Not all hiking trips go as planned and this is one of our doozies and it was all my fault. We chose this hike to check out the wildflowers at Eastman Lake and had heard that the eagles were flying there. That would be so cool to see an eagle! Distance: 8 Miles Difficulty: Easy to Moderate, depending on how ...

By Virginia Eaton — I’ve been on the local lecture circuit lately and having a good time on my soapbox. I love talking about my passion — diets and other myths (more on this another time). During my most recent stop at noon Rotary, I was asked a question on a topic that I didn’t know enough about to offer an ...

By Kellie Flanagan — MOUNTAIN AREA — I mumbled something about picking up a daisy bush at the nursery and grabbed my keys, knowing full well there were baby chicks at the feed store. I flew down the canyon to arrive before closing and, sure enough, under a bright light there they were, my hope for the future of the ...

Mom and I headed up out of Briceburg to see if those poppies were blooming along the Merced River. They were, along with many other wildflowers. Distance: 6.34 Miles, but you can go shorter or longer Difficulty: Easy Elevation Range: 1,086′ to 1,207′ Date: February 21, 2016 Maps: Bear Valley and Buckingham Mountain Topographic Maps I headed up Hwy 140 to ...

By Virginia Eaton — I love to drink coffee. I drink it everyday, and occasionally in the afternoon, depending on my mood. Whether it’s a morning cup or an afternoon one, it should have a strong complex flavor — I am particularly fond of espresso. When my sister bought one of those single serving coffee makers, I hit the snob button. Couldn’t imagine a ...

Poppies and other colorful wildflowers were starting to come alive with our recent warm spell and we couldn’t wait to see if we could spot some. I just love poppies! Where: BLM, San Joaquin River Gorge Special Recreation Management Area Distance: 7.72 Miles Difficulty: Easy to Moderate, depending on how far you go Elevation Range: 636′ to 1,861′ Date: February 15, ...

We got a real workout on the toughest trail out of the Yosemite Valley and were rewarded with amazing views of Clouds Rest and Half Dome that you can see no other way. Not all hikes go as planned and this one definitely fell in that category. Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: About 11 Miles Difficulty: Strenuous Elevation Range: 3,972 – ...

By Virginia Eaton — I have been developing a Fall Prevention program for Oakhurst area residents and the most poignant fact from the research has been this: if you are afraid of falling, you are more likely to fall! Those lacking confidence in their ability to stay upright tend to keep their eyes down and thus miss important obstacles. They ...

Chef Grandma — For those of you who are not totally conscious or aware, Valentine’s Day is this Sunday, February 14. Your sweetie is probably anticipating a box of candy, a bouquet of flowers, a gigantic stuffed animal, or a new game for the XBox. Do they still send singing telegrams? Valentine’s Day is not in my memory bank from ...

O’s Badger Sports Bulletin, Vol. 1, Issue 4, by Yosemite High School Athletic Director Rusty Oetinger — Last week the Badger sports teams played their rivals over in Auberry. The week got off to a rousing start with the girls Soccer and Basketball teams visiting Sierra. The girls Soccer team played a very strange game that ended in a tie, ...