California

  • California

    Mammoth Lakes

    December 5, 2018 - By 

    One reason why I love California is that I’m never far from somewhere beautiful, and there is always somewhere new to explore whether I go north, south, east, or west. After Thanksgiving when “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” takes over media, I always wonder why the song isn’t broadcasted sooner. Fall truly is the most wonderful time of the year. No crowds, no traffic, no heat, no mosquitos, and complete solitude with nature. So what’s a girl to do at the end of fall and the mountains are calling? Make the hubby take the trailer out for…

  • California

    Redwood National & State Parks

    January 4, 2018 - By 

    Chris and I got up close and personal with the world’s oldest living trees at the Bristlecone Pine Forest and meandered through groves of the world’s largest trees at Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park.  While the ancient bristlecone pines and massive sequoia trees thrive in the high altitude mountains of Southern California, the tall redwood trees tower over the foggy coasts of Northern California; no matter where we are in California we’re not far from the world’s largest (and oldest) trees! As Bay Area natives, plenty of my friends and I have driven past the Redwood National and State…

  • California

    King’s Canyon and Sequoia

    October 28, 2016 - By 

    California boasts the highest and lowest points in the U.S. at Mount Whitney and Badwater Basin.  In addition to that, California also has the 2nd oldest national park in America (after Yellowstone), which is home to the largest trees in the world! This park is the joint Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.  During our three and a half days at the park, we traversed canyons and trudged up the slopes of alpine mountains. We strained our necks to catch the slightest glimpse of the tops of the world’s largest trees. We tread softly through the inside of a sequoia, we…

  • California

    Ghost Town Bodie

    October 25, 2016 - By 

    Ever since I stumbled upon Rhyolite, a ghost town of respectable size in Nevada, I learned more about the handfuls of poignant mining/gold rush ghost towns of California. Of the ghost towns, Bodie was the most notable but relatively distant from any major city, and the thought of visiting Bodie had remained in the back of my mind ever since. As a resident of California, I knew I’d eventually see it—it was only a matter of when, and once again I found myself east of Yosemite, not inconveniently far from Bodie. Time to go! The state has turned the ghost…

  • California

    Bristlecone Pines

    October 20, 2016 - By 

    I had just learned about the ancient bristlecone pine trees—the world’s oldest known trees—at Great Basin National Park, and my fascination with them plus further research led me to the discovery of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. During my side trip of summiting Mount Whitney, I learned that the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest was not far. In fact, it was right off our route north on Highway 395, nestled in the White Mountains in Inyo National Forest. We headed there the day after we summited Mount Whitney. Within this ancient forest is the 4.5-mile loop trail that includes the bristlecone pine named…

  • California

    Alabama Hills & Mt. Whitney

    October 18, 2016 - By 

    I’ve always said California has everything, and that was before I even knew that California also has the highest AND lowest points (both within ~100 miles of each other) in the contiguous U.S! Last year in Death Valley, we sauntered along Bad Water Basin, the lowest point in the U.S. at -282 feet below sea level. This year we figured we’d summit the U.S.’s highest peak, Mount Whitney, at 14,497 feet tall. By mountaineering standards, Mount Whitney is relatively easy to summit. Between summer and fall, anyone in decent shape can summit the mountain—no mountaineering experience required. As a result, the 22-mile out…

  • California

    Joshua Tree

    October 14, 2016 - By 

    I didn’t think I’d like Joshua Tree National Park.  I typically prefer the more “traditional parks” that consist of deep canyons or mountains, forests, and lakes.  I figured Joshua Tree NP would just be a boring desert with a bunch of cool trees, right? Free camping on BLM land outside of Joshua Tree NP: Within minutes of entering the park, I figured how very wrong I was, especially during the magic hour of sunrise.  Silhouettes of the gnarled trees beckoned us as we drove down the vast, empty road, and it became understandable why artists, poets, and nature lovers personify these trees.  I, too, became enamored…

  • California

    Lassen Volcanic National Park

    September 21, 2016 - By 

    California has everything: beaches, deserts, forests, mountains, islands…and volcanoes and hydrothermal basins! Tucked away in northeastern California’s remote wilderness, it’s easy to forget that a mini Yellowstone with active fumeroles, mudpots, and bubbling ponds actually exists in California. Even with its lesser known name and comparatively unspectacular hikes, I knew I had to check off this national park off my list. It is in my home state after all. By now we’ve become experts at road tripping, especially in the United States, and we were delighted to easily find boondocking turf literally outside of the national park thanks to the…

  • California

    Touring The City

    February 5, 2016 - By 

    As of February 2016, I’ve lived in San Francisco for 7.5 years.  Before that I lived in Berkeley for a couple of years, and before that I spent most of my life in San Jose, where I was born and raised.  Unlike many residents in the area, I am actually a native to the Bay Area.  This world-famous, innovative, leading hub of tech and development is my home, and San Francisco has played a huge role in my life from childhood to adulthood.  It began with quick weekend day trips with the family as a child (Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, the Ferry Building,…

  • California

    Yosemite and Mono Lake

    January 28, 2016 - By 

    Note: This post has two sections.  The first tells the story of my ridiculous chain of events and misadventure during my first visit to a national park, and the second shares useful information about hiking Half Dome, cycling Tioga Pass, and visiting Mono Lake.  I encourage you to read this entire post since the first section is entertaining, but if you’d rather skip the misadventure and only read the useful bits then scroll down until you see a bunch of photos. Labor Day weekend 2010 was when I made my first visit to a national park. An acquaintance/friend asked me if…