California Trails

“I'm heading out to Northern CA and I am looking for a good trail to hike. I am going with a beginner so it can't be too hard. We are looking to camp 1 or 2 nights, probably around 10 to 14 miles. If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to post them. Thank you Eric ej391@hotmail.com”

“What part of Northen Ca?”

“Well, I'm visiting a friend in Eureka, but we are willing to drive about 10 hours or so. We were thinking of going to Yosemite, but we hiked a trail there 2 years ago. I am open to any suggestions. Thanks.”

“As long as you are so far north you might as well stay north. Try Lassen, the Trinities or Marble Mountains. Yosemite is too crowded.”

“Your first responsee happens to be in Eureka, What's up Calnatv? The areas pepperDog mentions are nice but in my own opinion Lassen is basically a day hikers park, it's beutiful but hard to get away from people. Just about anywhere in the park can be reached day hiking. The Marbles and Trinities are both large and beautiful and are a backpackers paradise. Another consideration is Redwood Creek especially if you've never seen Redwoods.”

“Hey Dunk!!

Eric, I'll give you a E-mail and we can talk”

“If you are willing to do the drive to Yosemite, there are some great places near there. One is to hike to the top of Yosemite Falls. As I recall it is not a hard hike, and not too crowded. You camp near where the water goes over the edge. WOW. Hiking up the Mist trail, camping in the Little Yosemite Valley, and climbing Half Dome is something worth doing, even though there are likely to be a lot people on the trail.

From Tuolumne Meadows there are several close lakes, and very nice country. Around Bridgeport, the Matterhorn area is great.”

“Hey thanks for all the advice everybody.”

“I'm leaving for California in a couple of weeks and I will be there for 3 months. It's looking like I'll be in either the Sacramento area or San Francisco area (I find out for sure today). I have never been to California and I don't know anyone there, so I'm looking for the best "starting point" for finding good hiking trails. Can anyone recommend a good book or other source? I won't have the internet while out there so that's not a resource option for me.”

“There are a lot of hiking books for CA...I didnt take any with me when I moved but rest assured there are so many trails you wont know what to do. Sacramento is a good place because its only a couple of hours drive into the sierra and a couple hours drive to the coast. You can go north about 6 -7 hours drive to see the beautiful north woods of go south about 4 hours to see the mohave...But best of all...you have the PCT!”

“California Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Ann Marie Brown (oublished by Foghorn Outdoors)is arguably the "bible" of CA Hiking. This one covers over 1,000 trails. Stop in any REI, or even a Barnes & Noble, & you can find trail books on specific areas - Northern Sierra, Southern Sierra, Yosemite, etc., etc.

Oh, and you DO know people here in Northern CA... you know TT'ers! You know me, wannabp, Landscaper, Pepperdog, JVZ, Mountain Steve, Rockman, Hikerchic and a host of other colorful characters! Let us know when you want to go hiking, this is truly "God's Country" if you're a backpacker!”

“When I lived in SF I did a lot of hiking with the Sierra Club. It was a good way to learn the mountains and have some good company while hiking - especially since I didn't have a car. The SC bookstore had a little book that listed all the hikes each week - though now they are probably on a website somewhere. One thing I learned, sign up for backpack trips early. There was a huge demand for those. It would say, "Call after March 10" and if you waited until the 12th, the trip would be full up. But I had fun and they had a lot of hikes at all levels.”

“and thanks wanderer for recommending the book -and ginny for the tip on the sierra club. Maybe once I'm out there I can slip into a library and get on the net...and see if anyone wants to go hiking.”

“3 months this spring? In the Sierra Nevada most hiking doesn't open up until June and July, bringing snowshoes by chance? In the San Francisco area, though, there are lots of nice places to hike that don't get snow. Muir Woods and Pinnacles National Monuments, Marin Headlands, Henry Coe and Big Basin Redwoods State Parks, and the list goes on...”

“So what is it, San Fran or Sacramento? Either way you have lots of trails (and trailtalkers) to explore. Don't worry, we don't bite. Just a personal bias - I find Sierra Club Hikes just a bit uptight. I much prefer hiking with trail talkers or other friends.”

“Ivygal, I have that CA hiking book by Stienstra and recommend it too. I live in WA, but bought it when I went to CA on a trip up the coast. It's worth the small investment to have it handy. To supplement the book, get a library card when you move to CA for additional info, but that book will keep you plenty busy. I think it will be all you need. I also have the same book, but for WA state.

While you have internet service, perhaps you can search for some hiking groups in CA that you can join to meet other hikers. Try contacting groups or people now and write down some numbers. You can even take down e-mail addresses of people and contact them through computers in the library.”

“Does anyone know if there is a geological survey marker on Birch Mountain and if so does anyone have a picture of it? Birch Mountain is sort of near Kings Canyon NP if I am reading the map right.

We need a picture to go with the picture from Sassafrass Mountain.”

“Snows or Wingding.”

“I have not done that one yet. Birch Mtn is on the list for the 2006 Sierra Challenge next August. If I do that one, I will get pics!”

“thanks Snow Nymph”

“Check it out!

http://www.summitpost.org/show/mountain_link.pl/mountain_id/1470”