Vindu Goel, whom I’ve hiked with quite a few times in the past couple years, uses his bully pulpit as Silicon Valley pundit to join the fight to save California parks. If lawmakers approve the closings, the next logical step…
Hiking
Lamenting the decline of backpacking
by tom • February 15, 2008 • 4 Comments
Commentary No. 6,466,334 from a paper in Connecticut: The researchers added, “The replacement of vigorous outdoor activities by sedentary, indoor videophilia has far-reaching consequences for physical and mental health, especially in children. Videophilia has been shown to be a cause…
10 Essentials for Happy Hiking
Hiking 10 essentials quiz
by tom • February 15, 2008 • 6 Comments
Test your knowledge: Powered By ProProfs: Create A Quiz Hey it’s only five questions. Here’s one more take on the sacred 10.
Hiking
New Marin County trail head initiative
by tom • February 14, 2008 • 0 Comments
Got this in the e-mail yesterday from Daniel Sonnet: Marin Conservation League and the County of Marin are attempting to purchase an important trail head that leads to Baltimore Canyon, Blithedale Ridge and Mt. Tamalpais from West Baltimore Avenue in…
Tom's travels
Site tweaks you may enjoy
by tom • February 14, 2008 • 1 Comment
I’ve built a permanent link in the right hand rail for the Google Maps mash-up. | Here’s the link. Also, awhile back I created a custom Bay Area Hiking Search Engine that searches only sites related to hiking in Northern…
Rancho San Antonio
Latest Hikes column: Rancho San Antonio
by tom • February 14, 2008 • 0 Comments
Just in time for Valentine’s Day: So you think he might be the One, but the real deal-killer question looms: What kind of hiker is he? Will he match your pace out of kindness, leave you behind out of rudeness…
Tom's travels
Mapping my travels: a Herculean task
by tom • February 13, 2008 • 4 Comments
I’ve noticed that all the cool kids are adding Google maps mash-ups of their outings — an option available to them because they aren’t otherwise busy keeping their neighbors apprised of all the nifty nearby hiking opportunities five days a…
Fitness
Blisters: before, during and after
by tom • February 12, 2008 • 6 Comments
It’s been so long since I had a blister that I keep forgetting they’re the bane of hikers everywhere. What I do to prevent them: Wear the right socks: soft synthetic hiking socks like Wigwam’s Coolmax work great for me.…
Travel
Forgive me, I have Farallones lust
by tom • February 12, 2008 • 0 Comments
Doug McConnell’s Open Road site has a bunch of his Bay Area Backroads programs archived. I watched one a minute ago — on a visit to the Farallon Islands — that had me thinking how great it’d be to hike…