Happy Trails

2002

Muir Woods National Monument
Gang:  Damien, Joel, Petula, Susan, Lik-See, and Sam
Location:   Golden Gate National Recreation Area, CA
Trail:  Started at the Mountain Home Trailhead, entered the touristy area, and looped back.
Difficulty:  Easy - lots of shaded areas and trails are relatively wide.
Highlights: Little Joel was the cutest two-year old.  When crumbs fell on Petula, he took a napkin and wiped her off.  He also wiped his own mouth after he ate.  We enjoyed the magnificent redwoods as well.

Sam McDonald Park
Gang:  Lik-See, Sam, & Carl
Location:   San Mateo County, CA
Trail:  Towne Trail, Ridge Trail Loop, but according to the signs, most trails were called Brook Loop Trail.
Difficulty:  Moderate to Strenuous (steep climbs, esp. when we veered off the map)
Highlights: Hiker's Hut (a sign that we found our way back), redwood trees, horses on the trail, people saying, "There are actually people doing this trail on foot?" 

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
Gang:  Sam & Petula
Location:  Palo Alto, CA
Trail:  Not sure -- the one that crosses the creek
Difficulty:  Easy
Highlights:  Large variety of plants, our poison oak search, lunch at the hilltop (how many uses are there for bread?) and beautiful flowers.

Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
Gang:  Keith, Sam, & Colleen
Location:  Near Cupertino, CA
Trail:  Various (High Meadow, Upper Wildcat Canyon,..?)
Difficulty:  Easy to Moderate
Highlights:  Foliage, flowers, view of the South Bay from the vista point, discussions about linguistics and grammar.

NaPali Coast, Ke'e Beach
Gang:  Mama and Papa Hernandez
Location:  Northwest shore, Kauai, Hawaii
Trail:  Kalaulau Trail
Difficulty:  Easy to Tricky
Highlights:  Aquamarine ocean, palm trees, Na Pali cliffs, little kitten hiding in the bushes, 
a huge dog hiking with a tennis ball in his mouth, Mom reaching new heights.

2001

See our Yosemite 2001 trip here.

Portola Valley (toward Windy Hill)
Gang:  Lik-See, Sam, Janean, Damien, and Joel
Location:  Near Palo Alto, CA
Trail:  From Portola Valley trailhead to Spring Ridge Trail
Difficulty:  Easy to Moderate, didn't go all the way
Highlights:  Sunny weather, the brook, shooting each other with super soakers.

Shoreline Park
Gang:  Keith, Lik-See, Frank, Carolyn, and little Bethany
Location:  Mountain View, CA
Trail:  Some random trail
Difficulty:  Easy, but some part of it smelled like sulfur
Highlights:  The non-hiking activities:  paddle boating, picnicking, throwing Frisbees and footballs.

San Pedro Valley Park (separate page)
Gang: Chris, Sam, Lik-See
Location:  Pacifica, CA
Trail:  Hazelnut
Difficulty:  Easy to Moderate
Highlights:  View of ocean and city from vista point, eucalyptus trees, trip to the beach.

Point Reyes National Seashore (separate page)
Gang:  Sam
Location:  Near San Rafael, CA
Trails:  A few
Difficulty:  Easy to Moderate (except the 300 stairs up from the lighthouse were tough)
Highlights:  The Great Beach, wildflowers, ocean view, eating lunch at one of the parks.

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