trailspotting

Mt. Davidson, San Francisco

2008-10-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: San Francisco Peninsula
Distance: 1 mile
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 200ft (from 750 - 938ft)

Take in the superb views across San Francisco from the highest point in the city, yet far away from the throngs of tourists and tour buses of Twin Peaks. These less well known vistas from Mount Davidson are a short hike away from the roadside, which means there's a good chance that you'll have the city to yourselves when you reach the top.

Our recommended short loop trail begins at a fire road at the top of Dalewood Way and spirals up through a non-native eucalyptus forest to the summit marked by an enormous 100-foot high cross. Though this cross is commonly used for Easter services, though it's much more likely that you've seen it before in a slightly more secular location - namely a location for a key scene in the 1971 Dirty Harry movie set in San Francisco.

The park is also accessible from several other places around its boundary thanks to the many other trails that criss-cross the hilltop. Security is a particular concern when hiking in parks near the city, and you'd be wise not to hike this park unaccompanied, particularly when it gets dark. Street parking is available and there is no fee for use of the park.

Tangents:
- Wikipedia: Mount Davidson
- Mt. Davidson.org: Trail Map (via)
- Film In America: Dirty Harry Filming Locations
- Find this hike in "California Hiking" book by Stienstra & Brown
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingmtdave

Yosemite Half Dome

2008-10-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Yosemite
Distance: 17 miles
Type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation gain: 4,800ft (from 4,000 - 8,836ft)

It's difficult to approach Yosemite's Half Dome without a sense of trepidation. Perhaps it's the scale of the seventeen mile hike and 4,800ft elevation gain. Perhaps it's a fear of heights and worry over the final ascent of the cables, almost a mile above the valley floor. Alternatively, maybe it's just the dread of the Yosemite crowds compounded by the added attraction of Half Dome itself.

An early start is essential to mounting an attempt on Yosemite's crowning glory and sunrise is a good time to start. Remember to pack a flashlight as there's a good chance that you'll still be on the trail when darkness falls, and the return trail can't be tackled safely in the dark without one.

This hike begins at the parking lot opposite Upper Pines Campground and follows the Merced River up into the hills behind Half Dome. Climbing a combination of steps and switchbacks lead you up the side of Vernal Falls and then Nevada Falls - even in fall months you'll struggle to find these waterfalls dry. From here the trail weaves upward through pine forest until it opens up toward the final part of the hike with awesome views of the valley.

Have no doubt the final ascent up Half Dome looks crazy, almost vertical. In truth the climb is relatively safe thanks to the cable & post system erected by the Park, and though steep, the incline rarely exceeds 45 degrees. We hold the view that anyone who can tackle a 17-mile day hike can overcome this final climb with little difficulty - we've witnessed folk from their early teens to both early teenage kids and folks well into their sixties (and likely much beyond) climbing the cables.

One final note on the crowds. Whilst we prefer our trails to be tranquil and well away from the throngs of the masses, that's never likely to be the case on Half Dome. Unused to sharing the route with such a large of traffic we were surprised to find that we begin to enjoy the company - sharing expressions, comments and even the occasional joke. And perhaps that's because we're mixing with people like us - people who'd get up at 5am to hike seventeen miles up a mountain and back!

Tangents:
- National Park Service: Half Dome Day Hike
- National Park Service: Yosemite National Park
- "One Best Hike: Yosemite's Half Dome" book by Rick Deutsch
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottinghdome

Mt. Tampalpais Dias Ridge Trail

2008-09-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Marin County
Distance: 5 miles
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Medium
Elevation gain: 800ft (from 100 - 800ft)

Almost certain to be a beer lovers' dream, this trail both starts and finishes at the Pelican Inn, a faithfully recreated seventeenth century English country pub, where you can enjoy a shepherds pie by the fireplace or a pint of ale on the lawn.

