Hiking Carson Pass to Elephants Back
Hiking Fleming Trail Loop in Eldorado National Forest
If you’re in the frame of mind for this type of trail, the Fleming Meadow Loop rocks. There are no sweeping vistas, not an abundance of wildflowers or much running water – just a hike among the trees in some areas with very dense forest. My experience was awesome for contemplation and meditation.
The Fleming Meadow Loop in the Eldorado National Forest is one of the best marked and maintained trails I’ve come across in a national forest. When you hike Trail 8, you will come across many junctions with roads and other trails, but Trail 8 is marked so it is easy to follow. This trail is taken advantage of by hikers, mountain bikers, equestrian riders and the locals who know its secret. Continue reading “Hiking Fleming Trail Loop in Eldorado National Forest”
Trash on Public Lands
A little rant today: over the Fourth of July Holiday, I went hiking on the Fleming Trail System in the Eldorado National Forest. I’ll post a summary about it later. While on that hike, I ventured into another area down the Blue Gouge Mine Road, which is the Yin to the Flemming Trail System’s Yang, and I was appalled by the trash on public lands I encountered.
Some of the road is on private land and then moves onto public land, and I was appalled by what I saw on both public and private land. What happens on private land is up to the landowner as long as it’s legal, so I don’t have much to comment about there, but what I saw on public land infuriated me. Continue reading “Trash on Public Lands”
Hiking to Feather Falls
How can you be a hiker in Northern California and not hike to Feather Falls? The falls are an awesome to sight to behold, and the hike isn’t so bad either – depending on when you go and the condition of the trail. At about .4 miles from the trailhead, you’ll have decision to make when you come to fork.
If you want to make a loop out of this hike, it might be best to go to the left, as the trail will head downhill. Coming back up this way could be strenuous. If you do decide to come back up this way, there are a series of benches along the trail for resting. This way is shorter taking about 3.3 miles to get to the overlook. Continue reading “Hiking to Feather Falls”
Hiking Juniper Lake to Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park offers an awesome view, and is what makes this hike worth it. I got to experience the lake early in the morning before I saw any other hikers. It was beautiful, and even though I consider the entire hike the destination, just looking at Horseshoe Lake is a destination. Continue reading “Hiking Juniper Lake to Horseshoe Lake”
Hiking Prospect Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park
What makes the hike up to Prospect Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park worth the effort are the views from the 8340-foot summit. First, I have to admit, the views would have been spectacular when I was there, but there were several wildfires burning at the time. The Carr Fire near Redding and the Whaleback Fire near Susanville along with others in the state made for very hazy views when the wind blew in the smoke. Continue reading “Hiking Prospect Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park”
Hiking the Steep Ravine Trail – Dipsea Trail Loop
If you like hiking under Redwood trees next to running water and waterfalls, then the Steep Raving Trail is the hike for you if you do it at the right time of the year. By that, it’s good to go during or after a good rain when the waterfalls will be flowing.
The trail is called Steep Ravine for a reason. You will descend 1,084 feet on a 9 percent grade slightly over 2 miles. For the most part, it’s gentle, but the beginning is steep. If the water is running, it’s worth it. Continue reading “Hiking the Steep Ravine Trail – Dipsea Trail Loop”
Hiking to Bassi Falls
Updated May 23, 2021
Bassi Falls is a spectacular show of natural force as it tumbles and crashes 109 feet off granite rocks before the water hits the bottom and flows away. To see the falls at their most powerful, it’s best to go before the end of May while the snowmelt is still good. After May, the flow slows and eventually becomes a trickle. Continue reading “Hiking to Bassi Falls”
Hiking Cataract Trail at Mount Tamalpais State Park
There is little doubt that hiking Cataract Trail is one of the big highlights of Mount Tamalpais State Park, as the trail follows Cataract Creek as it tumbles down to Alpine Lake. Continue reading “Hiking Cataract Trail at Mount Tamalpais State Park”
Hiking Eagle Pass to Paul Thomas Trail
The hike from Eagle Pass to the Paul Thomas Trail can only be done in the springtime while the grasses are green before the summer sets in and the weather is still cool enough to be outside in the valley. The view from Eagle Pass you hike up to is incredible. It looks over to Black Butte, the lake itself to the west and the Coastal Mountain Range that spans the horizon running from the north the south that disappears to sight. Continue reading “Hiking Eagle Pass to Paul Thomas Trail”
Couple falls to death with alcohol in system
Ialways knew this post was inevitable, and more a question of “when” and not “if” I was going to write it.
The “when” has happened. I’ve written about safety and situational awareness, and this falls under both, along with stupidity. The autopsy report was completed in early January 2019 on married couple Menaskhi Moorthy and Vishnu Viswanath who fell to their deaths in Yosemite National Park in October 2018. They fell while attempting to pose for a selfie. The autopsy report stated they were, “intoxicated with ethyl alcohol prior to death,” according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Continue reading “Couple falls to death with alcohol in system”
Hiking Snow Mountain West Peak
Note: This portion of the forest was severely burned in 2018 shortly after I hiked it, and most the trees are now burned out. See my Snow Mountain East Peak summary for an update.
Peaceful desolation. That’s what the hike up Snow Mountain in the Snow Mountain Wilderness is. The trails are defined, the wildflowers are in bloom in the summer and people are scarce. The trails in this Northern California area are a hidden gem, as they are under-hiked and seemingly unknown to most.
Though not recommended to hike in the summer as the heat can be brutal, I happened to catch the mountain on an unseasonably cool July day with overcast and a smattering of rain. The wildflowers were in bloom from red to purple, yellow, blue and orange. The hike starts out exposed and meanders for a little more than a mile before you start to get under the cover of the tall pine trees as you climb.
Hiking Polomarin Trailhead to Wildcat Camp (Coast Trail)
Hiking the Coast Trail from the Polomarin trailhead to Wildcamp Camp is like hiking Highway 1. It’s extraordinary with its views of the ocean on one side and forests on the other.
Most take this trail to hike to Alamere Falls, where the trail offshoot is at nearly four miles in. At the time I took this trail, the Alamere Falls cutoff was mostly overgrown and difficult to ascertain. It seemed like it wasn’t being well-maintained. Some say there is a sign there, but I did not see one when I hiked by, but someone made an arrow marker on the ground (not permanent) marking the intersection. Part of the overgrowth was poison oak, but nonetheless that doesn’t deter people from hiking to the falls. But if you go on, there’s more to see. Continue reading “Hiking Polomarin Trailhead to Wildcat Camp (Coast Trail)”