Dan's Outside

I go, I see, I do, I walk, I think, I like…

2005 Log

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

January

January 1, 2005 – New Years Day hike at Almaden Quicksilver. Out on Randol and then up Prospect #3 to the ridge; left turn and back via Mine Hill. Took many photos.

January 8, 2005 – After a week of rain and school, managed to sneak out for a short urban hike on the LG Creek trail.

January 15, 2005 – A one-day trip up to Squaw Valley with Owen, Fletcher, and Andy.

January 17, 2005 – Urban hike on the Creek Trail.

January 22, 2005 – Nice hike at Almaden Quicksilver. Started at Mockingbird Hill and went out on New Almaden Trail past Prospect #3 to the oak-covered ridge near Webb Canyon, where I took some pictures. Backtracked and then took a lateral up to the Randol Trail and followed it past the Buena Vista mine site to return to Mockingbird Hill.

January 23, 2005 – Hiked at Calero today, in foggy and cool conditions. I started early and hiked out on Pena and the Javelina Trails. At the ridge on the Javelina trail I turned right off the main trail to visit the summit, from which I spotted a trail heading back along the ridge between the two sides of the Javelina Loop – so I returned this way.

January 29, 2005 – I was going to hike at Calero again and photograph the impossibly green hillsides. I drove there, got out of the car, loaded up my pack, walked to the trailhead… and found a “trail closed” sign. Instead I went to the Mockingbird Hill entrance to Almaden Quicksilver and followed a sort of odd route. I hiked out on the New Almaden Trail and then caught the faint lateral up to Randol. From here I went almost to Prospect #3 and took a short-cut to joint that trail to ascend to Mine Hill Trail. I followed the ridge and then dropped down on Mine Hill. I took a lateral that was supposed to go to Day Tunnel, but I turned right when I should have turned left and ended up on Mine Hill again though a bit lower. I finally followed the Hacienda Trail back to the car.

January 30, 2005 – Well, Calero was still closed. After driving there I turned around and went to the Fortini Road entrance to Santa Teresa County Park, with no specific plan other than hiking up the hill above the entrance. I ended up taking a pretty interesting hike to a place I hadn’t been before. I followed this trail (the Stiles Ranch Trail?) over a couple of ridges and then dropped down to the right. I eventually hit a junction and climbed up over a small saddle to drop down to a main trail again, turning right and going almost to the Pueblo Picnic Area. Here I turned right an backtracked towards Pueblo (?) Peak on a fairly muddy trail. This follows a ridgeline and eventually joins a dirt road that I followed to Coyote Peak which has benches for enjoying the view! I dropped down from here on a different trail eventually walking though the main Pueblo area and taking the Fortini Trail back to where I started.

February

February 5, 2004 – Finally was able to get on the trail again at Calero after last weeks closures for muddy conditions. Hiked out to the corral and then took the footpath up and along the ridge to the far end of Javelina Loop, returning in the counterclockwise direction on the main loop trail.

February 6, 2005 – Time for a quick hike at New Almaden today. I went up Deep Gulch and then to the summit, returning via Mine Hill.

February 12, 2005 – Took a nice little hike into a new Area of Almaden Quicksilver. Starting at McAbee Road I hiked past Senador Mine and over the ridge, dropping down and then around to Guadalupe Reservoir. From here I headed back to the McAbee Road entrance.

February 13, 2005 – Just time for a short urban hike on the nearby creek trail today.

February 19, 2005 – With a 4-day weekend, I had hoped to be skiing this weekend. However, once again the weather gods did not cooperate and I settled for a very nice rainy hike at Castle Rock State Park.

February 20, 2005 – A pleasantly rainy little hike with the weather vacillating between slight sprinkles and moderate rain. I did the “long loop” at Almaden Quicksilver. Quite a few flowers are beginning to come up.

February 22, 2005 – A little one-hour urban hike.

February 26, 2005 – Went to Calero but trails were closed. Ended up at Quicksilver. Hiked out New Almaden Trail and took cutoff to Randol and then up Prospect #3. Went to English Camp and then down Mine Hill to cutoff to Day Tunnel and from there back to Mockingbird Hill.

March

March 6-7, 2005 – March began with a quick trip to Yosemite. On day one I left home rather late (noon!) and arrived in the Valley near 5:00 p.m. I drove back up to Wawona Tunnel to take some pictures before getting a camp site in the Valley. On day two I arose early, grabbed breakfast (such as it was) at Curry Village and headed up to Badger Pass. I skied out to Sentinel Dome before running out of time and returning.

