National Trails Day 2015 is this Saturday, June 6th. What Exactly Is National Trails Day? It’s a national program run by the American Hiking Society to promote awareness and improvement of trails throughout the United States. Different public, private, and nonprofit groups run a variety of events that range from trail maintenance and construction to […]
My Latest E-book Helps Freelance Writers
In between hiking in northern California and southern Oregon I’ve written a new e-book: Find Your Freelance Writing Niches: Make More Money for Less Work. I know most of you are hikers, but I also know that some of you are writers. You can find details about specializing as a freelance writer here.
California State Parks Foundation Celebrates 10th Year of Legacy Award
The California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) has released a video commemorating its tenth year of awarding its State Parks Legacy Award to deserving state park heroes. The Legacy Award recognizes the efforts of policymakers who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the protection and enhancement of California’s state parks. The video, produced by Primary Focus […]
See the Lunar Eclipse Saturday Morning, December 10, 2011
Hey folks– catch this if you can! It’s the last lunar eclipse until 2014 and it’s visible from all of western North America. (More details here.) It begins around 4:45 a.m. By 6:05 a.m. the moon will be fully eclipsed. Around sunrise it will still be fully eclipsed as it sets on the western horizon. […]
Free Entrance to National Parks November 11-13, 2011
It’s the last weekend of the year for free admission to national parks, so take advantage of it. You can find all the details here. And we need more golden retriever in national parks, like these lucky dogs in Yosemite (courtesy National Park Service):
Hiking Guide Writer Jerry Schad Dies
Fellow hiking blogger Ray Anderson just let me know that San Diego hiking guide writer Jerry Schad recently passed away. There’s a beautiful obituary here: Mr. Schad, a former East County resident, was the author of 16 books, including “Afoot & Afield in San Diego County,” widely considered the bible of local hiking. He also […]
How I Mix Camping, Writing, and Hiking…
I’m leaving in a few hours for a three-day dispersed camping trip in the Trinity Divide Mountains west of Mount Shasta. I’ll primarily be working a freelance writing project for a college textbook publisher (Friday deadline), but I’ll also find time to do some hiking. I just wrote a post about how much writing I […]
Backpacking and Hiking Class at College of the Siskiyous This Fall
Backpackers and day hikers, College of the Siskiyous has a hiking/backpacking class this fall/autumn! For you folks that live in the far north state, this is a great class. It’s taught by my friend Charlie Unkefer, and it begins at College of the Siskiyous on August 24th, 2011. Backpacking and Hiking Class at College of […]
Outdoors Writer Paul McHugh’s Intriguing Presentation In Mount Shasta
“Quite Risky to a Bit Risque: Outdoors Stories I Could Never Write” by Paul McHugh, a well-known former writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Sounds very interesting! It’s goin’ down on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at the Mount Shasta Resort at 7:30 p.m. It’s a benefit for the Siskiyou Land Trust. (I’m a member.) It’s […]
Fourth of July in Mount Shasta Is For Hikers, Runners, Fun Lovers
Calling all hikers, runners, outdoors lovers, and just-plain-fun lovers: Come to Mount Shasta for the Fourth of July! Here’s why. There’s a ton of stuff happening here, including a very popular foot race and 2-mile walk, great fireworks, and the opportunity to explore my home territory, including the hiking trails. All the details of the […]
Black Butte Hike and Mount Shasta Area Snow Conditions, June 22, 2011
Did an early evening hike to the summit of Black Butte near Mount Shasta yesterday, my first major hike at elevation this year. As regular readers know, we’ve had way above-normal snow pack in northern California, and I’ve been advocating that California hikers do middle-elevation trails for most of the summer. Well, here’s some visual […]
Brooks-Range Cirro Jacket Review
The good folks at Brooks-Range sent me their new Cirro jacket to review, so I took it on my recent hiking trip to southern Utah. Now I’m not an expert on clothing and gear, just a hiker who’s very interested in having quality stuff that will help me better enjoy my time in the outdoors. […]
State Park Advocates Rally at Capitol on June 21, 2011 Against Planned Park Closures
I’ve written many posts about the budget threats in recent years to California State Parks and their hiking trails. I’ve also told you about my support of the California State Parks Foundation, which works tirelessly to keep parks open and accessible for all users from hikers to campers to bike riders to nature explorers. Here’s […]
