Trip Reports

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Trip Report: Long Ridge Open Space Preserve

On a warm August day, Loralei and I were looking for a short, moderately strenuous hike not far from San Jose.  We had stuff to do, it was hot, and honestly didn’t feel like suffering in the heat!  The trail we decided on was in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve. Located outside San Jose in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Long Ridge offers wide sweeping views, ridgetop meadows, and plenty of forest.  It fit the bill perfectly for what we were...

Hiking The Land Of Medicine Buddha Loop

On a late summer day, Loralei and I set out to do a hike that neither of us had done, and was a little different than most trails you’ll find! Starting at a Buddhist retreat called the Land of Medicine Buddha, this trail is definitely different than most hikes you’ll find! The trail itself was the Medicine Buddha Loop outside Santa Cruz CA, and it’s pretty unique.  The name might give it away, but there’s a pretty predominant Buddha theme...

Hiking In Yosemite: The Young Lakes Loop

Hiking in Yosemite is great, but the trails always seem to be really busy.  Wouldn’t it be great if there was an awesome hike that got you away from all the crowds?  Well, there is and it’s called the Young Lakes Loop! Located in the Yosemite high country at Tuolumne Meadows, the Young Lakes Loop is a long and strenuous hike that takes you to three awesome lakes in the backcountry, and gives epic views of some of Yosemite’s most...

Hiking In Yosemite: The Panorama Trail

If you’re looking for a trail that will give you classic Yosemite views, and take you to many of the classic Yosemite spots, the Panorama Trail might be for you.  Hiking in Yosemite is always great, but this trail has consistently epic views, takes you past multiple awesome waterfalls, and passes through a few of Yosemite’s iconic viewpoints. This trail is a challenge, and can be done in a number of ways, but none of them are easy!  We all...

Hiking In Yosemite: The Cathedral Lake Trail

Barring the trip to the Smoky Mountains when I was a little kid, my trip to Yosemite after my high school graduation was my first time in the mountains.  On that first visit to Yosemite, I didn’t know much of anything about hiking, didn’t have the right gear or clothes, and I definitely didn’t know how to pronounce Yosemite right! One hike I did on that first visit was the hike to Cathedral Lake, and it was a pretty life...

Hiking In Yosemite: Backpacking To Rancheria Falls

To start my summer of 2021 off, I opted for a quick backpacking trip into the Yosemite backcountry!  The trail I chose was initially the Hetch Hetchy Loop, but given the extreme heat and lack of acclimatisation, I elected to make it an overnight trip to Rancheria Falls along the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir! Hiking in Yosemite is always a treat, and I had not done this trail before! Miles/Elevation: ~15 miles 2600 feet vertical gain About Yosemite: Located in the...