March 12, 2005 – A foggy hike up onto my favorite ridge at Calero Park – lots of wildflowers and new grass.

March 13, 2005 – Another New Almaden hike, from MacAbee entrance past Senador Mine and then Guadalupe Reservoir, then back on New Almaden Trail.

March 26, 2005 – After a bit of a break (final exams!) I finally managed to get out briefly today to do the Senador Mine/Guadalupe Reservoir loop at Almaden Quicksilver, which gave me a chance to try out my new camera.

March 27-29, 2005 – Not a hike, exactly, but Day 1 at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, Day 2 in Death Valley, and Day 3 driving back via 395 and Carson Pass.

April

April 2, 205 – Up Mine Hill to the summit and then back down via Deep Gulch.

April 3, 2005 – With limited time – and cloudy weather – I just did the New Almaden Trail to Buena Vista Mine to Randol to New Almaden Trail loop out of Mockingbird Hill.

April 10, 2005 – Javelina Loop at Calero Park. Flowers are just about at their peak and some grass is starting to turn brown.

April 16, 2005 – Mission Peak. Ascended (in fog until near the top) via the busy main trail, taking a lot of photos along the way. Spent a half hour on the top and then descended the alternate route via Horse Heaven and other trails.

April 17, 2005 – Time for a quick hike up Deep Gulch at New Almaden. Went past the mill on the summit ridge and partway down Wood Road looking for flowers. Returned the same way.

April 24, 2005 – Short photo loop at Castle Rock in drizzly, foggy weather. Flowers are coming up everywhere.

April 30, 2005 – Another photo walk at Castle Rock – not drizzly or foggy, but overcast.

May

May 1, 2005 – It finally felt like a real spring day today – actual warmth on my short loop hike at Almaden Quicksilver. Mockingbird Hill out past my favorite canyon with flowers (many Fairy Lantern flowers) and then up the further lateral to the trail down via Buena Vista mine.

May 7, 2005 – Up Mine Hill and then Castillero to take pictures of the white lupine on the ridge, then back down via Deep Gulch.

May 8, 2005 – In light rain I did a short loop from the MacAbee Road entrance to Almaden Quicksilver out to Guadalupe Reservoir, taking some trails that I had not taken in the past.

May 14, 2005 – A beautiful spring day! Hiked up Mission Peak the usual way and then descended via “Horse Heaven” trail.

May 15, 2005 – Despite fog and drizzle in the Valley, it was a beautiful sunny day on the ridge at Castle Rock. Hiked out past Goat Rock, then down the lateral to return via the falls.

May 21, 2005 – The Waterfall Trip. Did my annual one-day blitz of Yosemite waterfalls. Began at Bridalveil, which was flowing so strongly that the path the base of the falls was under nearly a foot of water at one spot. Drove up the valley, stopping to view El Cap, flooded meadows, and Yosemite Falls from across the Valley. Parked at Curry and hiked up to the top of Nevada Falls, ascending past Vernal via the Mist Trail and then returning by the Muir Trail route. Ended the day at Yosemite Falls at the last light.

May 27-30, 2005 – The Annual Eastern Sierra Memorial Day Weekend Ski and Desert Camping Trip.

  • May 27: Left home at 12:30 and met Owen and George at a restaurant in Bridgeport at around 6:30 p.m. (They were just finishing dinner when I arrived.) Headed on south, stopping for photos near Conway Summit and then at Mono Lake. Arrived in the desert and camped.
  • May 28: Up early to have breakfast at Mammoth before starting to ski around 8:30. Finished up at 1:00 and hung out at the lodge until heading back to camp to clean up. Maureen arrived just in time to head up to Lakefront Lodge for dinner.
  • May 29: Up not quite so early and then to Mammoth for a slightly later start. A cold morning with clouds and wind. Skied until nearly 2:00. Headed back to the desert and finally gave up on the barbecue (too windy) and went back to town for dinner.
  • May 30: Up at 5:30 and on the road by 6:00. Stopped near Mono Lake for some photos and then headed over Sonora Pass and back home.

June

June 4, 2005 – Nice little hike early this morning at Almaden Quicksilver – up Mine Hill to the summit, then back toward Castillero with a detour over on Wood Road, and finally descending back to the parking lot via Deep Gulch.

June 11, 2005 – Did one of the standard loops at Almaden Quicksilver. From Hacienda out on Randol and then up Prospect #3 to Mine Hill. Followed Mine Hill along the ridge and finally descended Deep Gulch.