Set out in a counter clockwise route from an unmarked trailhead across the road from the pub, and you'll soon be climbing up the chaparral covered Diaz Ridge. Seven hundred feet of elevation gain later and you'll be overlooking Muir beach to the west and admiring the Mt. Tamalpais State Park landscape to the north.

Follow the ridgeline north-east for just under a mile and you'll hit the junction to the Miwok Trail, named for the folk who originally settled in the area as long as five thousand years ago. The Miwok trail switchbacks down the hill and into the oak woodlands that also share the return leg of the route - the Redwood Creek Trail, and onto the final half-mile along the road back to the pub.

Route Summary:
Dias Ridge Fire Road > Miwok Trail > Redwood Creek Trail > Muir Woods Rd/Shoreline Hwy

Tangents:
- California State Parks: Mount Tamalpais State Park
- California State Parks: Brochure & Map (map on p6)
- The Pelican Inn Website
- Trailspotting: More hikes in this area
- More Mt. Tam hikes in "101 Great Hikes" book by Ann Marie Brown
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingtamdias

Mt. Tamalpais Coast View Loop

2008-09-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Marin County
Distance: 8½ miles
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Medium
Elevation gain: 1,600ft (from 100 - 1,500 ft)

Experience many of Mt. Tamalpais' best features on a single loop trail, from chaparral grasslands and dramatic Pacific Ocean views to forest creeks and huge redwoods. Plus the added bonus to stop off for a swift one at an old british pub en route.

Begin at the highest point on the hike at Pan Toll Ranger Station (parking fee) and head off down the Old Mine Trail leading to Coast View Trail where you can share great Pacific Ocean views with occasional but courteous mountain bikers. On a clear day you'll get to see the Farallon Islands 26 miles out to sea as well as the San Francisco Peninsula coast, and looking the other way you'll have views of the Bay and landmarks as distant as Mt. Diablo.

Our route drops down through switchbacks on the Heather Cutoff Trail and links up to the Redwood Creek trail. Ironically the shade the Redwood Creek trail is provided by oak tree woodlands, but it's welcome shade nonetheless. The loop returns up Deer Park Fire Road which traces and intersects with Dipsea Trail - choose either of these trails to make your way back to the start.

Route Summary:
Old Mine Trail > Coast View Trail > Heather Cutoff > Redwood Creek Trail > Deer Park/Dipsea > Coastal Fire Road

Alternatives:
A two-mile side trip to the Pelican Inn pub begins at the intersection of the Heather Cutoff and Redwood Creek trails. Or add another extra mile and extend your hike onto Dias Ridge. All of these options are explored on our maps.

Tangents:
- California State Parks: Mount Tamalpais State Park
- California State Parks: Brochure & Map (map on p6)
- Trailspotting: More hikes in this area
- More Mt. Tam hikes in "101 Great Hikes" book by Ann Marie Brown
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingtamcoast

Russian Ridge Ancient Oaks Trail

2008-09-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: San Francisco Peninsula
Distance: 3½ miles
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 700ft (from 2,100 - 2,500 ft)

There are many reasons to love the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, whether it's the expanses of rolling hills, the peek-a-boo ocean views or the sight of the sprawling peninsula cities beneath the Santa Cruz mountains.

Our recommended loop trail around the southern half of the park begins with a gentle incline to the top of Borel Hill (2,572 ft) where you'll find the best views in area, before dropping down onto Ancient Oaks Trail which provides some welcome shade on the hottest days.

Visiting this park once might not be enough. Green rolling hills in the early season eventually give way to blankets of spring flowers, before the summer sun turns the tall grasses golden and gives the park a complete make-over. The heat in the mid-day summer months can be a little much for some, but the evenings often prove to be very pleasant, particularly if you're lucky enough to witness the dramatic coastal fogs creep in across the landscape.

