It’s come to my attention that St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, falls on a Saturday this year, which sounds like an excellent excuse to wet the whistle with foamy malt-based beverages after a few hours on the trail.
So, here’s your chance, Bay Area hikers, to suggest another hiking site that might be best suited to such an adventure. We could either hike in a park where we won’t get kicked out for bringing a cooler with beverages in it, or we could hike somewhere and head to a watering hole afterward.
If we were to get totally adventurous we could do a camp-out, though settings with no DUI risk tend to encourage me to misbehave. I’m up for worthy suggestions within a 60 mile radius of San Jose.
I guess your 60 mile limit rules out my suggestion of the ski-tour/snow-camp I’ve got planned for that weekend. The 33 miles between Carson Pass to Lake Apline is one of the classic multi-day ski tours in the Sierra.
A game suggestion, for sure, but snow and beer are not exactly a wise combination.
I’d have to side with Tom about his tendency to misbehave.
It’s many months after the Mt. Shasta blogger hoedown and there are still wanted posters in town with his picture on them.
100 miles would open up a number of interesting destinations include the Northern Ventana, Pinnacles, & Point Reyes
Hmm, I”ve still never been to Ventana and it seems to be one of your favorite sites.
The 60 miles wasn’t hard and fast, more like a “not interested in snow” declaration.
I would be up for a hike at Pinnacles and/or the Ventana. I used to hike up to Tassajara Creek from the Arroyo Seco trailhead. But I haven’t been there in 20 years.
I also have very little experience with any of the parks, from Almaden south (other than boy scout trips to Mt Madonna and Uvas 30+ years ago).
So I am up for just about anything.
hmm, repost- my first seems to have been eaten.
How bout either Pine Valley from China Camp or Mt Carmel from Bottchers Gap?
PV is about 12mi round trip. MC is about 9. (Both could be made longer if anyone so desires)
Mt Carmel:
http://www.fedak.net/albums/MtCarmel.html
Pine Valley: (Ignore the subsequent Miller Mountain bushwack)
http://www.fedak.net/albums/MillerMountain.html
Both are about 100mi from Mountain View.
China Camp requires 10mi on a forest road. Bottchers Gap has a $5 parking fee.
I can drive 3 + myself if we end up going.
Looks like we have a volunteer expedition leader!
(Remember, John, Tom and I are old farts whose decrepitude — and camera gear — must be taken into account).
Ok, someone pick one of the two destinations and a meeting time. (If noone cares, I propose leaving from Mountain View at 7)
If we can get a head count, we can figure out how many cars we’ll need.