Trailsloggers and Silicon Valley Digital Photography Workshops present a fun and educational photographic adventure for beginning and advanced photographers. Come explore the local wildlflowers with outdoor guide and photographer, Paul Dileanis to learn:
- New skills for photographing wildflowers
- Special exposure tips that will help give better colors
- Composition and lighting techniques
- The best local places to photograph wildflowers
Class Session: Tuesday April 20, 6:30 PM
Location: Trailsloggers
Field Trip: Saturday April 24, 8:30 AM
Location: Rancho Canada Del Oro
Fee: $35.00
Register @: Trailsloggers Outdoor Discovery Gear
(408) 866-5888
Trailsloggers & Let’s Go Birding have partnered together to bring you this exciting California Condor workshop.
The recovery efforts to save the California Condor are nothing less than remarkable. This pre-historic vulture once found throughout North America was reduced down to only 27 birds by 1987. Because of extreme efforts to save the species there are now over 350 Condors living today!
WORKSHOP
- Thursday, May 6th workshop held at Trailsloggers from 7-8PM
- Come learn interesting facts about America’s largest bird
- Learn about the efforts made to save this bird from extinction
FIELD TRIP
- Saturday May 8 fieldtrip to Big Sur where we’ll look for Condors!
- Meet at Trailsloggers @ 9AM, return by 4PM.
- Visit Big Sur Lab of Ornithology’s banding station and the Big Sur’s Discovery Center featuring Condors
DETAILS
- Instructor: Birding professional Lisa Myers
- Workshop fills @ 25 people
- $35 per person includes field trip
- Sign-up in advance to reserve your space
- Call Trailsloggers today (408) 866-5888
We will spending two days (May 15 & 16) photographing and exploring the rocky shoreline of Pacific Grove, Garrapata State Beach, and Point Lobos. Most of the day will be spent photographing on location, folowing the light, and lingering for the last moment of twilight. Time will be spent discussing photographic technique, workflow, image processing, and critiquing images. Technical and aesthetic issues will be examined with the goal of creating images that are uniquely your own.
Classes are kept small (6-8) to assure individual guidance. Problem solving is a high priority in this workshop program along with developing personal style and vision.
Windswept shores, rocks, cliffs, and mystical forests make this trip a very memorable photography experience.
Class Fee: $255.00 on or before May 1/ $285.00 after May 1
*Fee does not include meals or lodging; see website for more details
For more information visit www.svimages.com or call Paul
at (510) 364-9499.
If your looking for a quick little getaway for the family, I recommend Picchetti Ranch. Picchetti Ranch is located just a few miles up the road from Stevens Creek Reservoir. The trails here are not very challenging so they are ideal for that less than eager hiker. The most common hike takes you around a seasonal pond. This whole area is a birding hotspot. The pond will usually provide an ideal resting spot for waterfowl early in the year and the surrounding scrub oak habitat is home to Red Tail Hawks and whole host of song birds. The old ranch house is now home of Picchetti Winery. The winery host tastings daily for a $5 fee. The winery also features a wonderful picnic area to unwind after your hike. The local population of wild Peacocks are also very popular with the kids. Fore more info go to www.openspace.org
It’s cold outside. Are you staying warm while you play in the snow and mountains this season? If yes, good for you! If you’re shivering a tad more than you’re enjoying I have a secret to share: Patagonia Capilene.
Capilenes are Patagonia’s line of baselayers. They are 100% polyester of which at least 50% is recycled. Some are 100% recycled! This is a highly breathable, quick drying material. They range in weight from the silky Capilene 1 to the cozy yet light Capilene 4. Cap 1 is so light that it can be worn alone in hot weather. It also offers 15 UPF sun protection. Cap 2 is a little heavier weight baselayer that will keep you dry and warm during breezier winter days. I wear this weight most often. Cap 3 is ideal for moderate exertion in cool to cold weather. Cap 4 is excellent for stop-and-go activities in cold weather. I always have on my Cap 4 ¼ zip on frosty winter mornings at the campsite.
Also, due to Patagonia’s awesomeness, they established the Common Threads Garment Recycling Program in 2005. Originally, this program was meant solely for the recycling and reuse of Patagonia Capilene garments. In addition to Capilenes, you can now recycle Patagonia fleece, Polartec fleece of any brand, Patagonia T-shirts, and any other product with the Common Threads tag. The recycled garments are reincarnated into another high-quality Patagonia item. You can recycle your garments here at Trailsloggers!
