Snow camping in California is easiest in April, and perfect for our first family & Cub Scout snow camping trip. California April days are longer & warmer while snow still covers the high country. Our destination is Grass Lake near…
Elk, Coyotes, & Owls at Tomales Point in Point Reyes National Seashore
Tomales Point Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore is the best place to watch land based wildlife in the Bay Area. The Tule Elk Preserve protects 300+ elk. Bring your telephoto lense and binoculars as the grasslands make it easier…
Recommended Gear for Kids on a Cub Scout Backpacking Trip (part 2)
In June I’m leading a backpacking trip for my local Bay Area Cub Scout Pack. Here’s a three part article focused on making a beginner backpacking trip with kids a success. The articles share lessons from backpacking with my boys…
5 Tips for Planning a Beginner Backpacking Trip with Cub Scouts (part 1)
In June I’m leading a backpacking trip for my local Bay Area Cub Scout Pack. Here’s a three part post on making a beginner backpacking trip with kids a success. The articles share lessons from backpacking with my boys across…
Memorial Park Family Camping in the Redwoods
Memorial Park near Pescadero, CA offers some of the best family camping in the Bay Area. Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains along Pescadero Creek, visitors can camp next first growth redwoods. Memorial Park is also the oldest San Mateo…
Ladybugs & Redwoods in Redwood Regional Park – World Class Family Hike
Thousands of ladybugs descend upon Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland Hills in winter. The ladybugs spend their November to February in the warmest, moistest areas. In late December along with a few other families, we hiked ~3 miles roundtrip…
Looking Backwards 2017: Technology Hiker Outdoor Adventures
2017 was another outstanding year for exploring the outdoors. Thank you to my family and friends who have supported me. Highlights include: Family Adventures Most of my 2017 adventures involved family. My three year old backpacked for the first time…
Cub Scout Car Camping – Logistics & Gear List
My outdoor adventure planning has evolved from solo backpacking, thru-hiking, mountaineering, family camping & backpacking, and now to Cub Scout Pack planning. I am Cubmaster and Den Leader for our local Cub Scout Pack 58 in Hillsborough, CA. Here’s a…
Backpacking with Kids to Camp Lake in Emigrant Wilderness
Granite peaks, cool mountain lakes, and a relatively easy permit system make the Emigrant Wilderness an excellent destination. The 113,000 acre Emigrant Wilderness borders Yosemite National Park to the north shares many of Yosemite’s features. In July I went backpacking…
Monte Bello Backpacking with Kids above the Clouds
Monte Bello Open Space Preserve is one of the best introductory backpacking trips in the Bay Area. This Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) protects a watershed in the Santa Cruz Mountains about Palo Alto. The Black Mountain Backpack Camp…