Tangents:
- Official Site: Russian Ridge
- Official Site: Russian Ridge PDF trail map
- Find this hike in "101 Great Hikes" book by Ann Marie Brown
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingrussridge

First Steps with your new GPS

2008-09-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

Your new handheld GPS might seem complex, but in truth it's very simple to use. This quick article will show you how easy it is to get started, by using the Trailspotting recommended Garmin eTrex Venture HC as an example. In next to no time you'll be showing off your latest expedition on Google Earth. (Above image is from the Haleakala Volcano Trail on Maui).

Using your new GPS
Unbox your GPS receiver, slot in the batteries and give it a few seconds to locate some satellites - you're now good to go. Literally.

Take your GPS on a journey - walk around the block, jog around the park or simply drive to the store and back - the GPS will log your movements without you having to touch a button. The map screen will show your position and trace your route as you move, like a trail of digital breadcrumbs.

This tracking feature is the most important function of your GPS unit - it orientates you to your environment and traces your movements so you can always find your way back to the start of your trip.

The other screen you'll want to look at is the statistics page, which displays a bunch of information on your trip such as distance traveled, journey time, moving time, average speed. Eventually you may want to customize this screen to show different information - personally we like to see the time of day and sunset time to be certain of the remaining daylight.

GPS on Your Computer
Say you've been hiking and you've taken your GPS device with you to help you navigate the trail and give you statistics on your journey. Now you're back home and you want to store your GPS trail on your computer, just like you do with the photos from your digital camera.

Connect your GPS to your computer and fire up the Garmin Mapsource software (it comes in the package). Your computer will recognize your GPS device and you can click on the 'receive from device' icon to download. Transfer will take just moments, then you can choose to view your hike on the screen and save your hike to your computer.

Click on the properties of the trail and you can also see the elevation profile, which plots the incline of the trail against distance traveled. Under the 'tracks' tab in the sidebar, right-click the 'active log' then click on the 'show profile'.

GPS on the Web
Want to do more with your new GPS hiking file? Save your file on your computer as a GPX file and upload it to an account at EveryTrail. With a free EveryTrail account you can store all of your trips, add photos, view your statistics and see your trails on an interactive map. The site will even give you a link so you can see your trail in three dimensions on Google Earth.

Trailspotting isn't affiliated with EveryTrail in any way, we just like it. Hey .. and if you do sign up to their service, remember to add your humble Trailspotting Editor as a friend!

Using Other People's Trails
Installing other people's trails (like the ones we provide at Trailspotting) is a breeze with Garmin's Mapsource software program. Make sure your GPS is connected, open the file you're interested in, then click the upload button.

Files with a GPX suffix are the ones you want to be uploading to your device. If you come across a KML or KMZ file that you'd like to use, simply convert them to GPX using the GPS Visualizer website.

Maps on your GPS
It might come as a surprise to know that you don't need a map on your GPS device, as you can get plenty of benefit from using the route tracking features alone. Superimposing your route on top of an on-screen map does have some advantages however.

The eTrex Venture has a built in base-map, but you'll find it only useful for locating roads and some geographical features. If you really feel like you need a topographical map on your GPS - with contours, trail routes and detailed features - then you'll be wanting to consider a product like Garmin's Topo 2008. We explored free mapping alternatives in this article but getting them to work might need some advanced computer skills.

Please remember that a GPS unit is only good while the batteries still work - never rely on a GPS receiver as your only means of navigation and always carry reliable paper-based maps for safety.

More on GPS:
- Trailspotting: Introduction to GPS
- Trailspotting: Free GPS Maps

Tangents:
- EveryTrail: Share your tracks & photos
- TopoShare: Another trail sharing site
- Amazon.com: Buy Garmin eTrex Venture HC
- Amazon.com: Buy Garmin Topo 2008 Map

Five Lakes, Granite Chief Wilderness

2008-09-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Tahoe Region
Distance: 4 miles
Type: Out & back
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Elevation gain: 900ft (from 6,600 - 7,500ft)

Nestled in the foothills of the Granite Chief Wilderness peaks just north of Lake Tahoe, the Five Lakes promise dramatic yet tranquil surroundings, a place to relax, fish or swim.

