Clyde Minaret is the highest point of the rugged Minaret group of peaks near Mammoth Lakes. I have wanted to climb in the Minarets since I first viewed them from the summits of Mount Ritter and Banner Peak in 2007. There are 17 minarets in all, but most are rarely climbed. The rock in the…
Category: Trail Running
Mount Sill – North Couloir
Last Wednesday I drove 6+ hours to the eastern Sierra with big mountains on my mind, specifically Mount Sill and the Palisades. At 14,153 ft, Mount Sill is the sixth highest summit in California and the second highest in the rugged Palisades group. The peak is known as the best viewpoint in the Sierra with…
PCTR Pacifica 21k
On July 5th, I participated in yet another great Pacific Coast Trial Runs event, this time at Pacifica in San Pedro Valley County Park, just south of San Francisco. The park features pristine coastal mountain habitat, also known as coastal scrub, consisting of low evergreen shrubs and herbs. The event included distances of 9k/21k/30k/50k. All…
Twenty Photos on Skyline Ridge
Serena and I enjoyed a great hike on Skyline Ridge with great conditions for photography. Here is a collection of my twenty favorite shots. Click on the image for larger, clearer versions! More photos after the jump!
Napa State Park
Among the world famous wineries and charming towns of Napa Valley is a wooded state park with some trails for running. The park is surprisingly lush with dense forest including redwoods, oak, madrone, and firs. A nice six mile loop follows Ritchey Creek up the canyon and then ascends Coyote Peak on the way back….
Mount Saint Helena
Serena and I climbed Mount Saint Helena which is located at the head of the Napa Valley in the Myacamas Mountains and is one of the highest peaks in the Bay Area standing 4,344 ft. The mountain is largely located within Robert Louis Stevenson State Park and is ascended via a 5.2 mile walk (10.4…
Thompson Peak, Trinity Alps
Topping out at just over 9,000 feet, Thompson Peak is the highest point in the Trinity Alps, which is a section of the Klamath Mountain Range in northwestern California. The peak is at the headwaters of the most rugged drainage in the Trinity Alps, the Canyon Creek drainage, where several peaks rise above 8,800 feet….
Best Bay Area Hill Climbs
If you are looking for some E (elevation) in the Bay Area, this post provides a great list of hill climbs, including famous mountains like Diablo and Tamalpais, but also lesser known trails and summits. These ascents will not only get your heart pumping, but will also inspire you with the beauty of nature. The…
Mount Diablo
Yesterday I attended PCTR’s Mount Diablo event. The 25k distance was part of the La Sportiva Mountain Cup series so I helped answer questions at a La Sportiva booth. I also met fellow La Sportiva Mountain Running Team members and watched friends have great performances on this unusually cool June morning. I arrived at the…
Los Trancos Trail
The section of trail along Los Trancos Creek is definitely a highlight, but the 7.5 mile loop also offers meadows filled with wildflowers, enchanting hardwood forest, and beautiful vistas of Portola Valley, Palo Alto, and the Bay. Here are some more photos: More photos of views, wildflowers, and a snake after the jump and be…
Leor Pantilat's Adventures