Mount Tallac - South Lake Tahoe

I attempted to hike Mt. Tallac in South Lake Tahoe in September 2020, but because of the trails being closed, I was not able to do it. It almost felt like a failure to me back then, so this trail has been on my mind (and bucket list) ever since.

I finally decided to do it. Why now? Perfect weather conditions - no fires yet, warm weather and no snow.

For the 2021 season, no permits are required for a day hike, even those that you obtain at the trailhead. I woke up early in the morning and got to the trail around 6.45 AM. The small parking lot was already full, but there was still space on the side of the road. I parked, got my 4 L of water, a protein shake and 2 cups of coffee and was on my way. I was determined. So were other people. I was kind of relieved having people around because the last time I was there, there were only a few cars there. 

The weather was nice and cool, much better than yesterday at 10 AM. I really do like starting early! After a bit of elevation gain, the trail flattened and offered some amazing views.

The trail continued with moderate elevation gain. It was really rocky, so to take pictures, I really needed to stop, but most of the hike was a challenge navigating in the sea of rocks.

The first lake was at about 2 mile mark; it looked crystal clear, peaceful.

The second lake was a bit smaller and quite rocky.

And then the fun began... The next few miles were pure cardio while trying to avoid falling (mostly successfully, except once). My backpack felt heavy with water, so my motivation was to drink as much as possible. I felt great! Maybe because of the hike the day before or it was the cooler weather, but I was completely prepared for the elevation gain. 

Coffee was just as delicious as on the hike yesterday, a true pleasure filled with caffeine when you need it most. The protein shake which I got for free at some giveaway was better than I thought it would be. Limited sugar, chocolaty flavor - pure delight with protein.

I continued the hike and the views emerged yet again.

The end was now in sight. Just a little bit longer...

The reward was the sense of accomplishment to have finally completed this trail, and also the incredible views. Almost cloudless blue sky made the lake look deep blue. It's hard to describe the beauty of nature or even capture it in photos of videos.

Ralston Peak - South Lake Tahoe

It was time to disconnect... I packed my bag, hired a pet sitter and drove to Lake Tahoe for the weekend. Ok, ok, I did a little bit more planning than this, but it would not have fit in one sentence as above.

I also booked a hotel after extensive research on Google and AirBnb, found a Meetup group that was hiking Ralston Peak, really by accident when looking through different hikes, signed up and then decided in the morning to start before the official start time of 11 AM. 

The drive took around 3 hours, and by 10 AM I was safely parked in a dirt parking lot of Ralston Peak's trailhead. Parking was really limited, and I got one of the few last spots. Typically, I don't start hiking that late in the morning, but because of the Meetup group and 3 hour drive, I was ok with that. The group was late, so I made an executive decision to start solo. 

It was already hot. The heat wave, although not as bad as the one from a week ago, had the temperatures up in the high 70s at 10 AM. This was going to be a hard hike. At 7 miles and 2,800 ft elevation gain, the trail was going to offer a real good workout, if nothing else.

The first two miles were relatively easy - around 500-600 ft elevation gain per mile. The trail offered nice shade, but the heat was pretty serious.

As the hike continued into the third mile, the difficulty quickly doubled to over 1,000 ft elevation gain per mile. Shade was gone with an occasional tree here and there offering some reprieve. I hate sweating, but there was no other option (duh, as if I had an option!). I brewed a cup of coffee before I left home and poured it in the mason jar to get some caffeine boost on the trail. Black coffee, nothing else. It tasted heavenly now!

I had to stop pretty often catching my breath. It was a combination of high elevation, heat and average shape I was in that contributed to the difficulty of this hike. I got lazy at the gym ignoring all cardio workouts focusing only on weight training. This was helpful, but on this hike cardio was the key.

I finally got to the top, and the views rewarded my efforts.

I sat on the edge (ok, I am exaggerating, it was not really an edge, just the top of the mountain) staring at the broad space in front of my. A guy next to me wanted to record every moment of his experience by setting his camera to a continuing clicking mode. I judgingly looked at him for disturbing everyone's peace. Two vivacious ladies further away had a loud conversation about something instead of just enjoying peace and quiet of the present moment. I wondered why people are so inconsiderate...

The group leader finally arrived and introduced himself. I told him I was heading down already and wished him a good hike back.

On the way back, I thanked the universe (and my mother) for the shoes I got from Merrell's for my birthday. Good traction was essential going downhill on a sandy terrain.

