Parque Nacional Cumbres del Ajusco protects Cerro Ajusco at 12,894. The highest point in Mexico City, forms an excellent day hike/climb. I recently climbed both Ajusco during a free morning in Mexico City. On a clear day, it offers excellent…
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…
Hiking the English Countryside in Oxfordshire
Cozy pubs, pastoral views, and historic sites make hiking the English countryside unique. My first English outdoor adventure took place two years ago climbing in the Lake District. Following in Wordsworth’s footsteps, my friend and I climbed the highest peak…
Best Planning Sites for California Alpine & Mountaineering Climbs
California offers many of the best American alpine & mountaineering objectives. One of the biggest challenges is where and when to climb. Fortunately, California (CA) has many resources to help mountaineers find the next climb. Here are a few of…
Cycling & Hiking Big Sur along CA 1 without Cars
Visiting the Big Sur delivers a unique experience due to limited access. Landslides, fires, and floods buffeted the region over the last 12 months. CA 1 Northern auto access is closed to a bridge outage at Big Sur. Southern access…
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…
Visiting Chinese National Parks in Sichuan and Yunnan
I recently returned from an outstanding family trip to Southwest China. We visited the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan. Both provinces border Tibet and are traditional crossroads. Yunnan is further south and borders Burma and Laos. Sichuan had many important…
Big Basin State Park Packrafting on Waddell Creek
Not all adventures turn out as planned. I recently hiked and packrafted Waddell Creek in Big Basin State Park. Big Basin is California’s oldest State Park. The 30+ mile Skyline to the Sea trail bisects Big Basin as it descends…
Pinnacles National Park Family Camping
Pinnacles National Park is an excellent family camping destination for the spring & fall. The park is located ~100 miles south of San Francisco between the Central Valley & the Salinas Valley. Pinnacles protects volcanic peaks, accessible caves, interesting hikes,…
Hiking the Redwoods at Heritage Grove & Sam McDonald County Park
Bay Area outdoors is outstanding, but few places provide a sense of wilderness. The Heritage Grove in Sam McDonald County Park is an exception. Visiting this first growth redwood tract feels remote despite being next to an accessible…