Category Archives: Outings
Willow Lake
This past week I spent a few mornings out at one of our area’s premier botanical destinations — Willow Lake, just south of Lassen Volcanic National Park. I was there to participate in middle school field trips from Chester and … Continue reading
Goodrich Mountain
One of my Mother’s Day gifts was a child-free outing with a friend up Goodrich Mountain. This peak was once a frequent destination of mine, but the ascent is decidedly not toddler friendly. As a result, although this hike is … Continue reading
Filed under Local
To Climb a Tree
Our yard is full of trees. They are good, strong, tall, straight pines, but to M.’s chagrin the branches begin about four feet off the ground and they are quite impossible to climb. Oh she tries, but usually ends up … Continue reading
Filed under Further Afield, Local
Blue Oak Woodlands
These blue oak woodlands near Finley Lake in Tehama County look pristine at first glance. Gnarled oak trunks, a broad and leafy canopy, and verdant understory beckon, “Picnic here! Put up your feet!” But these blue oak woodlands have borne … Continue reading
Filed under Further Afield
Mountain Meadows
Enough with writing about the promise of things to come – wildflower season has launched at last in our neck of the woods. We drove out past Round Mountain this morning to access the eastern shoreline of Mountain Meadows Reservoir. … Continue reading
“Pine Noodles”
Today thick, wet snow falls, but just two days ago our local woods were nearly clear of snow, and its paths open to exploration. It is not often that I get one-on-one time with my girls, particularly this one. But … Continue reading
The Sound of Ice
We bundled up yesterday morning and made the quick drive to Mountain Meadows at Indian Ole Dam. Once across the dam, the roar of water faded away and we heard the ice. The sound of expansions and contractions where water … Continue reading
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Mountain Meadows and a New Year
I brought the girls out to the northwestern shoreline of Mountain Meadows Reservoir, a five minute drive from our house via Moonlight Road and a short network of dirt roads. Usually this time of year such a trip would require … Continue reading
Deer Creek Falls
Deer Creek Falls is a worthy pit-stop midway down Highway 32 from Westwood to Chico. There is a small, easy-to-miss pull-out on the south side of the highway roughly 1 mile west of Alder Creek Campground, then a short, steep … Continue reading
Filed under Further Afield
Caribou Wilderness, Hay Meadows Trailhead
We are lucky to have the Caribou Wilderness just minutes away. As far as wilderness areas go, it’s not the most spectacular or challenging. During the summer months, mosquito hordes are great motivation for a brisk pace and deterrent to … Continue reading
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