Hiking Hints (Learned the Hard Way)

*Always tell someone where you will be hiking, in case you don't come back!
*Always carry a cell phone. Most areas get cell coverage because many trails go along mountain tops.
*Always have a trail map of the hiking area. Many trails are very poorly marked.
*Don't wander off the trail. There is likely to be poison oak in the brush. Learn to recognize it, but remember it is still active in the winter when all it is a stick.
*Use a walking stick for steep trails. It saves strain on the knees and can double as a weapon if you encounter mountain lions or wild boar. (Which you most likely won't)
*Always take water with you.
*Use sunblock or you will end up looking like a piece of rawhide.
*Keep granola bars or other non-perishable snacks in your pocket or backpack.
*Have a jacket with you that can be tied around your waist in case of chilly weather.
*Ibuprofen is an essential item for your pocket also.
*In cold weather kleenex comes in handy for your nose. It's an essential for women too on long hikes with small bladders.
*A pedometer is a fun item to use so you can brag to your friends about how far you walked!
*Leave enough time so that you will not be caught with the sun setting and you're still out on the trail.
*Avoid walking through tall grass. Ticks love to wait on a stalk of grass and jump on your leg as you pass. Ticks infected with Lyme disease have been found in the Santa Cruz Mountains and other areas of California. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. (A tick remover is a handy device for your backpack.)
*If you do encounter a Mountain Lion, calmly repeat "nice kitty, kitty" while backing away slowly.
*Be careful where you sit and put your hands, especially around sunny rocks. Rattlesnakes like to sunbathe there and will resent your intrusion. (A snake bite kit is another handy item to carry.) By the way, you probably won't die if you get bit by a rattlesnake.
*One of the most important items to carry is Chapstick. Huffing and puffing uphill can really dry out your lips.
*Sucking on hard candy can help with a dry mouth from all that huffing and puffing too.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve March 26, 2008

March in the Santa Cruz Mountains is the most beautiful month of the year. The hills are velvety green and the wild flowers are blooming.
Cheryl and I walked the Ridge Trail from the beginning of the preserve to the end and then back on several other trails that lay west of the ridge. 6.6 miles in all.
The whole trail is fairly level and passes by Borel Mountain, the highest point in San Mateo County--2576 feet. One can see from San Francisco to San Jose from that spot. Looking west, you can see the ocean (on a fogless day that is). A rather brave coyote was loitering near the trail at the beginning and end of our hike and I suspect he knows that people mean food. We were also visited by a couple of crows that patiently waited for us to finish lunch. This was the most beautiful trail I have hiked so far.

Coyote at Russian Ridge.


Ridge Trail.


View from Ridge Trail.


Proof that I hike.


Rock at Russian Ridge.


Hills at Russian Ridge.


Rocky Outcroppings Russian Ridge.


Flowers and Bee at Russian Ridge.


Trails at Russian Ridge.


Looking West from Ridge Trail.


Emerald Hills at Russian Ridge.


Crow at Russian Ridge.


Alder Trail at Russian Ridge.


View from Alder Trail.


Ancient Oaks Trail, Russian Ridge.


Coyote on Ridge Trail.
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