20 Lakes Basin

This past summer I took two trips to Twenty Lakes Basin, one with my son and the other with a few local hiking comrades. Twenty Lakes Basin is located near Tioga Pass which is the north entrance to Yosemite National Park. These pictures were taken in early August which gives you an idea of how much snow there was this year in a record snowfall year. I have never seen so much snow in the Sierras in all my years of hiking.

A Great Day on the Central Coast

Today, Alan, his son Justin, and I hiked to the top of Valencia Peak which is located in Montana de Oro State Park. The views from the top were spectacular and wildflowers were in abundance. The hike to the top is steep in places but is accessible to just about anyone who works out two or three times a week or is willing to grind it out. While hiking down the mountain we spotted a point along the coast that was covered in yellow wildflowers and when we reached the bottom we decided to check it and was I sure glad. The yellow covered point along the coast was accessible via the Point Buchon Trail which is a relatively new trail just south of Montana de Oro. The coastline along this trail is absolutely spectacular, especially when the wildflowers are in bloom. Great day, good company, and stunning scenery. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Point Buchon Trail

Today was the first time I hiked the Point Buchon Trail. The views along this hike were stunning. Point Buchon is a trail along the coast just a bit south of Montana de Oro State Park. The coastline along this stretch reminds me of the rocky and rugged coastline north of Bodega Bay on the Northcoast. During the springtime the bluffs are covered with a carpet of yellow flowers and poppies which makes the short loop walk spectacular, some of the best on the Central Coast. Point Buchon Trail is currently owned and maintained by PG /E and is open to the public Wednesday through Monday. The trail can be reached by the same road that takes you to the bluff trail at Montana de Oro. If you like Montana de Oro, you will love the Poin Buchon trail.

Large sinkhole along the trail