Despite the smog, forget the traffic, disregard the surly demeanor of the locals, and ignore the over population. There is much more to the outdoor world of Northern California. Known to many as the Bay Area, or, to those industrious individuals, the Silicon Valley, there is much to offer the outdoor community. No activity is more than a stone’s throw away. Pick your poison: surf the icy shores of Santa Cruz, hike the numerous trails lacing the Coastal Range from Los Gatos to San Francisco, climb the famous sandstone rock at Castle Rock, or saddle up and hit the open road with your bike; mind the cars.
Category: Hiking (Page 4 of 5)
General information about hiking.
Eli Vega is a published photographer and photography instructor, a published writer, and philosopher. He has photographed and hiked the Colorado mountains since he set foot on the Centennial State five years ago. Included among his serious hikes are three fourteeners: Mt. Bierstadt, Quandry Peak, and the state’s highest peak, Mt. Elbert (14,443’). Below are some life lessons that Eli extracted, internalized and of which he was reminded when he hiked his three Colorado fourteeners.
A hawk circles lazily overhead. I turn my binoculars skyward and directly into the morning sun. I am momentarily blinded, but I can hear the distinct kee-eerrrrrr echoing through the valley. I track her by sound as her call grows faint and fainter still, until altogether it is lost. When I am able to see again, I continue on in my quest to photograph the Red Tailed Hawk.
The sign at the trailhead read “1.0 mile” but it seemed much further as I followed the rocky, switchback trail winding its way upward through barrel cactus, huge boulders, and wildflowers. The midday sun burned my skin and sweat trickled down my back, but I was oblivious. I was driven forward by myth and mysticism, by my own curiosity. I was hiking to Marshal South’s house near the top of Ghost Mountain in Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
We all know how hard it is to find the time to get out and play, so we thought we would compile some of our favorite hikes to save you time in looking for your next hike. If you ever thought there was no peace to be found in San Diego, think again. Rae lets us in on a sanctuary just a few miles from town. While J, a newcomer to Salt Lake City, gives some insider secrets to one of Big Cottonwood Canyons’ treasures. Jeremiah ends the article by revealing one of the easiest and most family friendly hikes in the Wasatch. We hope this article will help you, as well as us, to get out and play a little more often.
Lake Blanche Trail by:J
I am relatively new to the Salt Lake area, this being the case I hit the internet to find info. on some hikes I might enjoy. I heard an assortment of good things about Blanche Lake so off I went. For those who don’t know Blanche is located at Mill B South in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is approximately a 6 ½ mile round hike. I have been told that the Blanche trail is actually the Mill B South trail, I’m not big on technicality so call it whatever you like. The word I would call the trail is awesome, the word for the lake is… we’ll get to that later.