About pep

A fanciful mural near Almaden Lake appeared some time ago (mirrored by another, across the road). Biking past on a cloudy day, I realized c...

February started with a 4.3-mile hike in an otherwise closed area of the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve , a privilege I rarely skip wheneve...

I visited familiar parks in January, sometimes exploring new (to me) trails. There were some seasonal surprises at Picchetti Ranch , like th...

Continuing our tradition of a Christmas Day hike, a friend and I headed for some unfamiliar terrain. I thought the area would be mostly expo...

Couldn't pass up a chance to join docents leading a hike in a closed section of the Sierra Azul Preserve. Although I've joined other...

With my legs complaining during yesterday's hike , I wasn't sure I would want to hike today, and I certainly wasn't up for the ...

Expecting little color in the landscape this time of year, I was surprised to find something bright—a flower that was new to me. I had expla...

Today's hike introduced me to a section of Almaden Quicksilver Park that I had not yet explored. There are a few odd boulders that pop u...

As I pulled on my hiking boots at Bear Creek Redwoods , a couple climbed out of their pickup truck with a small dog. Thinking that dogs were...

I'd been surprised when a friend suggested Saratoga's Quarry Park for a future hike. I've passed it many times, never giving it...

Two days ago, I'd introduced a few of my former teammates to an oft-visited section of Almaden Quicksilver County Park that offers a go...