Hike Lovers Leap Trail
Situational Awareness is Essential While Hiking
Situational awareness is one of the most important skills you need to utilize while hiking in the wilderness. Unfortunately, I see enough people who don’t have it or exercise it.
The lack of situational awareness in other people has been noticeable to me for quite awhile, but I haven’t really thought about writing about it until what I saw on the Thunder Mountain Trail recently. I passed a hiker who at first I didn’t think much about other than he was a general idiot, until I started to think about him more as I hiked and actually got angry.
On first appearance, I just thought he was a dumbsh*t hiker somewhere in line for a Darwin Award as he approached me in the wilderness wearing earbuds. I knew he had them turned up after I stepped aside for him to pass and he said, “Thank you,” very loudly so he could hear his own voice over the volume of his earbuds. Clearly, he had no capacity for audio situational awareness around him. Continue reading “Situational Awareness is Essential While Hiking”
Hiking Big Meadow Trail to Round Lake
If you like hiking through meadows like I do, then this hike through Big Meadow is absolutely for you.
The hike starts off at the Big Meadow trailhead parking lot just off Highway 89 on Luther Pass, which is part of the larger Tahoe Rim Trail. You hike a pleasant .1 a mile before you come upon Highway 89 and have to cross it. Listen for traffic, as you should be able to hear it before you can see it coming around the corners. Continue reading “Hiking Big Meadow Trail to Round Lake”
Hiking Valley Vista Trail
The hike up to Valley Vista Trail can be heart pounding in areas and seemingly level in others while you ascend the entire time. On a clear day while hiking, you can see the Sutter Buttes, portions of the north end of Capay Valley, the Sacramento Valley and the Sierras way out to the east. Continue reading “Hiking Valley Vista Trail”
Hiking Annie’s Trail
Hiking to the Annie’s Trail trailhead can be a feat within itself, as you have to hike the Homestead Trail and climb many steps up a 19 percent grade over 400 feet to get to it. By the time you reach the trailhead, you’ve already hiked about two miles overall. Once you’ve made it this far, you’ll find yourself at a junction. To take Annie’s Trail, hike straight ahead and follow the trail south along an ascending path. You’ll do some ducking under limbs, but it’s not bad. Continue reading “Hiking Annie’s Trail”
Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Hike
Exploring the Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop, (also called the Homestead-Blue Ridge Loop or the Homestead Blue Ridge Trail), starts off easy as you hike through the canyon, but it becomes a workout as you ascend to the great views of Lake Berryessa. I have hiked this trail more times than I can count, and I will continue to hike it. I love it for its views and its challenge.
The way to the trail starts off from the parking lot is where you hike under Highway 128 by going through a drainage tunnel that runs under it. Continue reading “Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop Hike”
When a Hike Turns to Agony
Ahot sun, no water and a loss of direction turned what should have been great hike into a day of agony when I decided to climb Billy’s Hill and trek over to Glascock Mountain up California Highway 16 on the Cortina Ridge.
A series of things went wrong, which started with a mistake I made on the trail. This is not a trail summary – that will come later this summer, but I want to write about the importance of taking the proper amount of water as the summer heat approaches. Continue reading “When a Hike Turns to Agony”
Stevens Trail Along the American River
The Stevens Trail just outside of Colfax starts off pleasantly as you hike amongst lush greenery on both sides of the trail under the shade from oak tree canopy. The 1400 foot 3.7 mile descent to the American River is gentle, and the traffic sounds of the traffic on Interstate 80 fade into the distance as you venture away from the trailhead. Continue reading “Stevens Trail Along the American River”
Hiking Around Loon Lake
There’s nothing difficult about hiking this scenic trail along Loon Lake on the Rubicon Trail, which offers picturesque images of the lake if you venture off the forested trail a little bit for the views. Along the way you will hike past granite rocks and hills as the trail is a gateway to Desolation Wilderness. This hike is purely about the scenery and not much of a challenge, as the trail is nicely maintained. Continue reading “Hiking Around Loon Lake”
Hiking Pleasants Ridge Trail
This trail is now closed
Hiking up Pleasants Ridge Trail starts off easy enough, but the hike quickly becomes a heart-pounding, heavy-breathing workout. At the time of this writing, Alltrails.com rates this trail as moderate (recently re-rated as hard). It is not, and this short trail is no way for the inexperienced hiker by any means. With grades at nearly 46 percent in some sections, this trail can actually be dangerous on the descent. I’ve never used my “hiker safety” category on a trail summary before, but this one is an exception. Continue reading “Hiking Pleasants Ridge Trail”
Hiking The Mount Konocti Trail
