Hikers have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of the Lassen Peak Trail, which closed in 2009 after a tragic accident. In the years since, the park has been rebuilding and…
Everyone in the San Francisco Bay Area knows Mt Umunhum, even if they don’t know its name. The large concrete box that sits atop the summit was one the base of a Coastal Defense Radar at the Almaden Air Force Station. Visible from all over the Bay Area, the “Cube” has been a landmark since the base opened in 1958.
This weekend I had the opportunity to visit the closed summit with the Umunhum Conservancy. Not only did I get a close look at the Cube, I got a peek at what is coming when the site opens to the public later this fall. There is still a lot of construction work to do, but the end is in sight!
(more…)
I just got back from an extended weekend in Carrizo Plain to check out the wildflowers. The flowers aren't quite up to the standards of the 'superbloom' you might keep…
About two years ago I was browsing through a desert trip report website and came across a beautiful rock art site in Mojave National Preserve. Called Counsel Rocks, I decided…
Last weekend was my birthday, and as usual, I was suffering from a head cold. That seems to happen every year. I had made a half-effort to plan an outing…
I was looking for a way to get rid of my extra Halloween candy, so why not go on a hike fueled by M&Ms and 100 Grand bars? I chose…
If there is one way to get me to visit touristy spots in the Bay Area, it's to get family to visit. I didn't visit Alcatraz, ride the Cable Cars,…
Last weekend we popped over to the Eastern Sierra to check out how the fall color is coming along. This doesn't seem to be a terrific year. Many trees are already…
I have a confession: I haven't been backpacking in almost a year. Last summer I focused on a lot of big dayhike-able peaks with car camping. So I've been crazy…