I volunteer at San Jose Airport..many changes there!! Term A checkin/security (American,Hawaiian,Mexicana,Southwest) has changed locations…you now check in downstairs, then go upstairs for security, concessions, & gates. If entering through short term parking via the overpass…take the escalators down prior to accessing security: American is still on the north side and Southwest on the south side. More changes practically every week, so allow yourselves extra time! Pat
If you’re looking for something special to do with your mom for Mother’s Day be at Santa Teresa County Park this Sunday, May 3, 2009 from 12-3pm. This is a “Healty Trails” outing, hosted by Docent Mike Boulland in conjunction with the Friends of Santa Teresa Park. On the trail, you’ll have the chance to “meet” several historical mothers from Santa Teresa’s past, learn more about the geology and history of the area, and there will even be games for the kids.
MEET @ Fortini Trail Head, located at Fortini Road & San Vicente Ave.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, bring water and a snack.
For more info. contact: Carrie Grisenti, (408) 355-2240
- carrie.grisenti@prk.sccgov.org
- www.parkhere.org
This is a FREE class!!
small dogs: meet Saturday, July 11, 2009, 8:30am-9:30am
LARGE DOGS: meet Saturday, July 11, 2009, 9:45-10:15am
Santa Clara County Parks is inviting you and your canine companions to join Docent Sandi Broeland, certified vet technician and dog trainer from Los Gatos Dog and Cat hospital. She will demonstrate to you and your best friend the basics of Dog Etiquette in off-leash facilities. *Pre-registration required.
DIRECTIONS: Los Gatos Creek Park is located at the intersection of Dell and Hacienda Aves in Campbell. From Winchester Blvd., travel east on Hacienda to the stop sign at Dell.
For more information and to register contact: Carrie Grisenti, Outdoor Recreation Leader Santa Clara County Parks Department
- (408) 355-2240
- carrie.grisenti@prk.sccgov.org
- www.parkhere.org
About a month ago I decided it was time for me to purchase some new shoes. After trying on numerous pairs here at Trailsloggers
and testing the fit I decided that the best choice for me was the Merrell Chameleon Iso. These shoes are great! I wanted a nice light weight hiker that I could wear at work for 8 hours at a time and still be comfortable and not leave work tired and in pain. I also wanted to be able to wear the same shoes out to some of my local hiking trails and be able to do some bank fishing in them as well. These shoes met all my criteria. After wearing them for a month they are working great. I can be at work all day on my feet and still be comfortable and energetic when I leave. I can also wear them on the trial or fish all day in them. The Vibram outsole is great on the trail; it keeps me from slipping and sliding in the muddy conditions that spring sometimes offers. I can also navigate some of the steep treacherous banks of some of the local bay area reservoirs in my search for trout and bass. The mesh uppers are just right for the summer months ahead of my and my feet are always cool and dry. Overall the Chameleon Iso incorporates great support and traction with a lightweight breathability.
Hunter climbing in the pinnacles
The weather at Pinnacles is ideal for sport climbing RIGHT NOW! This picture was taken on our first climb of the day, Thrill Hammer 5.8+. Thrill Hammer is a super mellow vertical stroll that is a gentle start to a long day of climbing
Almaden Quicksilver Park is located in S. San Jose. The park encompasses over 3,977 acres and has five different entrances. Quicksilver is usually known as one of those parks that you earn your miles, so hiking with young children can be a challenge. Recently we discovered an entrance off of McAbee Road. There is street side parking and no visible park entrance sign until you hike up a couple hundred feet past a cattle gate. We only had a couple of hours so we took the Mine Hill Trail to the New Almaden Trail and at the junction we took a side trip up the Senador Mine Trail. Here you will find some ruminants of the old mining buildings that used to cover these hills. After a brief snack, we headed back to the car on the McAbee Creek Trail. This was the perfect hike for the family. The terrain was very manageable even for my six year old, plus we got a chance to explore some mining ruins. Quicksilver is also one of the few parks you can take your dog. This loop can be easily extended if you have more time or wish to take a more challenging hike.
Palo Alto Baylands
On Saturday February 7, 2009, nine brave soles joined myself and guide Lisa Meyers of Let’s Go Birding on our annual birding workshop fieldtrip. This year we decided to bird the Palo Alto Baylands. If you have ever been on one of our trips then you know we learn a lot, but we also have one heck of a fun time doing it. This year was no different. Usually hikers and birders don’t mesh too well. I think long time customer Ardis summed it up best when she said, “the slug on the trail was moving faster than us.” Yes birding isn’t much of a work out, but it can be a great reason to get outside. In a little less than three hours we identified over 48 different species of birds. Birding is what you make of it. For some there may be life list birds that you will end up traveling the world for. Others are simply just curious about the types of birds that they have in their backyard or that they see along the trail as they hike. What ever your motivation is, I hope you can join us on our next field trip.
I wanted to share some information about a fabulous neighborhood park that my wife discovered. Guadalupe Oak Grove Park in South San Jose is a true gem. This park is pretty easy to get to. Just take Almaden Expressway south and make a right on Macabee, across from the new Sonoma Chicken Coop. A few blocks up the road you will run into the parks entrance. This park has it all for a young family. There is a couple of modern play structure for the kids. This is also a dog friendly park with a pretty large fenced off dog park. The real gem of this park is the oak covered trails and sandstone boulders that can be found in the back half of the park. Most of the trails are stroller friendly which also makes them convent for jogging. There are also several great sandstone boulders that make for great bouldering opportunities for the youngsters. The trails are not particularly long or difficult, but that is what makes this a great family park. There is ample wildlife viewing opportunities especially for birders. They have just recently installed some nesting boxes for barn owls. If you have a couple of hours to kill some afternoon, I highly recommend this park.
Yosemite in the winter
Didn’t I see you and your family at Yosemite last week? I could have sworn I saw ya’ll roaming the trails. Some fellow climbers and I journeyed there last week for a day of unconventional bouldering in the snow. (Yes, it is possible as long as the line to be climbed is not buried and the top-out is cleaned.) So, I packed myself snugly in Patagonia Capilene, PrimaLoft, and a Marmot PreCip hard shell and made the four-hour drive. Such a minor trek to one of the most beautiful places in the world! Whether climbing or hiking, winter is a special time of year to visit Yosemite. Your kids will be mesmerized by El Capitan sparkling in snow. You’ll be awestruck! Previous hikers have stomped down most of the easy trails. This means you could probably get away without gaiters and snowshoes, but you’ll definitely want waterproof hiking boots. I wore my Keen Tarhgees that I love! For an easy and comfortable weekend getaway make reservations at the Yosemite Lodge located near the base of the falls. You can refuel after a day of play at the Mountain Room Restaurant or relax by the fire with a brew in the Mountain Room Lounge. So, plan a trip! Yosemite’s amenities accommodate all styles of adventurers.
Hi everybody! My name is Hunter. I have been working at Trailsloggers for almost 6 months now. Those of you I’ve met know that I have been recently freed of my fiberglass burden. That means two working feet…hooray! Now I can resume the things that make me happiest. My very favorite activities never include cumbersome ceilings and walls. I love bouldering, hiking, camping, etc. Now that I am of able body I will be sharing some of my local adventures with ya’ll. See you out there!
Tags: bouldering, hiking