Spring Middle-Elevation Hikes in Northern California…
Middle and low elevation day hikes and backpacking trips beckon Northern California hikers in spring, and also in early summer during high-snowfall years. So Stephanie and I are back from a fantastic trip to southern Utah. Yes, the same weather that dowsed y’all here in northern California made its way east to harass us, but […]
Need Your Suggestions for Best Day Hikes in Southern Utah
Stephanie and I will spend roughly two weeks hiking and camping in Utah in the Southwest. We plan to focus on southern Utah and environs, roughly in the area that includes: San Rafael Swell Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park Natural Bridges National Monument Capitol Reef National Park Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Bryce Canyon […]
Snow Pack Survey Results for Northern California — May 2011
Things are looking real BAD for high-mountain hiking and backpacking this summer in northern California, at least if the latest snow survey results on the Klamath National Forest and all of northern California are any indication. I wrote when we can hike near Mount Shasta and in Lassen Volcanic National Park a couple of months […]
Marijuana Growers Threaten Private Lands in California
I’ve written several posts about the problems of marijuana growing on California national forests, and I’ve also directed you to the safety guidelines for marijuana gardens. Fellow hiking blogger Gambolin’ Man shared an excellent article on Facebook today from the San Francisco Chronicle entitled “Pot wars: Private land, new frontiers” A little-spoken-of war is taking […]
Free Entrance to National Parks During National Park Week, April 16-24, 2011
Hey hikers — take advantage of National Park Week to get free entrance to national parks and most other federally administered recreation lands. Here’s the press release from Lassen Volcanic National Park, but other parks are holding similar programs. Free Entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park and Special Ranger-led Programs during National Park Week April […]
Any Changes for Reprint of 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California?
Just heard from The Mountaineers Books, the publisher of my two hiking guidebooks. We’re doing a reprint of 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California, third edition. I’ll go through the book and check the URLs, etc, but I’m also asking readers… Any Changes? I’m sure nearly all of the material is current, but things can […]
Feather Falls Trail Closed
I give a full description of the Feather Falls hike here, and spring and early summer are the most popular times to walk the trail to the stunning waterfall. However, the trail is now closed. Here are the details from a press release: Feather Falls Trail Emergency Closure Release Date: Mar 10, 2011 Plumas National […]
Backpacker Magazine: Latest Issue Has 400-Plus Gear Recommendations
I’m finally updating my backpacking and day-hiking gear. To that end, I was very happy to see the latest issue of Backpacker Magazine in my mail box. It has over 400 reviews of the latest equipment and gear. I’ll be writing soon about ultralight backpacking equipment, so stay tuned…
Snowpack Survey Results for Klamath National Forest — March 2011
There’s definite improvement in the Klamath National Forest snowpack given the several weeks of sun and above normal temps we had for much of January and early February; however overall results are bit below normal, although the data set is incomplete. So when can we go backpacking in the high country? Depends on how much […]
Sutter Buttes Photos Wanted for Middle Mountain Foundation 2012 Calendar
The Middle Mountain Foundations wants to see your photos of the Sutter Buttes. The best ones will be chosen for the new calendar. The Sutter Buttes Mystique… I’ve been fascinated by the Sutter Buttes ever since I was a little kid and I’d drive with my folks south from our home near Anderson, California down […]
California State Parks Foundation Sponsors Senate Bill 580
I’ve long hiked the trails of California’s state parks, and I’ve been a strong advocate of keeping state parks open and accessible to hikers, picnickers, swimmers, boaters, and nature lovers. I’m also a member of the California State Parks Foundation, which has been fighting to get funds for our parks. The CSPF has just sponsored […]
On Seeing A Fireball in the Predawn Winter Sky of Northern California
This morning I saw a very bright fireball in the predawn sky at my home in Northern California, by far the brightest meteor I have ever seen. What a treat! Here are the details… Most winter mornings I’m up around 5. I make a strong cup of French roast and then head outside to look […]
