AHWAHNEE – The Friends of The Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park wish to announce the retirement of longtime President, Fern Facchino. For Fern’s many years of service we extend our gratitude and admiration and wish her well. To help with a smooth transition, Senior Director Tony Ward will be stepping in as Interim President. Tony’s founding of the Park in 2006, ...
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Hiking From Briceburg Down The Historic Merced River Trail
Wildflowers, miners, gold mines, an old railroad bed and a beautiful but deadly river all have roles in this week’s blog. Oh, and can’t forget about the geese!Where: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Merced River Recreation Management AreaDistance: 13.36 miles round trip but you can go shorter or longerDifficulty: EasyElevation Range: 1,001′ – 1,215′Elevation Total Ascent: 1,125′Date: March 7, 2022CALTOPO: ...
Read More »Hiking The Stockton Creek Preserve With The Sierra Foothill Conservancy
Frogs and birds were singing their tunes and turtles were basking in the sun on a beautiful day as I hiked with the Sierra Foothill Conservancy (SFC), exploring trails in the Stockton Creek Preserve. Recent land acquisitions have expanded this preserve, a partnership with SFC and Mariposa Public Utilities District (MPUD), to 700 acres and grants have improved and added ...
Read More »Hiking the Wawona Meadow Loop With Fannie
Fannie the Corgi wanted to go on a dog hike and I knew just the place. Not too far, not too steep, not too much snow and a little history thrown in along the Wawona Meadow Loop. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 4.02 milesDifficulty: EasyElevation Range: 3,979′ – 4,219′Elevation Gain: 278′Date: February 17, 2022CALTOPO: CALTOPO: Hiking Wawona Meadow Loop with FannieDog Hike? ...
Read More »Hiking to Stevenson Creek Falls and Beyond
The Million Dollar Road led us to Stevenson Creek Falls, its water dropping 1,200′ as it leaped over the rocks down to the San Joaquin River. A few wildflowers along the way put smiles on our faces. Where: Sierra National Forest, Southern California EdisonDistance: 12.44 Miles (About 7 miles roundtrip to Stevenson Creek Falls)Difficulty: ModerateElevation Range: 1,186′ to 2,387′Elevation Gain: ...
Read More »Hiking up Briceburg’s Burma Grade/Bull Creek Road to a View Spot
The first spring poppies danced in the wind for me as I hiked up Briceburg’s Burma Grade and beyond for 15 miles with a 2,340 gain, leading me to a view of El Capitan and Half Dome. Where: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Merced River Recreation Management AreaDistance: About 15 miles roundtrip but you can go shorter or longerDifficulty: Moderate ...
Read More »Walking up a Dirt Road: Worman’s Mill to the Lone Sequoia
Just a pretty blue sky day to get out on nearby dirt roads up to the Lone Sequoia for some exercise. Then those little white puffy clouds started showing up . . . Where: Sierra National ForestDistance: 11.14 Miles (but you can go shorter or longer)Difficulty: Easy to ModerateElevation Range: 3,417′ to 4,427′Elevation Gain: 1,135′Date: January 25, 2022CALTOPO: Hiking From ...
Read More »Hiking From Briceburg up the Burma Grade to the Gate
It was a little early for Merced River Canyon’s wildflower show but the right time to get in a good winter conditioning hike with some miles and a climb along the Merced River at Briceburg. Where: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Merced River Recreation Management AreaDistance: 10.6 miles roundtrip but you can go shorter or longerDifficulty: Moderate to StrenuousElevation Range: ...
Read More »Snowshoeing Through History Along The Merced Crest
Spectacular views were the big draw for snowshoeing the Merced Crest and we also got in a great workout. But wait, there is more! We followed the footsteps of a man who has 2 graves, a Chinese woman who was auctioned off for $800 back in the 1850’s, a Saloon Keeper and an early Yosemite Ranger.Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 6.97 ...
Read More »Walking Up a Dirt Road: Harris Cutoff Up Chowchilla Mountain Road
Historic photographs help paint the picture of what it must have been like to ride a stagecoach up this old road back in the day. Not having a stagecoach available I did the next best thing, walking up that dirt road though the snow, ice and mud.Distance: About 6 Miles (but you can go shorter or longer)Difficulty: ModerateElevation Range: 3,401′ ...
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