Guides and Trips

Now, I know all the Monte Bello regulars will scoff at me when I say this, but I've always had assumptions about this place. I assumed it was a poor man's Russian's Ridge -- which is to say exposed and wind-blown but also hot and crowded. I am pleased to say that my assumptions were wrong and I should have visited MB OSP long ago. While the place does get its share...

Purisima Creek Redwoods is one of my favorite local spots to hike because along the creek you get densely packed vegetation and creeks and well maintained trails. Not much wildlife because it's a popular spot for hikers, but the flora can be nice. It's always a go-to spot for me when in the summer because it's always cool and shaded. But this is because I've always meandered up the middle or around...

Mid-August up in the Sam McDonald meadows is very different from early spring. Last March I saw bobcats and fox all chasing mice around green grassy fields. Now the grasses are brown and most of them have been mowed down, giving the place a more suburban feel. But scoot out of the meadow into the Brooke Trail loop and you'll be mostly shaded and in for some great summertime hiking. I chose...

I read a story in the Chronicle on Sunday that there were these huge blooms of krill in Monterey Bay that had attracted Blue Whales to the area by the dozens. According to the story, it had been about ten years since the last Blue was spotted in the Bay, so I had to get out there to see if I could spot them myself. And spot them we did. We headed...

This is a nice hike and I'll write about it in a minute, but, just FYI this was a test run for me on my new HTC EVO 4g -- I'm trying to test the camera usefulness. Now, I know camera aficionados will roll their eyes at this -- but I was actually able to get some decent shots out of my old Touch Diamond*, and it was just so darn convenient to...

I did this hike last August while the Lockheed fire raged around Bonny Doon. The resulting view was hazy at best, and downright unseamly at worst. Today was a different story, however. It was a beautiful Spring day and the ocean views went on forever. Hopefully my camera does the view justice. I included a video of the panorma to give you a better sense for the bigger picture.A few wildflowers remained....

One of our favorite spots to bring friends and kids and families the Purisima Creek trail is wide, mostly flat and full of gobs of interesting things to see. Today my two girls and I went out exploring with some great friends of ours. They have two daughters about the same age and were looking for an excuse to get out and explore. We started this hike with a quick review of...

This is a good hike to knock out if you're short on time and don't want to waste time driving. You still get great scenery, some wildlife, weather, and more and yet you can launch just outside of Portola Valley. But on the flip-side you'll see a lot of people and hear some road noise once you near Skyline.Last time I hiked Windy Hill it was pushing 90 degrees and sunny and...

This trip is worth it for the drive alone. Highway 25 south of Hollister is prime California pasture-land, vineyards and farms at its best. Pinnacles is a treat any time of year, but springtime is best for wildflower hunting. I made the trip on a cool day, just after the rains, and saw a lot of color. If it's Springtime, get to Pinnacles! I love the high-alpine feel of the park --...

The fury of El Nino can do great things for forests -- it knocks down the weak trees, stirs up the forest bed and brings a lot of life to drought-thirsty hillside. But it also mucks up your hiking trails. Sick of getting turned back on single-track hikes plugged up with tree-falls I decided to explore the wide open trails of Pescadero's fire roads. I am pleased to report that it worked....