Tag: California

Foggy Redwoods | One Photo

A road is buried deep in the darkness of the tall redwoods. The narrow view of the sky is filled with fog. The wall of threes is dark green, more like black. Only two lonely tiny orange lights shine.

Because sometimes, I just want to share photos that have a really special place in my heart or I’m really proud of, here and there, You’ll start seeing these published. I didn’t know how to do it for some time because honestly, I’m not very well off with website design, but I’ve decided to just do it the way I know. So here goes.

This eerie picture was taken when I drove through the redwood forest towards the campground where I was staying. The sun hasn’t touched the ground there for a few days. Everything was covered in dew, including me; whenever I walked even for just a tiny little while, little drops of water condensated on my eyelashes.

It’s around midday in the picture, even though it might not seem so. The clouds, the fog, and the tall trees made the it seem like if the ground was experiencing twilight all day long. Everything was unbelievably quiet and tranquil; all sound were softened and muffled by the fog and all seemed perfectly still…

by Pina Marek

Mt. Tamalpais | Six-Pack of Peaks

About the challenge

What is the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Depending on your location or where you want to take this challenge (of course, you can take them all if you have the time!), you sign up for Southern California, Northern California, Central Oregon, New England or Colorado Rockies. Newly, there’s a winter challenge for Arizona. I write more about the Six-Pack of Peaks challenge in my first log from Mission Peak.

My log

Completed: December 25, 2018

It was a beautiful Christmas Day and… and instead of staying with family or friends and stuffing my belly with good food and Christmas candy as any other sane person would do, I got up long before sunrise and drove to Stinson Beach to hike up Mount Tamalpais.

That peak used to scare me; I did not believe I was fit enough or had the physical ability to hike all the way up from the sea level. But again, who says what you can and can’t do? And so I stopped thinking about my in/ability to get up there and just did it. And it was the best thing I could have done that Christmas.

The hike was just pure pleasure. The trails were so beautiful that I wanted to get back on them the moment I got back to my car. Mt Tamalpais instantly became the best hike I’ve done in 2018.

Trailhead: Stinson Beach

Trails:
Dipsea Trail
Steep Ravine Trail
Old Stagecoach Fire Road
Railroad Grade Fire Road
(and back)

The previous Six-Pack-of-Peaks-Challenge article is HERE.

You can connect with me on Facebook,  Instagram, and Twitter.

And have a day full of breathtaking views! 🙂

by Pina Marek

PHOTO: In The Name of Water | Yosemite May 2018

I take the gear from the shelf where all the pieces are patiently waiting for me, displayed neatly as if behind a front window of a store the exact same way I put them there a few weeks ago. I admit, I’m more gentle with my camping/backpacking gear than with my sole existence and entire life.

I find a place for each and every piece in the back of my car. Loading the boot makes me feel so excited that I have to start singing. In only a few days, I’ll be able to bring back my first report from Yosemite in the year of 2018!

♥

If I was able to sleep, I’d be woken up at half past two by the sharp beep-beep-beep of my alarm. But to be honest, sleep wasn’t really working for me – and what more, a few minutes before the alarm was supposed to go off, my friend Machi opened the door quietly and ‘woke me up’: “Pavuli-na… Pavuli-na? How do you get warm water in the shower?” And so I got up, turned the hot water on for her, brushed my teeth and started packing the last few necessities we needed for the weekend.

A quick shower and a breakfast later, a little bit after four in the morning, we were leaving our driveway and heading towards Yosemite.

LINKS TO ALL PHOTO LOCATIONS ARE BELOW THE GALLERY

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PHOTO LOCATIONS:
(links will open in new tabs)

  1. Half Dome from Half Dome View
  2. A mushroom in Crane Flat Campground
  3. Bridalveil Fall from Bridalveil Fall Viewing Point
  4. Yosemite Fall in the far away from John Muir Trail
  5. Vernal Fall and Merced River from the Vernal Fall Bridge
  6. Vernal Fall from the Mist Trail
  7. Merced River from the Vernal Falls Bridge
  8. A bear (!) from the top of Vernal Fall
  9. Merced River above the top of Vernal Fall
  10. Nevada Fall from below, Mist Trail
  11. Merced River from the top of Nevada Fall
  12. Merced River cañon from the top of Nevada Fall
  13. Drops of morning dew in Crane Flat Campground
  14. Yosemite Falls from Swinging Bridge
  15. Some ferns and sand nearby Yosemite Creek
  16. Half Dome from Cook’s Meadow
  17. Yosemite Falls from Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
  18. Some ferns and sand nearby Yosemite Creek
  19. A reflection in Merced River
  20. Yosemite Valley Chapel
  21. Falls on Tamarack and Cascade Creek from Big Oak Flat Road
  22. Big Oak Flat Road

You can find more posts from Yosemite HERE!

Connect with me on Facebook,  Instagram, and Twitter!

And have a spectacularly beautiful day 🙂

by Pina Marek