Joe's hiking adventures: 2014

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Christmas Greetings

For those who know my dog Sierra

and for all those hikers yet to meet Sierra ,

the card below shows that she has a life other than trail adventures .

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Hiking Tip

Today's Hiking Tip

Weather is warming up on Cerro Alto 9-11-14

Daily I meet first time Cerro Alto hikers who tell me they were not aware

Of how difficult or the distance involved making the summit .

Thus many of these hikers fail to reach the summit .

The distance via the canyon trail ( trail at the far end of the park lot ) is 3 miles .

The elevation gain is 1700 ft .

Carry plenty of water !
In warm weather I carry a liter , and when it's hot
I CARRY SIXTY OUNCES .
My dog weighs 72 lbs
And in hot weather she carries thirty ounces
For herself .

The trail can be hot and the summit cold , carry a jacket .

When backpacking ,

I use a Big Agnas Seedhouse SL tent

The product is great and the customer service

Is outstanding !
This a 3 season tent( two person) , but I have been in strong wind and rain and even snow storms several times
The tent performed well . The tent weighs approximately 2.5 lbs.

Tip #3
Since the start of deer season ( 1st week of August ) I have seen many deer and mountain lion tracks on the main trails of Cerro Alto . Water up high has dried up and wildlife seeking water low neer camp ground , so keep small children close to adults .

Friday, September 5, 2014

Rinconada

Rinconada Trail

September 3rd , three pm hike on a eighty degree day . The day is dry , warm , quiet and lonely as it is in the middle of the week when most folks are either working or in school .

Sierra and I are enjoying the space and the dry vistas . I am once again enjoying photographing Sierra as she plays and hunts ground stairwells . Such is the life of a happy retired seventy five year old hiker !

She never caught anything but she enjoyed the run !

Keep on hiking !

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Old Hiking Guy

Old Guy

on the mountain

Marvin on the left age 87 yrs.

Almost daily I hear comments about my advanced age ( 75 yrs ) for a serious hiker . I know that these remarks are well intended as many middle age guys tell me that I am an inspiration to them and hope that they too will be as active as I am when the reach my age . Well I now do appreciate my health and am well aware that I am blessed with old guy strength . But now I too have found inspiration in another old guy , his name is Marvin and I met him last week on Cerro Alto .

He hiked all the way to the top . Marvin is 87 years old !!

Marvin still backpacks the Sierras and this week he is backpacking Yosemite .

His pack for 4 days weighs 28 lbs. Next month he will pack into the beautiful Chocolate Lake area . The trail head for this lake is 10,000 ft. and the lakes are at 11000 ft. That's good stuff !!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Bear Creek Trail 2014

Bear Creek Trail

2014

The following is an adventure that took place in late July , starting out at the Vermilion Resort ( always a treat , good food , wine , cold beer and great people ) . We four wheeled in my Jeep to the diversion dam , and then hiked up the Beer Creek trail , fishing along the way . The weather was cool most every day and rain showers occasionally blessed us .

Our party included myself , Wayne , Mark , and wonder dog Sierra . That's us shown in the first photo below standing in front of my Jeep . Our adventure was a week plus long and we had a ball . We caught fish , met great folks , ate well saw a large bear , and celebrated my seventy fifth birthday .