Dan's Outside

Bay Area Bears?

No, I’m not thinking of Cal’s football team. According to Tom Stienstra in SFGate:

The Bay Area’s greatest wildlife mystery — the chance that a few bears are roaming the region’s 1.2 million acres of surrounding greenbelt — gained new credibility last week with the return of the “Swanton Road Bear.”

I like the idea that there could be black bears in the Bay Area and I’d love to spot one on one of my hikes.

January 21, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | 1 Comment

Thanks!

“Grant” sent a very nice email today:

Your photos of Almaden Quicksilver park are AWESOME.  Most excellent.

I first hiked it as a kid in 1962 when it was trespassing.  I think the park looks better now that the cows aren’t grazing.  There used to be a tarantula “city” up by the ridge by Guad-dam.  Must have been 300 of them.

I really appreciate the compliment – and the bit of Almaden Quicksilver history.

By the way, the photos are here and here.

– Dan
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January 18, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Thanks!

Ski Report

I’m back
from a quick ski trip to Squaw Valley to practice my telemark technique. No pictures this time: I took my camera and was thinking about putting it in my pack as we left the car but one of my skiing partners accurately pointed out that I was there to ski, not photograph. So I skied.

It was a stunningly beautiful day. We got a very early start – getting onto the slopes before the crowds arrived. Lake Tahoe is visible from the upper mountain, as is a good chunk of the surrounding Sierra Nevada.

We drove to a friend’s place in Elk Grove (outside of Sacramento) on Friday and “camped out” in sleeping bags on the floor. This was a lot warmer than our original plan to camp in the backs of our cars at the rest stop on top of Donner Pass. We were out the door at 5:00 a.m., arriving at Squaw Valley at about 7:10 and getting a parking space only 50 feet from where later arrivals pay $20 day for close-in parking.

I made more progress towards my goal of becoming a competent telemark skier, managing to get down some intermediate runs in decent style this time.
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January 16, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Ski Report

To the snow!

Finally, a weekend without a blizzard! I’m joining some friends for a one-day blitz at Squaw Valley. Some of us will be on telemark gear and others may be on who knows what.

I leave in 5 minutes!
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January 14, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on To the snow!

Working on a photo

Lake along Tioga Road. September 25, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

I am still working on this photo.
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January 14, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Working on a photo

Lamarck Col Tarn

Tarn at Lamarck Col. August 12, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell
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January 9, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Lamarck Col Tarn

Olmstead Point

Glacial erratics and thunder clouds. Olmstead Point. August 13, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell
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January 8, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Olmstead Point

High Desert Sunset

High desert sunset near Mammoth. May 30, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell
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January 7, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on High Desert Sunset

More New Years Photos

New grass, dormant oaks. Almaden Quicksilver Park. January 1, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Oak and Cloud. Almaden Quicksilver Park. January 1, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Dormant oaks. Almaden Quicksilver Park. January 1, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell
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January 2, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on More New Years Photos

More New Years Day Photos

Sun on a nearby ridge as rain approaches. Almaden Quicksilver Park. January 1, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Rainbow over Almaden Valley. Almaden Quicksilver Park. January 1, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Mining artifacts. Almaden Quicksilver Park. January 1, 2005. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell
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January 2, 2005 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on More New Years Day Photos