Hiking Trails and Trips

A very enjoyable hike in a perfect Coe weather.No crazy Mount Sizer hike this time, we just went for a more reasonable few hours loop through MIddle Ridge and Poverty Flat.Sam and I met on the HQ parking lot at 10, and we checked out the visitor center/store first since no matter what, it's always, always closed after a hike.For a change, we took the Corral trail to leave the HQ. A...

I covered (solo) another section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail in Santa Teresa County Park on a hot late afternoon. I started at the Fortini Road entrance, going up the Stile Ranch trail all the way to Mine Hill trail then to the Fortini trail, to the corral, and then went back to the parking lot, still using the Fortini trail.I was hoping to see tarantulas, and I indeed saw one,...

Three purposes for this hike - walk another section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, see tarantulas - it is the season, and enjoy the dramatic skies as an early storm was on its way from the Ocean. We didn't see any tarantula but Antony (Bullit) really enjoyed the hike.We staged a car at the Harvey Bear Ranch trailhead, and then drove to the Mendoza entrance and started our hike there. The...

Bumpass Hell is the must-visit area in the whole park. It features very impressive mudpots and hissing fumaroles.While accessible only through hiking, it is an easy 3 miles hike (return trip) very doable with young kids. The trailhead is right by the main park road and offers great views of Lassen Peak, Brokeoff Mountain and Mount Diller. It goes down slightly for a few hundred yards until it reaches the road again,...

I initially wanted to climb up Lassen Peak but had to change my plans after learning that the trail was closed for the remaining of the year. Brokeoff Mountain seemed to be an interesting alternative. Less crowded, with great views, and considered to be the most strenuous of the featured hikes in the park, although it is short (7 miles return trip).It did not disappoint. The path goes through various type of...

Just a short hike with Sam (sammydee), Elaine and Dave. On a hot day, hiking in the shade was quite pleasant.We started at the Webb Canyon entrance, and quickly got up to New Almaden trail using a steep, non official trail. We then when south and east to the junction with Prospect before turning back.

Still working on hiking the complete Bay Area Ridge Trail (BART), Antony (bullit) and I, accompanied by Jeff (triplep220) decided to go for the section linking Saratoga Gap to Alpine Pond, along Highway 35 (Skyline). We went through 4 different parks : Saratoga Gap OSP, Upper Stevens Creek CP, Long Ridge OSP, and finally Skyline Ridge OSP.The weather was good when we started the hike shortly before 9 am (after having staged...

This is a very classic family hike in the South Bay.Minicacher (Lance) + Morgan and Benett joined Emilie, Lucie and me to hike and cache this part of Almaden Quicksilver.The plan was to go up to the old gas pump if possible. And that's what we did. We enjoyed the brand new picnic tables by the pump for our lunch.It was a nice day. Sunny but not hot. The wind was not...

I've been wanted to hike to Mount Size for several weeks, after Bullit and Calipidder told me about it. The plan was to take Hobbs Road from the HQ, all the way to Blue Ridge Road (that would mean hiking up the dreaded "Shortcut"), go down Blue Ridge Road, to Poverty Flat Road, go down to Poverty Flat, and up to Manazanita Point Road back to HQ. It's normally a strenuous hike: about 16 miles and about...

A very classic short hike, ideal with young kids. Start at Mc Abee entrance, and walk on McAbee Road until you hit New Almaden trail (pass Mine Hill trail on your left).New Almaden trail a single track, beautiful, trail, with a lot of poison oak on the side (you might want to be careful if you're sensitive). It climbs a little bit (with a few switchbacks) until the junction with Mine Hill. Take...