The Thursday Picture – Tracking

Today’s Thursday Picture was taken on my hike at the very scenic, and very wet, Calero County Park.

I must’ve seen 6 or 7 black tailed deer while on the trail.  I also saw a lot of black tailed deer tracks on the muddy trails.

And….several tracks made by this other animal.  It looks like a 6′ 3″ older white guy who has big feet 😀

So, where are you hiking this weekend?

If you’re looking for me, I’m over the hill.

The Thursday Picture -Green & Gray

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Today’s Thursday Picture was taken on the Tony Look Trail in Stevens Creek County Park.  I like the bright green of spring against the gray of winter in this picture.

This is my first hike as part of the “PixInParks” challenge.  The “Magnificent Seven” make up the hikes in the Pix in Parks challenge…

They are:

Lookout Point in Villa Montalvo Park

Tony Look Trail in Stevens Creek County Park

John Nicholas Trail in Sanborn County Park – a great hike that I’ve done before.

Merry Go Round to Ridge Trail in Mount Madonna Park

Mummy Mountain Trail in Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch Park

Longwall to Little Llagas in Calero County Park

Hotel Trail to Snell Trail in Joseph D. Grant County Park

I’m really looking forward to exploring the “Magnificent Seven!”

 

If you’re looking for me, I’m over the hill.

 

 

2016 – By the Numbers

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So…what does my record of 52 hikes look like?  Hike 52 looked a lot like one of my favorite places to hike, Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (above).

I completed 52 hikes.

Longest Hike:  Pinnacles National Park = 9.5 Miles

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Greatest total elevation gain:  Mission Peak, East Bay Regional Parks = 2,047 feet!

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Talles Trees:  Big Basin Redwoods State Park 

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Best spot to hike along a creek on a cloudy day: Uvas Canyon County Park

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That’s our youngest daughter Casie…picking up the pace!

I completed 52 hikes that totaled 254.2 miles.  The total elevation gain for all 52 hikes was 33,782 feet.  My average hike was just over 5 miles.

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Phew!

What to do for 2017?  Well, I do know that I am going to take up the Pix In Parks challenge and hike the “magnificent 7.”  I’m also going to try to take some longer hikes…increase my mileage.  Stay tuned!

As always, If you’re looking for me, I’m over the hill.

52

Wow.  I did it.  52 hikes in one year.

Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, one of my favorite places to hike, was just spectacular yesterday!


I pushed myself to get outside on many of my hikes.  But, once on the trail, I easily fell into my hiking rhythm.  I took some good pictures too.  Well, most of them were ok.  


Most of all, Given the choice, I opted to get outside.  


There is a lot of trail to explore…

If you’re looking for me, I’m over the hill.

Buzzards Roost and the 52 Hike Challenge

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I can see the finish line.  It’s kind of like standing on the trail looking up at the summit.  In this picture, the summit is reaching Buzzard’s Roost at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.  The hike to Buzzard’s Roost is a fairly challenging 5 mile round trip hike with well over 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

Challenging….but, not too crazy.  This hike is similar to the 52 Hike Challenge.  The 52 Hike Challenge can be as challenging as you make it.  I’m lucky….I live in Northern California where there are many different trails from crazy tough, like the Mission Peak Trail  or, hiking in Pinnacles National Park  to great hikes that are a short drive from downtown San Jose in the Santa Rosa Open Space.

The point is, to #OptOutside.  I’m so close…three hikes to go!

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If you’re looking for me, I’m over the hill.

 

Hike 30 – “Look UP”

Hike 20 – “I Like Big Rocks” 

The Thursday Picture – Sweeney Ridge

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Today’s Thursday Picture was taken on the Sweeney Ridge Trail that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  Located on the San Francisco Peninsula, I like hiking here when it is warm in Silicon Valley.  I can almost always count on a cool sea breeze here when I hike in the late afternoon.  The views of the Pacific Ocean are spectacular!

This was Hike #40 in my 52 Hike Challenge for 2016.  I’m up to 49 hikes with just over a week of 2016 left.  I better get going!

If you’re looking for me, I’m over the hill.