Hikefest Day 4. We decided to hit the literal high point of the week by hiking Cerro Alto, a summit near the end of West Cuesta Ridge that overlooks Morro Bay. We had read about the outstanding views from the top and how one could see all the way from Big Sur in the…
Hikefest Day 3. The weather having been foggy and cloudy on our first trip here in September, we decided to take another shot at Valencia Peak since it was so sunny and warm. We started from the same trailhead and took the most direct route as before. As we climbed higher, clouds began forming below us, so…
Hikefest Day 2. The most iconic summit in the San Luis Obispo area is 1,559′ Bishop Peak, its 2-mile trail to the top being very popular with local residents and students at nearby Cal Poly SLO. We had wanted to hike this peak for some time, and, feeling emboldened by our ascent of Cerro…
Hikefest Day 1. Each November, we spend the ten or so days before Thanksgiving at our trailer in Pismo Beach, and this particular visit we decided to spend the majority of our time hiking (what we call today the “hikefest”). We had bought a couple of books on hikes in the Central Coast area,…
Having visited Montana de Oro State Park to hike Valencia Peak a few weeks earlier, we decided to explore other trails in the area on our next weekend trip to Pismo Beach down the coast. That Saturday, Jane’s Aunt Bev and Uncle Gary picked us up at our trailer, and the four of us…
This year’s Excellent Adventure targeted 1,347′ Valencia Peak in Montana de Oro State Park near Morro Bay. From our advance research, we expected this prominent peak to yield stunning views extending from San Simeon to Point Sal – unfortunately, the weather had other ideas. Although San Luis Obispo was sunny, we quickly encountered overcast…
The second annual Excellent Adventure took place at Sherman Peak, a 9,909′ summit northeast of Kernville. At 2-1/2 miles, the trail is not very long and ascends most gradually, except for the last 1/2 mile or so which switchbacks up the peak’s east face. The hike was great – we managed to lose the…
After we packed up camp, we decided to do something fun to wash out our disappointment with Moses Mountain the day before, so we walked the short nature trail that loops through Balch Park. The trail begins at the park entrance near the campground’s singular hollow tree, continuing through the first mile or so…
August 2010 found us again camping with Jacob, our nephew, this year at Balch Park northeast of Springville in Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. We had decided our first full day in camp would be spent climbing Moses Mountain, a 9,331′ peak a few miles northeast of Balch Park. We expected to follow the…
We had so much fun on our hike up Sirretta Peak that we came up with the idea of hosting a group hike on our way back to camp. Having done Sunday Peak as a family when our kids were little, it seemed a great option for the inaugural Excellent Adventure. Located northeast of…