I was thinking of all of the different trees I've seen this year, when the Kids in the Hall Classic, "These Are the Daves I Know" popped into my head. You'll just have to imagine me walking around town, wearing a tucked-in flannel shirt, and talking about the trees I know (and hardly know). Anyhow, here …
Alta Peak – Sequoia National Park
Distance: 17 MilesElevation Gained: 4,500'Difficulty: StrenuousTime: 7:15Critters: Marmots, DeerPros:- Easily accessible peak and high country on the west side of the Sierras- Incredible views of the High Sierras and Great Western DivideCons:- Getting lost and not making it through Giant Forest sucked quite a bit- Finishing the hike lost and having to walk a mile …
Crescent Meadow – Sequoia National Park
Distance: 1 MileElevation Gained: NegligibleDifficulty: EasyTime: Wasn't keeping track, to be honestCritters: NonePros:- Probably the most beautiful place in the Sierra Nevadas, which makes it one of the most beautiful places anywhere.- Some of the most incredible light I've ever seen. Cons:- No such thing when it comes to Crescent MeadowDetails: Crescent Meadow is the …
Tokopah Falls – Sequoia National Park
Distance: 3.4 MilesElevation Gained: 400'Difficulty: EasyTime: 2 hours?Critters: Deer, marmot, rumors of a bearPros:- Easy hike through a beautiful glacial valley- Enormous cascading waterfall- Towering rock cragsCons:- Close to Lodgepole Campground, which is a noisy madhouse Details:Tokopah Falls is one of the landmark trails in Sequoia National Park. The trailhead is located within Lodgepole Campground …
Jennie Lakes Wilderness
Distance: 4.6 MilesElevation Gained: 1,400Difficulty: ModerateTime: No idea : )Critters: butterfliesPros:- More rolling mountainsides, mixed-conifer forest, and views- Easy access from campsite- Good conditioning hikeCons:- None to speak of, unless you're comparing it to more remarkable hikes nearbyDetails:The Jennie Lakes Wilderness sits in a nook between an arm of Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia …
Buena Vista Peak – Kings Canyon National Park
Distance: 2 MilesElevation Gained: 400'Difficulty: EasyTime: 1:00 (?)Critters: NonePros:- Easy hike to a great view of Redwood Canyon- Great granite rock formations- Evening bird community is amazing to hear Cons:- The trail to the top is confusing, especially where the trail switches back to the peak Details:After the Redwood Canyon hike, I waited for Sean …
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Redwood Canyon – Kings Canyon National Park
Distance: 7.1 MilesElevation Gained: 1,200'Difficulty: ModerateTime: 2:50Critters: An armada of butterflies, two deer, one bearPros:- Sequoia Trees- Less traveled than Giant Forest- Flowers and butterflies- Cold, clear creeks- Mountain viewsCons:- We can pretty much leave out cons when we're talking about the Sierra Nevadas, okay?Details:Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park are two of my favorite …
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Tecolote Canyon (plus Torrey Pines Extension)
Distance: 2.5 (Total)Elevation gained: 200Difficulty: EasyTime: 0:46:00Critters: NonePros: (Tecolote)- NoneCons: (Tecolote)- Overdeveloped- Dirty- NoisyJune:6/30 hikesDetails:Ugh.Tecolote Canyon, while not a bad place in itself, is a hike that should probably be avoided unless you live nearby and you need a convenient place to walk the dog. It's also a lesson in the pitfalls of development, which …
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Santa Margarita River + Los Jilgueros and Hellers Bend
Distance: 6.8, 1.1, 1.2 (Santa Margarita, Los Jilgueros, and Hellers Bend, respectively)Elevation Gained: 320', 0', 300'Difficulty: Easy + easy + easy = moderateTime: 2:38, :23, :27Critters: Dog of the Day with the cone of shame, a fleet of rabbits and squirrels, coots, bullfrogsPros:- Lovely, easy hiking along the Santa Margarita River- Easily accessed beauty spots …
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30 Day Challenge!
In honor of Kelly's recently completed 31 day challenge, I am taking on my own challenge. As per the rules of Kelly's challenge, I will take 30 hikes in 30 days over the month of June.Some of the hike will be incredibly small, such as the most recent Sunset Cliffs hike. Some of the hikes …
scott turner hikes 