My knees were not happy, but at the bottom of the mountain I finally was able to sit down in my car and have a sandwich (also good planning ;). My hotel (or should I say, motel) was only 5 minutes away. Strawberry Lodge was the cheapest option, and I got a room there without a bathroom. Unfortunately, there was a wedding planned that day, so I knew peace would be hard to come by. I took a shower in a pretty nasty public tub (it was a shower nevertheless!), got changed and headed to South Lake Tahoe to get dinner.

I was not very hungry, but stopped at The Naked Fish to get sushi. I ordered my typical Philly roll and a seaweed salad which was quite impressive. The roll, on the other hand, was average at best, but with a bit of dry sake it tasted much better. But who the heck dilutes soy sauce???

I walked around the town for a bit noticing how things have changed from just 9 months ago when I went to Lake Tahoe on the way from Lassen National Park. The streets were crowded with people, lots of restaurants reopened as if COVID was just a bad dream. I resisted the urge to buy a caramel chocolate-covered apple at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory's franchise (450 calories? seriously?) and drove back to the hotel where the wedding awaited.

I turned on the fan attempting to sleep, but with no air conditioning, thin walls and noise of wedding on one side of the room and road traffic on the other, I barely got a few hours of sleep. I was to wake up at 6 am to hike Mt. Tallac!

Yelp Yolo County Wineries Passport

As a member of Yelp Elite, I had a great opportunity to try out wine at smaller wineries in Yolo County. Having recently relocated from Southern California, I didn't know much about Yolo County or its wineries. I thought most of great wine was produced in Napa, but after trying every winery on the list, I realized I was mistaken.

Berryessa Gap - I visited their tasting room on Main street. It has both indoor and outdoor areas. The inside was pleasantly dark and had various seating options from bar height tables to comfy lounge chairs and regular restaurant  furniture. It had a great casual feel where you don't need to dress up, but can if you choose to. Their wines were good, some mature, other still left with some time to develop. My favorite was 2018 Zinfandel, which was completely different from 2017 that I had a chance to try because of another gentleman buying the bottle for his table. I bought a bottle. Service was incredible. The associate was very attentive, appeared to be passionate about wine and knowledgeable to describe flavors you can expect. I also admired their clean bathroom (yes, I know, who the heck reviews the bathroom?!). Overall, a great experience. One recommendation I would have for the business is to get different, lower height chairs for their bar-height tables.

Elevation 10 - I made reservation ahead of time, and good thing I did because 30 min after I sat down they closed the tasting room due to capacity (I visited before 6/15). The tasting room is located in the dining paradise of what looked like a mall for wine and food lovers. Just like at Berryessa Gap, seating offered a bunch of options. The associate was really passionate about the wines they're making and provided a brief history on the family who owns the winery. She was prompt with filling our glasses with new wines as we progressed through the tasting menu. I can't say I had a favorite one, but I really enjoyed the sip of port and a chocolate in the end. No bottle purchased since I didn't have a wine that stood out to me.

Great Bear Vineyards - I had high expectations since everyone in the comments mentioned this winery. I made a reservation and arrived on a pretty hot summer day. There was no indoor seating available, but the outdoor tables were nicely arranged allowing space and privacy. Wooden tables gave the space its rustic feel. At the entrance, I was greeted by one of the owners who offered a bouquet of lavender (part of the Yelp passport package, typically $10). I sat at one of the available tables and was served with the first wine by a friendly associate. The atmosphere was laid back and relaxing. A couple of fans or misters could have helped with the heat, but this is Yolo county! I really enjoyed talking with the owner to took the time to explain how they started the winery. My favorite wine was their Petit Sirah that is served cold. It was an everyday kind of dinner wine - low sugar, light and did not leave any tannins in your taste buds. I purchased a bottle. The second favorite was their Zinfandel - more flavorful and sweeter than Petit Sirah, but not as sweet and powerful as a Pinot Noir. Overall, good experience, but I would recommend some cooling options for outdoor seating.

Grindstone Wines - This winery seemed to be located in the middle of nowhere with views of open fields. The outdoor area is separated into two - one is attached to the building and is right on the porch of it, and the other is further back separated by some trees - there was a private event there. I found the space well-utilized, but it did have a more industrial feel and appeared to have been work in progress. Some field equipment was visible from the tasting area, although this is understandable given the fact it is a working winery. With that said, I would recommend creating a more private space with open views. Their wines were good, but felt like most of them lacked maturity, which may be explained by the newness of the winery. Service was efficient, and the seating was comfortable. I also would recommend some sort of misters for a hot day.