The hike starts out at the junction of Alpine Meadows Rd and Deer Park Rd, rises gently towards the Five Lakes plateau and up the side of KT22 peak through expanses of exposed granite and jagged volcanic rock.

The two mile trail maintains little more than a slight incline, but still gains nine hundred feet of elevation before reaching the lakes. On the warmest Tahoe days this trail lacks a great deal of shade, but the lakes themselves provide plenty of cover from the sun and opportunities to cool off in the waters.

A four mile hike takes you to the lakes and back, but if you want to explore the lakes themselves, add another mile or so. Trails exist between all the lakes, making them nicely accessible. Bugs weren’t a big problem when we visited on a warm September day, but we always recommend carrying insect repellent just in case.

By summer when the snow has retreated, the Five Lakes Trail is one of the easiest and most accessible hikes in the Granite Chief Wilderness so don’t expect to have this trail to yourself. Don’t be disheartened if the trail is busy however, as the lakes themselves allow for plenty of chances for quiet and solitude.

Tangents:
- Tahoe National Forest: Granite Chief Wilderness Map (PDF)
- Book: Find this hike in "Top Trails Lake Tahoe" by Mike White
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspotting5lakes

Cathedral Lakes, Yosemite

2008-08-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Yosemite (Tioga Road)
Distance: 8 miles
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Medium
Elevation gain: 1,300ft (from 8,600 - 9,600ft)

Two superb Yosemite lakes await you from the Cathedral Lakes trailhead at the side of Tioga Road, inviting you to swap the throngs of car-bound visitors for relative peace and tranquility of calm waters, pine forest and granite peaks.

The trail climbs gently upward at the outset, gaining a thousand feet in the first mile (see elevation profile), but as most of the rest of the hike is either on the level or downhill, you can reassure yourself that this will be the hardest part of your hike. Much of the mileage covered is within sheltered evergreen forest, though with ample opportunities to marvel in the rightly famous Yosemite National Park landscape.

Rest on the open, sloping granite banks of Lower Cathedral Lake looking westerly over a great watery expanse towards Yosemite Valley with deer grazing by the lakes edge. Then re-trace your steps for half a mile to the trail junction and head slightly upward to the Upper Lake which sits in a bowl surrounded on all sides by towering granite including the Cathedral and Tresidder Peaks.

You’ll find plenty of parking at the trailhead, and be sure to empty your car of anything that smells like food and store it in the bear-proof lockers provided. Insects can be plentiful around the lakes, so be sure to pack the bug spray as well as the sunscreen. As well as deer, keep your eyes peeled for an occasional timid marmot.

Alternatives:
Tackle both lakes and you're looking at a 8.3 mile trek, but you can shorten your hike by visiting just the Upper Lake (7.2 miles total) or just the Lower Lake (7.0 miles).

Tangents:
- Local Hikes: Cathedral Lakes
- American Southwest: Cathedral Lakes
- National Park Service: Yosemite National Park
- Wikipedia: Yosemite National Park
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingcath

Mono Lake Tufa Trail

2008-08-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Eastern Sierras
Distance: 1 mile
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 0ft (at 6,400ft)

The dramatic scenery of the central Sierras doesn't stop at the boundaries to Yosemite National Park. Driving beyond the eastern park entrance along Route 120 and you'll find yourself on the snaking Tioga Pass highway with its towering volcanic peaks and sheer cliff-faces, before being faced with the sight of the enormous Mono Lake.

Mono Lake is a curious body of water located 6,400 feet above sea level and replenished by run-off from neghboring Eastern Sierra mountains. Since the lake has no outlet and until recently only ever lost its water to evaporation, salts have collected in the lake over hundreds of thousands of years which according to the State Park website makes the lake "two-and-a-half times more salty and eighty times as alkaline as the ocean".

