Hiking in Squaw Valley

The day of my birthday, we went for a hike up in Squaw Valley which, as it turns out, is open for hiking and 100% dog friendly during their no-snow season. From Base Camp, we took a gondola up to High Camp. Once we got up, we hiked around the area for about 3 miles. Our main hike while up on High Camp was to Squaw Peak. At about 9,000 feet, those hikes can be quite the challenge, but you are always rewarded by the amazing views from top!

After we hiked around up there, we decided that, instead of taking the gondola back to Base Camp, we would hike 3.5 miles and 2,000 vertical feet down to Base Camp. The hike was incredibly challenging as most of the terrain was either completely flat (rarely!), or very very steep. Needless to say, all 3 of us were very happy when we reached the village, drank some cold water and switched our hiking shoes for flip flops (or, in the case of Bomber, laid down on his bed!).

Hope you enjoy these photos. I definitely enjoyed walking around such gorgeous area, up in the clouds, surrounded by tall mountains and gorgeous forests!

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North Lake Tahoe

Last week was my 33rd birthday and we celebrated it by going camping to the North Lake Tahoe area. We left Friday morning and came back on Monday.

Our days in Tahoe were filled with lots of hiking, lots of time on the hammock, lots of reading, and a lot of hanging out by the fire, surrounded by gorgeous pine forests. I like camping for my birthday but, since it's in the middle of the hottest month of the year, I have to choose my campground wisely. Experience has taught me that camping at altitude gives you a well-needed respite from the August heat. This year, our campground, Mount Rose Campground, sat an an awesome 9,000 feet above sea level!

Here are some photos from our time in Tahoe. Soon, I'll post photos from our day trip to Squaw Valley but, in the meantime, enjoy these shots! For more fun photos, check my Etsy store, or visit my website.

 

Napa Valley Beauty

We made our last photo trip to Napa this past Saturday. I wanted to get there in the late afternoon in the hopes of catching the golden hour over the vineyards. The light was gorgeous that evening! I'd been wanting to stop on the side of the road by some vineyards that had bright red flowers adorning the beginning of each row of vines and this time we did!

I hope you enjoy these photos. For more fun photos, visit my Etsy store or go to my website.

South Lake Tahoe

Last weekend, a group of neighbors and us rented a cabin on South Lake Tahoe. This was my first time to Lake Tahoe and it was super fun! I was amazed at the incredible beauty of the place, with its pine forests, tall mountains and crystal clear lakes.

My birthday is in 2 weeks and we are headed back to Lake Tahoe again. This time, we'll be camping on North Lake Tahoe. I really can't wait to be there again, surrounded by such amazing natural beauty!

Here are some shots from the weekend. We spent a lot of time hanging out, but I still managed to get some shots from the area while we were out on hikes and hanging out at the beach. For more fun photos, go to my Etsy store or visit my website.

Echo Lake

Echo Lake Canoe

Echo Lake Dock

Echo Lake

Echo Lake Path

Fallen Leaf Lake

Fallen Leaf Lake Hike

Fallen Leaf Lake

Stumps at Fallen Leaf Lake

Fallen Leaf Lake - Beginning of Hike

South Lake Tahoe - Kiva Beach

Steps to Kiva Beach

Sunset over Mountains

Lake Tahoe as seen from the surrounding mountains

Truckee River on the way to Tahoe

Beach time at Fallen Leaf Lake

On the way to South Lake Tahoe

San Francisco Photos

A friend of mine was visiting San Francisco over the weekend and we went on several walks around the city. I always enjoy seeing San Francisco through the eyes of visitors. This time, I also took my camera with me and I snapped away. Here are some fun photos of the city I love!

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Walking in Half Moon Bay

Last Thursday, we went for a walk on the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail. This trail runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean on what used to be the Ocean Railroad. The trail is incredibly beautiful, and it offers amazing views of the Ocean, access to many State Beaches and a lot of opportunities for wildlife seeing, especially bird watching. We had walked this trail before, but we usually started it from Poplar Rd. and headed south. This time, we parked a bit sooner, on a dead end on Miramar St and walked south to the Half Moon Bay State Campground.  Each section of the trail is unique in beauty. This time we enjoyed the scenic views covered in light fog. A perfect northern CA summer evening!

I hope you enjoy these photos. For more fun photos, visit my Etsy store, or go to my website.