June 26, 2005 – School’s out! After two weeks of being out of town and then dealing with end-of-school issues (grading finals, etc.) I finally got out today for what I hope will be the first of many summer hikes. Went to Almaden Quicksilver and hiked from Hacienda out on Randol. Turned right at Prospect and headed down the hll to the New Almaden trail. Took this back toward Mockingbird Hill but left the trail on the lateral to Buena Vista Mine. From there I picked up the Randol trail and headed back to my starting point.

June 29, 2005 – Time for a little urban hike today. Did what was probably about a 7 mile roundtrip on the Los Gatos Creek trail. Need to start getting in the walking miles before pack trips begin.

June 30, 2005 – Ending a month that did not include a lot of hiking, today I did a 7 mile out and back at Almaden Quicksilver. This was a different hike than I usually take. Starting at the McAbee Road entrance I headed up to connect with the Mine Hill Trail, following it to the high point on the Castillero Trail. I retraced my steps to end up doing about 7 miles that included a decent climb.

July

July 1, 2005 – The month begins with another quick “training hike” at Almaden Quicksilver. This time I simpy headed straight up Deep Gulch to the old Rotary Furnace site and turned around and retraced my steps. (Along the way I met a nice group of folks from the New Almaden Mining Museum, who were comparing the current landscape to turn-of-the-centure photos showing old mining structures near English Camp.)

July 2, 2005 – Another training hike, this time from Sanborn Park up through the Todd Creek Redwood Grove to Skyline Blvd, then retracing my steps back to the parking lot. It looks like about 7 miles and perhaps 1300′ of climbing.

July 3, 2005 – Early morning hike from McAbee Road entrance to Almaden Quicksilver up the hill to Prospect #3 and then back the way I came.

July 4, 2005 – Little hike around the McAbee entrance to Almaden Quicksilver.

July 5, 2005 – Short urban walk.

July 6, 2005 – Quick hill climb: Up Deep Gulch Trail to English Camp and then back down via Mine Hill.

July 8, 2005 – A one-day run up to Tuolumne. Got up at 4:00 am and drove to Tuolumne, taking some pictures in the park along the way. Just before noon started out on the Mono Pass trail, heading to Parker Pass. On the return from Parker Pass I crossed the low ridge to Mono Pass and then headed back to the car.

July 10, 2005 – Not exactly a wilderness hike, but a hike nonetheless. Started in the theatre district in San Francisco and walked down to SBC Park. From there I followed the Embarcadero to Embarcadero Plaza, from which I made my way back up to Union Square and then to the Curran.

July 18, 2005 – A couple of urban walks today.

July 19, 2005 – Up Mine Hill and back down English Camp at Almaden Quicksilver.

July 20, 2005 – Another urban walk day.

July 21, 2005 – A very short walk at Almaden Quicksilver after dinner. Close to sunset I drove down thinking the clouds might turn red and hiked up Mine Hill almost to Capehorn Pass.

July 23, 2005 – From the McAbee Road entrance to Almaden Quicksilver I headed out on Mine Hill, turning right at the Providencia Trail and following that for perhaps 10 minutes to a point above a small lake. Backtracked to return to the trailhead.

July 24, 2005 – A little urban hike today…

July 25, 2005 – A somewhat longer urban hike…

July 31, 2005 – Off to the Sierra for a planned 14-day pack trip from Agnew Meadow to South Lake. Car camp at Four Jeffreys campground.

August

August 1, 2005 – Day 1 of the Talusdancers pack trip. We start at Agnew Meadow and hike past to Shadow Lake to camp at Rosemarie Lake.

August 2, 2005 – We hike on down to Reds Meadow. I take a different – and much longer! – route to the store/cafe.

August 3, 2005 – We leave Reds Meadow (after a cafe breakfast) and hike south on the JMT to a campsite at the Deer Creek crossing.

August 4, 2005 – Head on to Purple Lake.

August 5, 2005 – After feeling less than great the night before, I reluctantly decide to leave the trip and hike out over Duck Pass. Ironically, I feel absolutely fine by the time I get over the pass. Motel in Bishop that night.

August 6, 2005 – Since I’m in Bishop and I’m without obligations I drive up to the highest grove of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest and then return via Tuolumne Meadows.

August 11, 2005 – Drive to Four Jeffrey Campground and stay overnight.

August 12, 2005 – Leave South Lake and hike over Bishop Pass to lakes in upper Dusy Basin.

August 13, 2005 – Day hike down Dusy Basin to just before the drop-off into Le Conte Canyon. Meet talusdancers and hike back up to lakes in Upper Dusy Basin to camp.