The salts from the lake created underwater columns of calcium-carbonate rock known as "Tufa towers" which have become exposed to view as the size of the lake has shrunk. This curiosity is dotted all around the lake, but most abundant on the southern perimeter of the lake at Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve.

The reserve is well signposted off the highway and ample parking is available. A small fee is payable at the ranger station, which is also the trailhead for this short trail.

Tangents:
- Wikipedia: Mono Lake
- NPS: Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve
- Other: Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here" album artwork
- Other: Clint Eastwood's "High Plains Drifter" was shot here
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingtufa

Mt Dana Summit Trail, Yosemite

2008-08-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Yosemite (Tioga Road), Eastern Sierras
Distance: 5 miles
Type: Out & back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation gain: 3,200ft (from 9,900 - 13,053ft)

You won't find the Mt. Dana Summit Trail on your National Park Service map and you're unlikely to find it in your hiking guidebook either. What you will find on this trail however, is a challenging trip up the second highest peak in Yosemite National Park which rewards with some of the best panoramic views you'll experience anywhere.

Located at the eastern entrance to Yosemite, the staff at the Tioga Pass ranger station will be happy to point out the unmarked trailhead for you. The trail quickly transports you away from the RV traffic of Route 120 and into an evergren forest hiding lakes and wildflowers. After half a mile the trees thin out to nothing, so be sure to check the weather forecast with rangers before you set out, as it's just you and the elements all the way to the top.

The well defined trail gets you close to the peak before branching off in many directions. At this point you'll have the summit in your sights so you can take your pick of trails as you navigate your way upward. Expect your trail to disappear beneath the small boulders from time to time, forcing you to scramble your way up. Views on the way up are spectacular, but until you reach the summit you haven't seen the half of it!

Tackling three thousand feet in under three miles might seem like a daunting challenge, particularly compounded with the extreme elevation, but if you're acclimatized to the atmosphere and if you progress at a steady pace that you're comfortable with, you'll be amazed at what you can achieve.

Tangents:
- National Park Service: Yosemite National Park
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingmtdana

Top Hikes: July 2008

2008-08-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

Our most popular Northern California during the last month:
- Round Top & Winnemucca Lake
- Loch Leven Lakes
- Steep Ravine & Matt Davis Loop
- Pinnacles High Peaks & Balconies Cave
- Lassen Peak

And our most popular Hawaii Trails last month:
- Maui: Pipiwai Waterfalls & Bamboo Trail
- Kauai: Hanakapi'ai Falls
- Maui: Waihee Ridge Trail
- Kauai: Alakai Swamp Trail
- Big Island: Kilauea Crater Trails

Be sure to catch out future trails, posts & features by subscribing by RSS or by email by following this link

Cheapskates Guide to Free GPS Maps

2008-08-03T19:28:00.001-07:00

THESE DAYS you can pick up a great GPS receiver like the eTrex Venture HC* for little over $100 but you might think twice if you wanted to pick up a topo map at the same time, since a product like Garmin's Topo 2008* would almost double the dent in your wallet. (*Amazon link)

Fret no more however as there are many great, reliable and free mapping alternatives just a click away from your mouse. Trailspotting gives you a quick look at these and how to get them running on your Garmin receiver.

Robomatt's Northern California Topos
If you hike in Northern California and you're looking for topo maps, then let me introduce you to your newest personal hero, Robomatt. He's handily crafted many high quality maps around the region, mostly to a scale of 1:24,000 which are based on the USGS 7.5 minute series that we've previously covered here. Matt covers most of NorCal's greatest hits, including Kings Canyon, Lake Tahoe, Lassen, Monterey, Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Sequoia and Yosemite.
- Robomatt's Maps
- Robomatt's tutorials & more information on his maps

Hawaii Topos
Mapcenter hosts maps for several of the Hawaii islands, all freely downloadable for personal use. Currently at the site you can find coverage for the Big Island, Kauai and Oahu.
- Hawaii on Mapcenter

