Hiking with Heidi

Hike Details: Elevation range - 7200' Trailhead Location - Donner Summit Sno-Park Mileage - 3.75 miles round trip - from the Sno-Park trailhead past Azalea Lake, then a loop around Flora Lake and back. Hiking time - about 3 hours, with lots of time for stopping to take pictures. Link to the CalTopo map:   https://caltopo.com/m/932L As someone who doesn't normally like the cold, somehow snowshoeing has become a favorite winter activity! Cue the music..."the cold never bothered me anyway!"... :)  We always start off with lots of warm layers, but it doesn't usually take more than about 15-20 minutes before we're shedding jackets and gloves because it's so easy to warm up when you're snowshoeing. It's a great workout! The trail heads out from the Donner Summit Sno-Park parking lot and essentially follows the hiking path of the PCT.      We went past both Azalea Lake and Flora Lake. The sun kept popping in and out all...

Hike Details: Elevation range - about 7200' (lots of little ups and downs but no huge elevation changes) Location - from Eastbound I-80, take the Boreal Ski/Donner Summit Sno-Park exit, turn left (going opposite of Boreal) and the road dead ends at the Sno-Park (fee is $5 per vehicle, passes need to be bought ahead of time at REI or other Truckee locations). You could also possibly park at the rest area at the next exit which is closer to the junction with the PCT. Bathrooms: Yes, a pit toilet  Mileage - 4-5 miles roundtrip Hiking time - 3+ hours (including stop for lunch)

Hike Details: Elevation range - sea level :) Location - Limantour Beach at Pt. Reyes, we parked at the Limantour Beach Parking Lot Bathrooms: Yes, pit toilet Mileage - 5 miles roundtrip Hiking time - 2 hours

Hike Details: Elevation range - from about 2300' down to 1300' Location - from Eastbound I-80, take the Colfax exit (135), turn left at the stop sign to get on to the frontage road called North Canyon Way, drive .6 mile to the parking lot on the left. Bathrooms: Yes, a pit toilet (better than nothing, just barely) Mileage - 7.5 miles roundtrip Hiking time - 4 hours (including stop for lunch)

Hike Details: Elevation  - 8550' up to 8875' Location  - Trailhead is located at the Carson Pass Ranger Station on Carson Pass Highway 88, about 5 miles East of Kirkwood Ski Resort Mileage   - 3 miles roundtrip Hiking time - 3 hours 

Hike Details: Elevation  - 6400' up to 7630' Location  - On I-80, take the Donner Lake Road exit (not to be confused with Donner Pass Road), go north of the freeway to Billy Mack Rd and the trailhead parking is just up the road on the right. Mileage   - 6 miles roundtrip Hiking time  - 3 hours

Hike Details: Elevation – 9,103 ft.   Location – near I-80 just across from Boreal Ridge Ski Resort Mileage – 7 1/2  miles round-trip Time – 3 1/2 hours Route – see map and description below Weather – Perfect Take the exit at Boreal Ski Resort, turn left under the freeway and drive just a little bit around a bend to park at the trailhead.  See those craggy peaks FAR off in the distance? Yeah, that's where we're hiking. So...one foot in front of the other and pretty soon those peaks start getting closer and closer.  First we hiked down a gravel road until a fork in the road to the right took us over to connect with the Pacific Crest Trail.  We passed by some lovely meadows before diving into the thick of the forest.  And a higher-up meadow...  Those rocks are getting a little closer...  We reached the saddle where the PCT heads North and met up with some fun PCT thru-hikers. (I've learned their trail names are Di...

Hike Details: Elevation -5700 - 6900 ft. Location - I-80 at Rainbow Bridge exit Mileage - 6 miles round trip Hiking time - 4 hours Route - Take either the Big Bend or Rainbow Bridge exit off of I-80, the trailhead parking (with a bathroom, bonus!) is on the frontage road between those two exits and the trailhead is across the street. Weather -Not too warm, not too cold, a little overcast, breezy at the top. Let's get started! So many interesting trees   Check out all these cool roots...  And maybe it's just me, but I think it looks like the tree on the left is hugging the other tree, like he's saying, "It's okay, buddy, I'm here for you." :) And just in case, we'll hug the tree too. :) Lots of cairns to point the way as we scrambled over granite boulders.    I was reminded of the story from the Old Testament about Samuel placing the "Ebenezer" (or stone of help) as a...