A poster at BAHIKER.com wonders if the poison oak is worse this year, and if there’s a product that can prevent the wonderful itchfest that ensues when you brush up against it. It doesn’t bother me all that much so…
Gear
Hiking panties suggestions wanted
by tom • April 10, 2008 • 6 Comments
I’m overcoming my almost genetic aversion to typing the word “panties” because, well, some jobs, though grim, must be done. A hiker at tribe.net’s Bay Area Hiking Group laments her undies aren’t getting it done when she hits the trail.…
Gear
Drying out wet shoes, an update
by tom • April 10, 2008 • 4 Comments
Back in January I posted some advice about how to get your soggy shoes dry again. Since then it’s been an enduring fave of wet-footed googlers. Yesterday this comment showed up on the post: I have an innovative product that…
Hiking
Easy hike at Lompico Headwaters
by tom • April 10, 2008 • 0 Comments
Lompico Headwaters is a site in the Santa Cruz Mountains the Sempervirens fund bought to prevent logging. It’s in the hills near Loch Lomond. Sempervirens has a couple easy hikes planned there: Are you looking for a slow paced hike…
Park district events, Wildlife
East Bay wildflower guide
by tom • April 9, 2008 • 4 Comments
The East Bay Regional Parks District is again showing its Web strategy leaves all the other districts in the dirt: It has PDF guides to the wildflowers sprouting in each of the district’s parks, plus an overall guide of all…
Gear
Teeny tiny LED lantern
by tom • April 9, 2008 • 6 Comments
A PR rep for Coughlan’s, the Canadian company that makes a bunch of little camping accessories you always see at the outdoor stores, has been trying to get me to post something about this gadget from their new spring lineup:…
Hiking
Best places to take your dog hiking
by tom • April 8, 2008 • 11 Comments
Shop for dog-related goodies at REI.com Hikers in the San Francisco Bay Area are crazy about their dogs, but many parks in the region (especially state parks) are not so crazy about dogs on trails (how could they be worse…
Tom's travels
Morgan Hill El Toro Hike of ’08, what I really think
by tom • April 6, 2008 • 2 Comments
Yesterday we were walking back to the car, admiring our certificates for completing the 2008 El Toro Hike of Morgan Hill, when Rebecca noted the 1,420-foot elevation and said “hey, all you’d have to do is add one digit and…
Hiking
Aesthetics: what makes a good trail
by tom • April 6, 2008 • 5 Comments
The post last week about why local parks have so few visitors generated a raft of thoughtful commentary. One of the last to chime in was veteran Bay Area trail builder Jim Preston, who described an ideal of trail aesthetics…