Let’s Go See Butterflies! (Monarch Grove @ Pacific Grove, CA)
Seeing the Monarch Migration is a bucket list item. Standing there surrounded by butterflies fluttering everywhere is like entering a new culture – standing in a busy foreign city with colors and scents and sounds swirling – only this is a culture of nature…
Low Tide at Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay
The other week, on November 17th, I planned to just do a little walk along the beach in Half Moon Bay. I had dropped Curtis off at SFO, carrying on to complete some errands and visit the ocean. Pulling in to find parking near Pillar Point it was crazy busy – I mean, yes this beach had alright Yelp reviews… but there are many beaches with alright Yelp reviews, why…
Camping Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur
I’m not going to lie, whenever I am car camping anywhere new I worry about not finding space to camp. A pretty justified fear thanks to past experiences, like the time we reserved a campsite at Butano State Park and someone still tried to take our spot. I mean the people who we ended up sharing the spot with had assumed they could find a spot, and then they couldn’t –…
Tanbark Trail Big Sur: Hiking at Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
Following Saturday’s short hike to the beautiful McWay Falls in Big Sur I was adamant about wanting to go for a longer day hike. Unfortunately the trail I had noted to hike, the Ewoldsen Trail, is apparently closed right now (March 2013)… but looking at the maps in the parking area of the McWay Falls trailhead Curtis & I discovered that the previously closed Tanbark Trail was now open instead, and it did look like a very similar, although slightly longer, hike.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Camping & Hiking McWay Falls
Tourist season is almost upon us again up in Groveland – slowly the local businesses are livening up, we are beginning to see a steady flow of traffic Yosemite, and I can hear the PML golfers outside teeing more and more often. These changes made me realize that if I wanted to go to any traditional popular tourist locations I had better get moving now, or face the higher prices and thicker crowds that true summer tourist season demands. Impetus enough for Curtis & I to make our (moderately spontaneous?) trip to Big Sur this weekend!
Hello! I am a 30-something outdoors-lady, backpacker, and resident of Groveland, California - 
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