Uploading maps
To upload your .IMG map into your GPS device you'll need to download some software. For windows users we recommend using IMG2GPS, a user interface that operates a second program called Sendmap - both programs can be downloaded together from the link below. Software for Macs should also be available.
- IMG2GPS & Sendmap
- Sendmap (free, scroll 2/3 down, windows linux & pocket pc)

Tangents
- More free maps: Garmin Map Search
- More free maps: Mapcenter
- GPSMapEdit (view & edit IMG files, Windows)
- Touratel topographic maps (via)
- Wikipedia: Topographic Maps

Mount Rose

2008-07-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Tahoe Region
Distance: 10 miles
Type: Semi loop
Difficulty: Medium
Elevation gain: 2,100ft (from 8,900 - 10,776 ft)

Mount Rose is the second tallest peak in Tahoe basin and prominent feature of the northern Lake Tahoe skyline, yet the best adjective to describe the journey to the peak is closer to 'pleasant' than it is to 'challenging' despite the 2,100ft elevation gain.

You'll find the trailhead at the 8,900ft Mount Rose Pass on Nevada's state route 431 complete with ample parking and a large block of restrooms. The trailhead is just behind the restrooms. The right-hand route from the trailhead is the most direct route to the summit from here, cutting a path around the north side of Tamarack Peak with weathered pillars of volcanic rock rising on both sides of you. The route eventually leads past a waterfall and into a valley before rising to a saddle then on to the technically easy final assault on Mount Rose.

Naturally the views from the top can be incredible on a clear day - peaks all around, highways below you snaking around lakes you never knew existed and the deep-blue expanse of Lake Tahoe to the south. Any time from early summer thru November is a good time to tackle this peak, though the best of the wildflowers in this area can usually be found during late July.

Return the way you came for a nine-and-a-half mile out-and-back hike, or consider extending your return journey by just three quarters of a mile of mostly level trail by taking the loop around the south side of Tamarack Peak. Known as the old Mt. Rose trail, this route follows the path of the Tahoe Rim Trail for the most part and rewards with excellent panoramic Lake Tahoe vistas.

Tangents:
- Adampaul.com: Mt. Rose Hike
- Book: Find this hike in "Top Trails Lake Tahoe" by Mike White
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingmtrose

Field Guide to the Birds of North America

2008-07-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

The publishers of the new book Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America contacted Trailspotting to ask if we might be interested in taking a closer look at their book. Since we're trying to be more appreciative of the things around us on our trails (like our recent wildflower fixation) we thought we'd check it out.

Turns out it's pretty good and judging by the 5-star reviews on Amazon.com the birders agree too. Weighing in at over 2lb it's a little on the hefty side to lug around on a long hike and might work better as a home-reference guide.

More appealing to the gadget-minded hiker is the DVD which accompanies the book. Loaded with 900MB of mp3 samples - 587 birdsong samples representing 138 birds to be exact - and each file embedded with an image. It's a breeze to load these onto an iPod or iPhone for identification in the field, but we were disappointed that it wasn't possible to include descriptions or a fully indexed guide, instead we only get an alphabetical list. Maybe that would work out great as an iPhone app?

Listen to birdsong samples along with other reader's reviews over at Amazon.com ...

- Book: Guide to the Birds of North America

Round Top & Winnemucca Lake

2008-06-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Tahoe Region
Distance: 6½ miles
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Medium
Elevation gain: 2,300ft (from 8,200 - 10,381 ft)

Summer is the perfect time to visit Round Top and Winnemucca lakes, south of Lake Tahoe and near the ski resort of Kirkwood. If you can time your visit just right - sometime around the middle of July - we have it on good authority that you can find yourself surrounded with one of the finest displays of wildflowers in Northern California.

We were hiking a little too early in the season to witness the full flourish of the blooms but were compensated greatly with alpine meadows, abandoned buildings, fast flowing brooks and the last remaining patches of winter's snow.

