End of year retrospectives are popular this time of year. This blog is no different.
2015 was an outstanding year for exploring the outdoors.
Family Adventures: I camped and backpacked five times with my oldest and camped twice with my youngest. Backpacking trips included Angel Island and Desolation Wilderness. Family camping included Memorial Park (San Mateo County Park), Half Moon Bay State Beach (Sweetwood Group camping site) and Del Valle (East Bay Regional Parks). We also spent several April days in Yosemite Valley with three seasons in a weekend (winter, spring, fall). We spent a week visiting my relatives and exploring the Colorado mountains in Vail. We’ve also had many day trips to the mountains, coast, museums, and forests of California.
California Adventures: With time being at a premium, I maximize the adventure while minimizing the time away from home with the art of the 24 hour trip (described here and here). Sierra climbing trips included summiting Mt Reba near Bear Valley in spring and Mt Tallac near Tahoe after the first significant snowfall of the season.
Work Trips: I have been traveling internationally for work. On several trips, I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a little extra time and explore some world class destinations. I climbed the tallest peak in England (Scafell Pike & the Lake District) on a free weekend in England and visited the Pyramids of Giza and Istanbul as well.
Ambassadors: I’ve been able to test and share my positive experiences with two excellent outdoor companies – The North Face (neverstopexloring) and Woolx (the softest merino wool). I’ve shared my views on the technologyhiker blog, instagram, and twitter accounts.
Volunteering: I continue to serve on the board of the San Mateo County Park Foundation and the Trail Center.
2016 promises to be another excellent year, and I have a number of trips planned. I’m most excited about sharing the outdoors with my family and watching the boys take on new challenges.
