Hiking ideas/TTers - Fresno/Chico Califo rnia

“I know the PCT runs through the area, and will do more research. But any of you guys live in the area and can give me a good weekend trip or two? I may be going out on a business trip, and I could go hiking, or drive a few hours to see a city. I think hiking in the Sierras would be better!”

“Depends on when you are going (snow).

If you're right there and have never been, I'd just hit Yosemite Valley. Lots of hikes in the and around the valley. Drive the whole park. Plenty to see and do.”

“Lassen Park, Caribou Wilderness next door, above Chico. No permits needed for Caribou. Any loop would be good. When are you coming? Snow still up here, even at my place. Could go out of Florence Lake down by Fresno, catch the ferry across or do something in Yosemite, pick a trail. Early season to Rancheria Falls cg, gets hot early around Hetch Hetchy. Out of Tuolumne Meadows going up Lyle Fork is nice, sorta flat. Permits needed in the Park.”

“I'd recommend heading east, either into Yosemite or Sequoia, or else just into the western sierra fothills... lots of great hikes.”

“Wow, what a dummy I am.

I kept glazing over Yosemite on the map. For some reason I was thinking that can't be THE Yosemite. I don't know if I was thinking Yellowstone in my head or what. Holy crap, end of discussion.

I've just pushed my boss on me going to Fresno, and him going to Chico.”

“I've never been to Yosemite in the snow, but I hear it's just stunning - also, no crowds”

“Yosemite was gorgeous at Dewey Point over New Year's Day and the next. 15 of us were there. Clouds cleared briefly in the late afternoon, x lent photos ops.”

“I did Dewey Pt last year in Feb with a crew for a couple of nights and it was outstanding. Just beautiful, warm and mostly clear with intermittent snow flurries rolling through the valley. I have some nice pics from that trip...”

“Here's where the group is snowshoeing into in about two weeks for a couple of nights. It's gonna be PLUSH!

http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/huts/benson/”

“slacker”

“ok, Fresno got knocked off the agenda.

I'll be north of Sacramento in Chico, CA. Should I just drive to Yosemite (5 hours) on the weekend anyway, or is there something closer to Chico to check out?

Or should I go site see in San Fransisco (3 hours) or Reno (3 hours)?”

“Chico is really close to Lassen, which you could possibly do a winter ascent (I have not done this). Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Basin are also a couple of hours from there and are really mind blowing if you've never seen them.

But it all depends on if you want to still do outdoors or not. If you go to SF, you can do some cool coastal/redwood stuff, even in the city (Muir Woods/Beach, Mt. Tam, lots of cool coast south of the city, too).

Skip Reno, IMHO. However, if you go to Tahoe, you can hit the patagucci outlet that is outside of Reno on I80.”

“I was snow camping a week ago into Desolation, gorgeous, but 5 degrees also Friday night. More snow the last couple days. Coastal areas may be best for you. Yolo Bollo/Middle Eel wildnerness, or lower parts of Ishi Wilderness, ticks poison oak, up 32 or Cohasset Rd out of Chico.”

“A cool dayhike would be feather falls. 8 mile loop to the 7th highest falls in the US and I bet it is pounding right now...”

“thanks guys, i'll look into these”

“The creek thru my property had come up some last weekend, so I imagine Feather Falls are doing good, along with the branches I chucked into the water for fish habitat.:)”

“LOL at patagucci. I hadn't heard that one.”