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Hiking
I live on the Peninsula, so most of my hiking is done in the foothills. There are several nice regional parks. My favorite area is probably Castle Rock State Park and the trails that lead back towards Big Basin.Climbing
When I was about fifteen I went to see Clint Eastwood in The Eiger Sanction and was immediately hooked. There was no such thing as indoor climbing back then, there were no climbing gyms, and climbers had only just phased out the use of pitons in favor of more environmentally friendly chocks and stoppers. Cam-locking pieces like friends were pure science fiction.I did most of my early climbing along the Potomac River, either at Carderock or Great Falls. Also, the Northwest Branch of the Patuxent River passed about 200 yards from my parents' house, and there was some great top-roping and bouldering there.
When I got older and got into lead climbing I did most of my leading in the Shawangunks in New York, and Seneca Rocks in West Virginia. I've never led anything tougher than 5.9, and a good 5.7 suites me just fine. The last climb I led before coming out West was High Exposure a beautiful and aptly named 5.6 in the Shawangunks that was first climbed in 1937.
Ironically since coming out West I haven't done any leading. Mainly that's because I haven't had a good partner. You have to have a very special feeling of trust in a partner you're going to lead with, and that combination didn't come together for me out here for a long time. I bouldered at Indian Rock extensively when I lived in Berkeley, and was probably in the best climbing shape of my life during that time.
In the last year I've discovered that my crew at Linux.com shares my passion for climbing, and we've started doing a little climbing together. They live in Tahoe, where there are several good climbing areas. We've spent our time so far at a local spot called Pie Shop.
Camping
Over the past fifteen years I've set foot in almost every national park and national forest in Northern California. I love the coast from Mendocino through the Lost Coast area, and I really love the Sierras. My favorite is the Feather River headwaters.My favorite campground has gotten a little too discovered. If you go there between Labor Day and Columbus Day, however, you should have relative peace and quiet and spectacular weather. So check out Paul Dimmick Campground on the banks of the Navarro River.
Two of my favorite vacations were backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail, and camping and backbacking through the panhandle of Alaska.
1/14/01