A very special visitor

Moving out here to California was a big move for me. It is difficult to leave behind all your friends and family, break away from your core-comfort zone, not everyone can do it. However, if you're like me, and the allure of new adventures is strong enough as to overcome all other obstacles, well then home is wherever you make it! I am supremely fortunate to be able to do as much as I do, we live in an era where nearly anything is possible. Without the support of my family, friends and girlfriend, I would be nowhere near where I am today. It really meant a lot to me to see my father, albeit brief. However, another individual who has profoundly humbled me into who I am today paid me a special visit for 10 wonderful days, my girlfriend, Madison.

She arrived the night before my father had to fly back to VA and from the moment she stepped off the plane we had quite a trip planned! I had to work the first couple days of the week, so we dipped out of San Francisco as quick as possible. Madison was downtown spending time with friends and so I swooped in the coup and scooped her up. Leaving the downtown area, I stumbled upon a nice view.


We didn't arrive in Arcata until late that night, it was a many hours drive, but not without sneaking in a quick peep of the redwoods along "Avenue of The Giants". In the morning we met with Madison's potential adviser at Humboldt State University, which is amazingly serene and beautiful. It is an older hippie town with a long history for environmental consciousness, sort of reminded me of Burlington, Vermont. Leaving from Arcata, we traveled further north, into the Redwoods State Parks area to stop at the Ladybird Grove.

A whole family could fit in this redwood! After following the wonderful loop trail dedicated by Ladybird Johnson in the 60's and justly introduced to a world of dinosaur trees we continued a bit further north to Prarie Creek Redwood State Park. This park is home to quite a few of the world's tallest trees and hosts a really unique redwood ecosystem. Along the trail, we paused for a quick self-portrait:

The trail we took left the ranger headquarters and finished at the Pacific ocean, since it was late in the evening and we wanted to see the sunset, we knew we had to hustle! Even so, you cannot rush the subtle magnificence of the forests out here:

We made it in time!


I know I always wax poetic about California sunsets, but anyone who has been here can vouch for me, they're just always beautiful. Just before the above sunset photo was taken, I took this photo below to show both the ruggedness of the land as it meets the ocean as well as the gentle beach that straddles both:

The next morning we slept in nicely and lounged around, I had not camped on the beach in some years, it is easy to forget how cool it is:


Late in the morning we embarked for "Fern Canyon", which is an area famous for its prehistoric collection of ferns. This place must be seen to be believed! I think "Fern Gully" might be a better name though, but thats a movie.

Before that though, this old, giant log near the little ponds served as a great spot for eating/lounging/sleeping, and perch for a little person with a big pack!

Clearly we had come to Prairie Creek at the right time of year, all the trilliums were in bloom! Madison enjoyed them because they are endemic to West Virginia, her home. We joked that they were like little faces with eyes, the eyes of the forest- watching us as we wandered about:

Our second night at Prairie Creek we made camp in the shadow of some real giants. Surrounded by tree-like ferns and the dense under story vegetation, it was absolute bliss:

The tent was set up, the sleeping bags lain out to fluff up, and I caught Madison in her nighties!

We were so reluctant to leave this magical, prehistoric forest, a real place of the "Land Before Time." The last few miles we tried to make last a while, which meant time for a few Kodak moments. The scale of these trees is difficult to imagine without a human comparison, it simply blows my mind how astonishingly well redwoods grow in their native habitat. The trail was always so quaint, just meandering amongst the redwoods, allowing us to greet each giant as they came near.

As sad as it was to leave the redwoods behind, it was of course nice to know they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. I sure would like my kids to see one of the great natural wonders of the world.

Madison and I stopped on our way into San Francisco at a great vantage point for the Golden Gate Bridge. This panorama shot shows its grandiosity!



Of course our portrait shot was taken too. It was super nice to have my girlfriend around. When everyone is thousands of miles away and then a slice of lovely familiarity comes to see you, it is really touching. I was quite sad to see her go, now I look forward to our next embrace (-: Miss you Muffly!

The man himself

Many exciting things happened to me the past week or so. It began with a visit from the man himself, my father. He was just north of San Francisco, in Portland, for business and was able to adjust his schedule to visit me and see the city. He arrived on a Friday morning and I met him for lunch near the airport.