Come into Trailsloggers today and invite Capilenes on all your adventures this season. Don’t forget to bring in your worn out Capilenes, and allow them to be reborn into something new!
We have a great selection of intelligent toys and projects for the youngsters this season. I have put together a small list of some of our recommendations for this season. Sprig is a brand new company that blends recycled plastic with recycled wood to create a durable toy that actually smells like wood. Green Toys are manufactured here in California from recycled milk containers. The magnetic Go games and professor Noggin card games make for great travel fun for the entire family.
Ages 3 & up
Go Magnetic Travel Games $9.99
Soda Bottle Bird feeder $10.99
Green Toys Chef Set $14.99
Sprig Eco Trucks $14.99
Green Toys Recycling Truck $24.99
Sprig Dino Adventure Rig $29.99
Ages 7 & up
Natural Owl Pellet $5.99
Professor Noggin’s Wildlife Card Game $9.99
Green Science Windmill Generator $12.99
Green Science Weather Station $12.99
Build Your Own Nature Kaleidoscope $12.99
Fall is a fantastic time to go hiking. Parks that are packed during the summer are now easily accessed. Areas such as the Pinnacles, Almaden Quicksilver, or Henry Co Park often get a bad rap for being too hot an unbearable during the summer are ideal to visit during this time of year. However, there are a few precautions that need to be taken. The days are much shorter, so allow yourself enough time to get back to the car before dark. Your watch is your friend. Don’t focus on the miles, but rather the time. I always like to be back at the car by 5:00pm. So if you started your hike at noon, you should turn around no later 2:30. The weather this time of year can also be unpredictable. Always carry a waterproof jacket and some basic survival gear (fire starter, water purifier, space blanket, extra food and water).
“Who are those dirty people in that crowded campground with so much stuff?”
I have heard Yosemite visitors wondering this as they hike past Camp 4. Well, let me explain…
If rock climbing is something that interests you then Camp 4 can be thought of as a historical landmark. Yosemite itself is rich with climbing history. Many renowned climbers made legendary ascents on the park’s towering granite walls while making a home of Camp 4. Royal Robbins, whose line of outdoor apparel is at Trailsloggers, is one of these climbing legends.
During the 1940’s and 50’s climbers used Camp 4 boulders to sharpen their skills while not on the big walls. At this time, bouldering was thought of as practice. During the 50’s and 60’s bouldering started to be taken more seriously as a sport. Bouldering in Yosemite originated in Camp 4. Bouldering is a style of rock climbing that doesn’t use ropes and is most commonly done on rocks under 20 feet high. However, highball boulder problems can be 20+ feet. Super fun!
Here is a picture of me scrambling in Yosemite. I’m wearing a parachute on my back in case I slip off a cliff. Not really, not really! It’s a crash pad used for bouldering. The pad is put at the base of a rock to protect me from a fall. Come to the Valley and try it! I’ll spot you.
Owl pellets are a natural occurring byproduct of an owls digestive system. Owls eat a lot of things that they can’t naturally digest. Things like fur, feathers,claws, teeth, and bones are typically regurgitated in a pellet for about 6 to 10 hours after conception. These pellets are easily dissected and can be a lot of fun as peer into the diet of an owl. If you can’t find your own wild owl pellets, don’t fret you can also purchase them. Trailsloggers sells packaged owl pellets that include some basic tools and a bone identification chart. Dissecting these pellets is a lot of fun for the entire family.
Tags: birding, Nature, nature projects for kids, owls
If your tired of smores but still crave a fireside treat while camping, I may have the solution for you. On a recent trip, I was introduced to mountain eclairs. First you need to widdle the bark off of a fairly substantial stick. The diameter of the stick determines the size of the pastry cavity. Once your stick is smooth, go ahead and heat it over the campfire being sure not to catch it on fire. Then wrap some Pillsbury croissant dough around the stick to form a tube. It is important that the stick is hot so the dough cooks from the inside as well. be sure to keep rotating you stick over the fire to make sure the pastry cooks evenly. When the pastry has come to a golden brown, gently slide it off you stick. Now you are ready to fill it. I have seen pudding and frosting used, but really almost any sweat will do.