Fun With Chris and Jane

It was Labor Day, and time once again for Chris and Jane’s Excellent Adventure, the annual hike we lead with family and friends in tow. Last year’s event was canceled since Chelsea was potentially going to deliver Ollie a month early, so we chose for this year’s destination the same one we were to have hiked last year: Mt. Pinos, reached via a 2-mile dirt access road, followed by Sawmill Mountain, the next summit 1-1/2 miles further west. We hiked…

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This year’s Excellent Adventure targeted 1,347′ Valencia Peak in Montana de Oro State Park near Morro Bay. From our advance research, we expected this prominent peak to yield stunning views extending from San Simeon to Point Sal – unfortunately, the weather had other ideas. Although San Luis Obispo was sunny, we quickly encountered overcast skies and low clouds blanketing the coastal areas. Having never paid much attention to the local peaks on previous visits here, we were uncertain what the…

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The second annual Excellent Adventure took place at Sherman Peak, a 9,909′ summit northeast of Kernville. At 2-1/2 miles, the trail is not very long and ascends most gradually, except for the last 1/2 mile or so which switchbacks up the peak’s east face. The hike was great – we managed to lose the trail about halfway in through a burned area that had been overgrown with brush, but we worked our way around the obstacles and easily found the…

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We had so much fun on our hike up Sirretta Peak that we came up with the idea of hosting a group hike on our way back to camp. Having done Sunday Peak as a family when our kids were little, it seemed a great option for the inaugural Excellent Adventure. Located northeast of Glenville, Sunday Peak (elev. 8,295′) is reached via a short but steep 3-mile round-trip hike that offers a shaded trail and 360-degree views. We met up…

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