Matchbook - This was my favorite winery from those on Yolo Passport. Everything from décor to views impressed me. Let's begin with the views. The outdoor area overlooks the vineyards, and since it's located on a hill, the views are truly incredible. Landscaping is top notch with two fountains flowing on either sides of the stage. Yes, there is a stage for local events. They also have a food truck on certain days. Comfortable lounge chairs and couches invited you to sit there never wanting to leave. Now onto wines. They produce several different labels, each having its distinct quality. I found every wine on the tasting menu amazing. From initial sip I fell in love with 2019 Mossback Russian River Pinot Noir, rich and flavorful, but also mature and low sugar. One bottle for me! Another wine I loved was 2016 Tinto Rey Tempranillo, light and moderately dry. This is wine I can drink every day. Service was incredible. The associate was attentive and friendly, but allowing space and time to enjoy both the views and the wines. I would definitely want to come back to this one!

Beautiful view of the vineyards

Seka Hills - I originally was planning to go to their main location here, but ended up doing a tasting at Old Sugar Mill, right where Elevation 10 was located. The outdoor area was really pleasant. Couches and tables with umbrellas made the visit comfortable and pleasant. Their wines were much more impressive than Elevation 10, fuller body, mature and flavorful. I still did not find my favorite wine there, so no bottles purchased here.

Taber Ranch - This is a beautiful winery! Lots of private seating, plenty of space to walk around, great landscaping and a fountain in the distance. There is also a large indoor area that is probably very highly used on hot days. I came there on a Friday, and there were very few people there. I loved the peace and quiet! Their wines were good. I was really looking forward to their food, but the pizza was only available on certain days. I am not sure if there was anything else. This seems to be a great venue for events and larger gatherings. I enjoyed how spread out it was. I would come back on their "pizza" days with a group of people.

Last, but not least, Turkovich Family Wines - Another winery in Winters, CA right in the heart of the town. This was the first winery I went to for this event, and it did not disappoint. Friendly associates knowledgeable about wines, pleasant atmosphere with lots of natural light coming through large windows. Most of the indoor seating was bar-height tables and chairs, but the area in the back had lots of comfortable lounge chairs outdoors. While this is a small venue, space is well-utilized allowing some sort of privacy. One of my favorite wines was 2019 Viognier that I ended up taking home. I could see myself coming back here when in town for dining.

Annadel Park - Lawndale and Schultz Trail Loop

Since I have to work some weekends, I get an opportunity to take a day off during the week. This Thursday was one of my days off. I joined a group of Sonoma county hikers to explore Annadel Park. Just half an hour from my home, the park is large enough to house several loops of changing trails. There is no one right way to explore the park.

This hike was a 10 mile hike covering several legs of different trails - Lawndale, Schultz, Ridge and Marsh. The trails are pretty well-marked, but I felt much more confident using Alltrails. Several times I had to refer to the app to take the right turn, even with a hike leader being experienced.

Most of the hike takes place in the woods, and pine trees sporadically appear in the beginning of the hike, but the last mile is really in the woods. The trail was rocky and pretty difficult to walk on requiring all attention to be absorbed by it.

I took a few pictures though.

Overall, a decent hike in the close proximity of my place, but not something that I would want to repeat over and over again. On to the next one!

Bear Valley Trail To Coastal Trail

After 4 years, I was going back to Point Reyes National Seashore hiking Bear Valley Trail to Coastal Trail. The weather was pleasant with nice sunshine and almost no cloud cover. I arrived at the parking lot near Bear Valley Visitor Center after an hour and fifteen minute drive from Napa and met with the group.

I wasn't feeling really well today. The night before I could not really stay asleep, so I definitely did not feel at 100%, but really wanted to go on this hike that has been on my list of "to-do" hikes since I moved to the Bay area.

Luckily, the hike itself was rather easy. It started out in the woods with a wide pathway and pine trees everywhere. With very little elevation gain (under 150 ft per mile throughout the hike) it was a stroll in the forest.

The last mile of the hike was mostly exposed to the sun as we approached the shoreline. Soon enough the views of the ocean opened up, and it was so bright compared to the shady hike in the forest that it felt like it was a completely different hike.

Bay area hikes are really amazing. They are so different from anything in Southern California, and I really love the pine treed and redwoods here.