Sweet Creek Falls: Florence, Oregon #ThrowbackThursday
Throwing back today to a great hike that I did in 2012 while visiting Curtis’s college friend Chris in Eugene, Oregon – Sweet Creek Falls. Our whole visit to Eugene was awesome, I remember thinking “I should blog about this” but for some reason never got around to it. There was so much good beer, good vegetarian food, and the Eugene farmers market is really top notch. Looking back that…
How Many Pictures are Too Many?
Everytime I go for a hike I take too many pictures. Obviously since everything is digital this isn’t a big deal, plus it allows me take a bunch crappy pictures in the hopes that I will get one gem. Plus, now that I have been doing NaBloPoMo I have been using some really random unpublished pics because, why not? (Thanks to Kris & RMNP, for being the subject of today’s cover photo,…
The Stanislaus National Forest is OPEN!
There has been a forest order(s) closing down most of the Groveland district of the Stanislaus National Forest since the Rim Fire started in August 2013. Now over a year later the order is expiring and we are allowed back into our backyards! I really want to go into the forest sometime soon just for the heck of knowing I can – but I have heard a lot of rumors saying…
True Story: Deer Love Pine Mountain Lake
I just got off the phone with my Mom, who told me that my Dad is off at deer camp. Which means a daily routine of being cold for a few hours followed by hanging out with the guys. My dad is not upset if he doesn’t get a deer at deer camp because I am pretty sure relaxing is a higher priority during his vacation than dragging a carcass through…
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…
Hello! I am a 30-something outdoors-lady, backpacker, and resident of Groveland, California - 
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