August 14, 2005 – Up early to hike out over Bishop Pass.

August 15, 2005 – After staying overnight in Mammoth, stop near Mono Lake, Tioga Pass, and Tuolumne Meadows to do photography on the way home.

August 26, 2005 – Short hike from Tuolumne Meadows into Lyell Canyon. Camp at the junction with the Ireland Lake trail.

August 27, 2005 – Up the trail to Ireland Lake and then over the ridge and cross-country to Fletcher Lake.

August 28, 2005 – Fletcher Lake to Tuolumne Meadows.

September

September 2, 2005 – Finally back to New Almaden Quicksilver after not hiking there for a month. Went up Mine Hill to the summit trail junction and then returned via Castillo and Deep Gulch.

September 4, 2005 – Another little hike at Almaden Quicksilver. This time, started at McAbee entrance and did the usual Senador Mine, Guadalupe Reservoir loop.

September 5, 2005 – A slightly different loop today, all on familiar trails but with a slight twist. Started at Mockingbird Hill on New Almaden Trail, left at Prospect #3 to the ridge, left at Mine Hill and then on Castillero to English Camp. Down to Mine Hill and then back via New Almaden trail.

September 8 , 2005 – Hiked in light rain at Castle Rock today.

September 9, 2005 – Afternoon hike at Quicksilver. Up Deep Gulch, then to ridge on Yellow Kid and down Woods Road to the Hicks Road entrance. Retraced steps to return.

September 14, 2005 – Urban hike.

September 16, 2005 – Drove to Tuolumne. Visited Mono Lake.

September 17, 2005 – Hiked up Budd Creek to the high point on the saddle between Echo and Cathedral Peaks.

September 18, 2005 – Hiked to Spillway Lake, then cross country to Parker Pass, returning via the Mono Pass trail.

October

I’m afraid I neglected this log during the first part of the month. I know that I did a bunch of short hikes at Almaden in addition to those things listed below.

October 8, 2005 – Sierra driving curcuit over Carson, Monitor, and Tioga Passes to take photos of fall color.

October 9, 2005 – Some kind of Almaden hike.

October 15, 2005– Had planned on a two day pack trip into 20 Lakes Basin but my hiking partners – perhaps wisely – chickened out in the fact of a forecast of high winds and a small amount of snow. So I spent the morning at Point Lobos doing photography instead.

October 16, 2005 – Some kind of Almaden hike.

October 22, 2005 – Short loop hike at Almaden Quicksilver in fog. Would have been longer but I was distracted by photo opportunities.

October 23, 2005 – Due to need to grade many papers, etc. I went for an urban hike today.

October 30, 2005 – One-day trip to Yosemite Valley to see fall colors – and it was well worth the drive! Parked at Curry and hiked up Mist Trail to Vernal and then down via Muir Trail. Wandered around upper end of Valley.

November

November 6, 2005 – Some kind of hike but I’ve forgotten what and where… ;-)

November 11, 2005 – Short-ish hike at Calero County Park, mainly with the goal of trying out a new lens.

November 20, 2005 – Slightly different loop at Almaden Quicksilver. Up from Hacienda to the Almaden Trail turnoff and from there to near Mockingbird Hill, then out past Buena Vista Mine and back via Randol, Capehorn Pass, and Mine Hill.

November 25, 2005 – Up Deep Gulch and down Mine Hill.

November 26, 2005 – A new hike at Calero that took me out to the ridge on the Bald Peaks Trail

December

December 3, 2005 – Joined a big group of people at the opening of the Rancho Cañada del Oro open space preserve, and hiked to the top of the ridge.

December 4, 2005 – First ski trip of the season! A beautiful day on the upper mountain at Squaw Valley.

December 16, 2005 – Finals are finished and grades are turned in! Today I visiting Pigeon Point and hiked a short distance up the Waddell Creek trail from the coast.

December 17, 2005 – Today’s outdoor activities consisted of an urban hike shortened by surprise rain, followed by a trip to the Christmas tree farm.

December 21, 2005 – Little solstice hike up Deep Gulch at Almaden Quicksilver.

December 23, 2005 – Nice foggy hike out on New Almaden Trail and then back to Buena Vista via Randol.

December 26, 2005 – During a lull in this week’s rainy weather today I hiked at Quicksilver: from Hacienda out to Prospect #3 trail on Randol and back.

December 27, 2005 – During a family trip to the Monterey area we walked around a bit at Point Lobos.

December 30, 2005 – Managed to squeeze in a quick hike up Deep Gulch trail to the high point on the Castillero trail – in light rain.