Upcoming Hike Announcement

A ginko tree in our front yard 

Fall seems to take forever to arrive in the west, but it is finally here!  The trees are showing off their true colors, the air is cooler, and some rain has come.  Although it is beautiful, it can be more difficult to get up into the mountains when it has recently rained or snowed, and the mountain temperatures can be quite low, requiring the need for specialty clothing to be comfortable and safe while hiking, so for our next hike we will head to the coastal redwoods, where trails are easily accessible year-round.  

Jaunt With Us! 

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

December 8

The park is near Felton on Highway 9 in the Santa Cruz mountains.  

Some trees in the park are over 1,400 years old!

Banana slugs are commonly seen here

Temperatures this time of year are usually low 60's, but can change easily, so layered clothing is recommended for hiking here.

If you are interested in joining us on this jaunt, you need to sign up by sending an email to jauntwithus@gmail.com and that way we can send you the specific details a few days before.  

Mono Pass Hike Preview

Read on to find out what to expect next week if you're coming along with Jaunt With Us! on our first group hike.  Also, check out the previous post for more details and how to sign up to do this jaunt with us: jauntwithus.blogspot.com/2012/10/welcome.html

A 3.7 mile hike to the Mono Pass sign

Our family was in need of a fall Jaunt, so we thought we'd go check out current conditions on the trail where we want to take you all next week.  Our original plan was to camp near the trail-head the night before, and then hike in the next morning with our gear to stay the night. Well, as we set up our tents at Aspen campground a few miles over Tioga Pass, the storm that was expected to come came in full force.  We had to readjust the backpacking plans since the storm was dumping snow up at the elevation of the hike - they even closed Tioga Pass road for the night and into the next morning.  Plan B, figured out while lying in the tent listening to the all-night long downpour, was to check out Bodie, the ghost town off 395, and let the kids explore Mono Lake.  The eastern side of the Sierras has so much to offer!  

Weather cleared as expected, so Saturday we hit the Mono Pass trail around 10:40 a.m.  The first part of the trail is in the 9000 feet elevation range, and trail conditions were dry, as seen in the photo below.

The first 2 miles of the trail has 2 short uphills, and there were some areas with snow on the trail, less than an inch, as we got higher or were in shady areas.

The last 1.7 miles leading to the Mono Pass marker sign has the longest uphill of the hike, but it isn't constant and has lots of rest spots (logs or rocks to sit on).  Once up at Mono Pass, the meadow areas had more than an inch of snow.

We knew we wanted to continue ten more minutes past the Mono Pass sign... 

so that we could get the vista of Mono Lake over 3000 feet below.  

Looking out to Mono Lake 

Hiking with a 6 year old meant frequent stops, so getting to this point took 3 hours.  Without her we could have made it in just over 2, I think, because our 9 year old keeps up a good pace.  After a warm lunch using our stove, and taking off our damp shoes and socks to let the feet dry a bit, we were ready to explore the mining cabins. (Jeff wore boots, and had perfectly dry feet, whereas the kids and I had shoes that let water in from the snow on the trail.  Wool socks are a life-saver because even when wet they still insulate, and no one's feet were cold until the end of the day.)

The day proved to be a gorgeous fall day, giving us the refreshment we sere seeking in the mountains.  We can't wait to share this spectacular piece of the Sierra Nevada with you next week on our first Jaunt With Us! hike.  

For more information on how to come along, see this post: jauntwithus.blogspot.com/2012/10/welcome.html

Welcome!

So, you have seen our flyer & you've heard about Jaunt With Us!, the Modesto area's newest hiking and adventure group.  Thanks for checking us out, we hope you'll join the group and come along on our first hike. 

October 21, 2012

Mono Pass Hike 

http://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/mono-pass/mono-pass.htm

We chose this hike for our launch of the group because it is our personal top pick!  It's where Jeff & I first went backpacking when we met 16 years ago, and where we took our son for his first backpacking trip when he was in first grade.  The hike is moderate in difficulty, with a little bit of elevation gain (truly not too many up hills!) and this hike rewards the hiker with meadows, mountains, mini-lakes, mining cabins, and the magnificent view of Mono Lake. (Do you like the alliteration, you fellow teachers out there? LOL) 

Jeff and I will each lead a group, so this hike will be perfect for families with children and also for those who want to push themselves at over 9000 feet elevation.  During the hike we will go over some essentials that day-hikers should always be sure to have, and show you how to purify water with a great product called AquaMira.  For this hike, please be sure to bring:

• 2 liters (about 2 quarts) of water
• snacks such as granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit, beef jerky, cheese sticks
• sun screen & sun hat
• clothing - prepare for chilly (40-60 degree) weather: pants; layers on top such as long sleeves, thicker shirt, and a jacket; knit hat; gloves; warm socks and comfortable shoes
• camera
• trekking poles if you have them and like using them

To come on this hike, please sign up by emailing us at 

jauntwithus@gmailcom

We will email you with the meeting place and meet-up time!  Thanks for your interest, and we hope that you will join us on this fabulous fall hike.  

Update: Mono Pass had a fall snowstorm (and we were camping there during it!) so the trail in has a little snow.  Boots would be best for this hike, as well as wool socks.  It is gorgeous there right now!

A Peek at Point Lobos State Reserve

A cove along South Shore Trail

Landscape artist Francis McComas claimed that Point Lobos is "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world."  This headland off Coast Highway One, just south of Carmel, California, is truly beautiful.  A walk or jog here hits all the senses: you feel the breeze and moist air, you smell the sea and saltiness, you see amazing wildlife and geology, you hear the waves, the birds, the seals and sea lions. 

Check out the pictures, then at the bottom get more details about visiting this spectacular mosaic of nature.  

Headland Cove, seen from Sea Lion Point Trail, looking over to Allen Memorial Grove

Deer were not skittish, seen from Cypress Grove Trail

Red Algae on the trees near Cypress Cove

Cypress Cove, seen from North Point

East Grove Trail offers many stunning views

Poison Oak is everywhere - stay on the trails!

Shoreline across from Mount Meadow, South Shore trail

Point Lobos offers something for every visitor:

Hikers - Most trails are easy, flat and wide, perfect for a slow trek with children, or for a nice jog to get in some training with a view.  All along South Shore and Cypress Grove the trails are mostly flat.  The more challenging trails, with some stairs and hills, are the East Grove and the North Shore Trail.  

Photographers - Scenery, wildlife, your family - everything shows up nicely here in photos!

Writers/Readers - The trails are peppered with benches, perfect for sitting and recording your thoughts or reading a book.  

Wildlife Viewers (all of the above would fit this category, I'm sure!) - Sea Otters can be seen playfully floating around from South Shore trail.  Seals and Sea Lions hang out on rocky areas near shore.  BRING BINOCULARS TO POINT LOBOS!

Children - They will love to stop and examine the pebbles, the wild flowers, and the pine cones.  A highlight will be for them to spot the sea otters or seals or sea lions, and to check out the Information Station at Sea Lion Point where they can pet the animals' pelts.

To Know Before You Go:

• 2 ways to get in - drive in & pay $10, OR park out on the side of Highway One and walk in, giving $1 donation.
• No dogs, not even in the car, are allowed inside the reserve
• No fires, barbecues, or stoves.  Smoking only in picnic areas
• No collecting, removing, or disturbing any natural objects
• There is poison oak, as well as ticks - stay on trails all the time
• Wear layers, it can be chilly and moist year round
• Don't forget your camera, binoculars, and water & snacks
• Point Lobos State Reserve (831) 624-4909