Rocky Mountain National Park earned its name on Fern Lake Trail, with lots of rough rocks every way that you look. We started our hike at Bear Lake, and after some good climbing the view opened up into this gorge with mountain peaks in all directions.
One thing I love about the San Francisco Bay Area is the diversity of the surroundings. You can look to the east and see the rolling brown hills, look to the west and see green and trees. In the early morning there is often a layer of clouds that quickly burn off for a day of blue skies. This one spot seemed have all of those different environments at the same time.
As you hike through these hills along the Pacific there are lots of ups and downs. This is one of the steeper ravines that you cross, known as Pirates Cove. The pirates seem to like this place and so do I!
I love trails like this. The brightly lit green of the trees almost makes it feel like you are walking through a tunnel in the forest.
I recently said I was ready for winter, but then last weekend rolled around. I did a great hike and enjoyed one of the warmest beach days I’ve had in Northern California in a long time!
Hiking in Pinnacles National Park leads to many great views such as this panorama taken from the center of the park. The climb up here has some interesting steps carved in the rock along the way, and once you complete those you can look back on the trail that got you here in the center of the frame.
I thought the climb to the top of Angel’s Landing would be the highlight of the day, but when we got back down to the start of the trail there was another great view to admire. Little puffy clouds spread out perfectly above the valley below and we were right in the middle of all of it.
Follow the chain. Do not go right, do not go left. To the left and the right is down, along the chain is up. That is where you want to go.
The San Francisco Bay as seen from 757 feet above sea level. Starting at Ayala Cove, first by bike and then by foot, I made my way to this point for a view of Tiburon and all that lies beyond. The view toward San Francisco was foggy, but this view toward Tiburon was very clear.
The tree looks pretty dead, but the sky has a lot going on!