Our featured route takes a counter-clockwise route along Pack Trail from Woods Lake Campground and includes an out-and-back spur trail to the 10,381ft summit of Round Top Peak. You could choose to lengthen or shorten the route with the options listed below, or even set out from the alternative Carson Pass trailhead, which is shorter but inferior to the loop trail.

Both trailheads require a day use fee to park and be sure to pack some insect repellent - the bugs around the lake sure are hungry. Access to Woods Lake Campground is via a paved road off CA-88.

Alternate Routes:
- Pack Trail loop only, avoids steep summit trail and visits both Winnemucca and Round Top lakes. (5m loop)
- Carson Pass Trail, an out-and-back route from Carson Pass to Winnemucca lake. (2m each way)
- Sisters Peak, short but steep side-trip to bag another summit.
- 4th Of July Lake, a side-trip from Round Top lake. (2m each way)

Tangents:
- Trailspotting TV: Sonora Peak (1:28 sec)
- NorCal Explorer: Winnemucca & Round Top Lakes
- Book: Find this hike in "Top Trails Lake Tahoe" by Mike White
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottinground

Sonora Peak

2008-06-18T21:20:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Area: Stanislaus
Distance: 4 miles
Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation gain: 2,000ft (from 9,450 - 11,495ft)

In stark contrast to neighboring Yosemite Park, the Stanislaus National Forest rewards its visitors with open roads, dramatic scenery and a welcome lack of tour buses. Ironically it's likely that qualities like these is exactly what attracted Ansel Adams to Yosemite, who's photography helped make that park such a incredibly busy and popular attraction.

Sonora Peak lies within Stanislaus National Forest at the highest point of CA-108, near Sonora peak, which at 9,500 feet is the second highest mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The trail begins at the pass and leads through pine forest and into high mountain plains, passing creeks swollen with early meltwater and blankets of midsummer wildflowers. Snow is not uncommon at these lofty heights well into the summer, but so long as you're not hiking early in the season you'll find the going relatively easy.

Gradients are relatively gentle for most of the hike, up to St. Mary's Pass, then across gently inclined plains to the final ascent which switchbacks up the steepest sections. At the 11,495ft peak you'll be relieved to find a bunker to shelter from the winds, so you can enjoy flipping through the summit log at your leisure.

For a four mile out-and-back trail, this one is notable for its high elevation, so be sure to take things easy and pack accordingly - plenty of water, clothing and supplies. Painkillers can also come in handy because you never know when altitude sickness might hit you.

Tangents:
- Trailspotting TV: Sonora Peak (1:15 sec)
- US Forest Service: Stanislaus National Forest
- Wikipedia: Sonora Pass
- Find this hike in "Hiking Northern California" book by Ron Adkison
* add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingsonora

Wildflower Identification Guide

2008-06-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

You know how when you're thinking about buying a certain new car you'll suddenly start seeing it on the road everywhere? Well, the same is true for Trailspotting and wildflowers .. we hardly noticed them until we started trying to identify them on the trail. Now we can't move for wildflowers along the trail, particularly at the higher elevations during these summer months.

Identifying the flowers you spot on your hike can be harder than you might first imagine and fellow hikers report mixed success with published field guides.

Thanks to the wonders of digital photography and the internet, along comes great wildflower identification chart courtesy of the Wildflowers North America Flickr Group which for us has the highest success rate of any identification method we can find. Unless you can get internet connection in the middle of the wilderness (iPhone, N95 possibly?) it doesn't make for a great field guide, but it is an extremely useful tool for pinning a name to a digital photograph once you get back home.

Tangents:
- Flickr Photos: more wildflower photos by people on Flickr*
- Flickr: Wildflowers North America Group
- Books: "Pacific States Wildflowers" (Peterson Field Guides)
- Trailspotting: More Trailspotting Resources
*add your flickr photos to the gallery with the tag trailspottingwildflowers