Saturday was a very eventful day, embarking from a reasonable and free continental breakfast at his hotel, we journeyed north towards the Golden Gate Bridge. After encountering the usual traffic through the city, quick time was made onto route 1 along the coast. For those who have not done it, this is really a spectacular drive and successfully introduces one to the ruggedness of the northern California coastline. The highway parallels the coast super close, providing breath-taking vistas to any one willing to allow a stop. We did just that and I even paused for a delayed shot of the man himself and I:


We continued on this route past the popular Stinson Beach, then cut inland to follow the course of the San Andreas fault. We stopped at Point Reyes National Seashore, which is a neat park encompassing a vast area from beaches to conifer groves. I am always short on time, so we did the interpretive walk, the same walk I did when our whole family came out to San Francisco 12 years ago! It was neat to see where the San Andreas fault proper was again and the fence that jumped 5 meters! The earthquake of 1906, whose fires destroyed much of San Francisco displaced 250 miles of ground!

Onward and forward we continued north to Petaluma for a stop at a cheesery. I absolutely love cheese so this was an essential pause at the Marin French Cheese store and factory. We had a country style picnic with many kinds of soft French cheeses, baguette, salami and bit of red wine. A tasty jausen-style lunch appropriate for wine and cheese country! I continue to be amazed by what California has to offer and further convinced why it is so desirable to live here.

From the Marin French Cheesery we sped east through Sonoma county and into the Napa Valley. It was much different than I thought it would be, chock-full of wineries and vineyards. We went to Beringer Winery along the main drag and managed to squeeze in a few tastes as well as purchase some cheap bottles from the store. The house that greets you from the main road is quite impressive:

As the hour was getting late, we headed back to San Francisco. We were due to pick up my next special visitor who would spend a maginficent 10 days with me (hers and my trip will be in the next blog). Before the airport though, there was unfinished business at Fishermans Wharf. Since many years my father has raved about Boudin Bread company, makers of the famous sourdough. We grabbed New England Clam Chowder in sourdough bread bowls for the first time together in Fishermans Wharf in 12 years. It was delicious!

Granite Chief Snowshoe Tour

This tour was my 2nd attempt at Granite Chief, near Squaw Valley at Lake Tahoe. My first try a few weeks ago was thwarted by uber deep and blowing snow, no weather deterrent this time around! Bluebird skies and soft, spring-like temperatures greeted me when I awoke in the car on Saturday morning, a ripe day for a tour!


After borrowing snowshoes for some years, I finally caved in and bought some for myself (wallet was burning a hole in my pocket as well). I went for the most rugged shoes I could find, ones that can handle the absolute toughest terrain. MSR is a US company that has an excellent reputation for quality products, now is a great time to support the homefront economy.


I recently purchased some rechargeable batteries for my camera at the urging of my girlfriend. The camera must not like them because most of the time it tells me the freshly-charged batteries are depleted when they're not. So, as a consequence I was only able to take photos of the first hour of my tour. The ever popular self-portrait:

Break trail was tough, as the sun came out, the fluf surface snow turned into "Sierra cement" and the going was slow, albeit picturesque.


Not to help matters, I took an unbelievably long way to the summit of Granite Chief. I followed directions from the www.summitpost.com website for the summer trail route, this was a big mistake. It took me all day, but eventually I did make it to just below the summit. At the time it seemed reasonable, but i decided to dig a snow cave for the night, just below the peak itself (perhaps 40-50 feet) where the first trees begin in Krummholz formation at the environmentally-induced timberline. I resolved the terrain to be too steep to set up my little tent directly without digging out a platform, I figured it would only be a little more effort just to dig a snowcave, which would be warmer.

I had no problem getting to sleep quickly after dark came. I wish I'd had a functioning camera to take photos of the wonderful alpenglow that spilled everywhere from the sunset. Fortunately for me, I'd brought just enough fuel to melt snow for water and have hot drinks/food. I awoke to a farely fierce wind, blowing and drifting snow. It spooked me for a moment, just long enough to pack my things quickly to head down. Interestingly enough, only a hundred or so feet lower in elevation and the sun was shining- the top of the mountain was immersed in a cloud!

Leaving Granite Chief proper, I followed the Squaw Valley ski area boundary, which was the route I should have taken up. What took an entire day to climb was descended in a mere 2.5 hours, with Breidl Jausens along the way. A quick stop at Panera Bread in Roseville on the way back to Pacifica, I arrived in the late afternoon- to enjoy an extra hour of sunshine and bask in my own self-satisfaction.