Mount Saint Helena Trail

There are some days when you just need to get out and absorb the energy from the forest. Today was one of those days.

I left my apartment early in the morning and arrived at the trailhead to hike Mount Saint Helena Trail around 7.30 AM. There are two small parking lots on both sides of the road, and I was one of the first 5 people to park there. The hike started in the depth of the forest with some traffic noise - a strange combination.

I wore my brand new hiking shoes that my mother got me for my birthday. I got the same pair that I have been wearing since 2016, Merrell Women's Moab 2 Vent Mid Hiking Boot. They felt comfortable from the first moment I put them on.

The day was starting out really nice and warm, and I quickly took my jacket off. Finally, the summer is coming! Since moving from Southern California to the Bay area, I've been cold a lot more than what I have become used to in SoCal.

The first mile or so of the hike was fully shaded in the woods, but right after Silverado Mine, the trail became fully exposed to the sun. The views were amazing from there on.

On the way up there were very few people - one of the benefits of getting up and starting hiking early. I got to the top with 360 views of Calistoga and the valleys.

I spent 20 minutes enjoying the cool breeze and recorded these short videos:

The way down was easy (duh!), but the number of people hiking up increased significantly. I was glad to be on the way down. Another wonderful hike in NorCal!