She walked and hiked with us in 2015. More than a 100 Miles!

Borrowing a line from ‘Inside Out’, we have been committing the ‘nature walk’ fun into Tara’s core memory recently.  The fun of watching plants, trees and flowers; bunnies, lizards, occasional snakes and coyotes; butterflies, variety insects  and birds; sea lions, dolphins, crabs and colorful anemones  are all alive in her  ‘wildlife island’ now .

There were occasions she realized that we are having more fun than her. That’s when we throw in ice-creams,TV times and play dates into her goodie bag to keep it going. Also a camelback backpack carried her favorite treats to eat – GOGO apple squeeze, fig bars, nuts and lychee jelly cups, to name a few.  Most part, she got busy exploring things on the trail.

We had a good family time settling issues, playing games, arguing and listening to everyone’s stories. We watch Tara’s personality unfolds and learnt new things from her. A typical Saturday morning hiking took 3-4 hours. After the hike we go for our lunch in a restaurant and then an ice-cream in Strickland’s.

We started the hike/trail in late January.  It’s a lot less tiring to hike in the winter. As we progress in to the spring, the hills turn green and then flowers come out. By June, the summer sets in and the sun exposure is unforgiving. Starting early in the morning and taking the trails that parallel a beach helps during this season to keep it cool.

We set a modest goal in the beginning of the year. 100 miles of nature trail in 2015 and we achieved that within seven months. Here is the list and a few pictures from each trip.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Bommer Ridge Trail, City of Laguna Beach, OC, CA.
Date: 24th January 2015
Miles: 5.4 (8.7KM)
Note: Moderate in difficulty level, ocean view from the ridge and possible steep rocks to climb. Some matured trees and shade in canyons. $3 parking fee, trails are closed after a rain.

Peters Canyon Trail

City of Orange, OC, CA.
Date: 31st January 2015
Miles: 5 (8.1KM)
Note: A lake loop and camel back mountains are easy to moderate in difficulty level. Tara’s favorite elephant trunk is here – a steep incline that she loves to run. It’s a popular trail in city of Orange.  $3 parking fee, trails are closed just after a rain.

Crystal Cove State Park

Red Route.
City of New Port Beach, OC, CA.
Date: 7th February 2015
Miles: 6.8 (11 KM)
Note: Moderate.  Best time is spring and then it will be full of mustard flowers and covered in yellow. There is a $15 parking fee (Annual CA State park pass valid). Great views of the ocean and a mix of canyon trail and hikes. Breakfast in the nearby Ruby’s diner on Route 1 after a hike with ocean view is priceless.

Barbara Lake Trail- Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

City of Laguna Beach, OC, CA.

Date: 13th February 2015
Miles: 3.4 (5.5KM)
Note: An easy trail through   Barbara Lake and then hiking a hill and back. On Hwy 133 towards Laguna beach.  You could park at Nick’s nature center and then take the tunnel and it will add another mile. $3 parking fee.

Bommer Canyon Trail

City of Irvine, OC, CA.
Date: 1st March 2015
Miles: 4 (6.4 KM)
Note: Easy and nothing special trail. City conducts guided full moon watch nature walks in this trail. Parking is free at the trail-head.   It is possible to extend this trail all the way to Laguna Beach and add lot more miles. We hit this trail on a rainy day and that added some fun.

Boat Canyon Trail

City of Laguna Beach, OC, CA.
Date: 7th March 2015
Miles: 6.5 (10.5 KM)
Note:  Moderate to strenuous. Our favorite trail of all. Excellent view of Ocean most of the time. Great canyons and mountains for a good cardio workout.  Free parking near the Laguna residential areas in Dartmoore street.

Irvine Cove/El Moro Trail

City of Newport  Beach, OC, CA.
Date: 14th  March 2015
Miles: 3 (4.8 KM)
Note:  Moderate. This is EL More Canyon in Crystal Cove Park.  Beach access is shortest from this trail head. We normally take the canyon, hike up and come down and rest in the beach. $15 Parking.

Run for Cure -PCRF

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation 5K Run, Irvine Valley College,Irvine, OC, CA.
Date: 29th March 2015
Miles: 3.1 (5 KM)
Note:  Tara’s first 5K run just after her 6th birthday, for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. She also raised $300 from friends and it was quite an experience. Sheena’s first 5K too.

Crystal Cove Beach Walk

City of Newport Beach, OC, CA.
Date: 12th April 2015
Miles: 2.8 (4.5 KM)
Note:  Easy. Crystal Cove beach has trail that runs parallel to the beach through the nature preserves and you could step down at where the cottages are and make a loop of 3 or a lollipop of 5 miles. Extremely relaxing and needs a light jacket most of the time.

Reef Point/Trail- Crystal Cove

City of Newport Beach, OC, CA.
Date: 16th April 2015
Miles: 2.4 (3.9 KM)
Note:  Easy. Reef Point is in between the cottages and EL Moro. Step hike down to the beach.

Boat Canyon Trail

City of Laguna Beach, OC, CA.
Date: 18th April 2015
Miles: 6.5 (10.5 KM)
Note:  Second time with some friends accompanied this time. We took an unofficial canyon route this time and it was a great escape from the sun.

Point Lobos Trail-Monterey

City of Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA.
Date: 27th April 2015
Miles: 3.5 (5.6 KM)
Note: Easy.  Part of our Monterey visit. A scenic trail around the pacific rims. It has rock formations, cliffs, sea otters and great photo opportunities.

Big Sur - Waterfall trail

City of Big Sur, CA.
Date: 28th April 2015
Miles: 3.2 (5 KM)
Note: Easy.  The amazing Big Sur stop and a walk to the strips to see the waterfall and back in to the picnic areas.

Crystal Cove Blue Route

City of Newport beach, OC, CA.
Date: 9th May 2015
Miles: 5 (8 KM)
Note: Moderate. Another trail in Crystal Cove with Rattlesnake and East Cut trails combined.

Camarillo Loop- Nix Nature Center 

City of Laguna Beach, OC, CA.
Date: 30th May 2015
Miles: 6 (9.7 KM)
Note: Moderate. Park at the Nix Nature center and it was quite an exhausting walk at this point tin time. Evenings recommended on a sunny warm day.

Boat Canyon Trail 

City of Laguna Beach, OC, CA.
Date: 21st June 2015
Miles: 6.5 (10.5 KM)
Note:  Third time with friends.

San Clemente Surf Beach/Pier Trail

City of San Clemente, OC, CA.
Date: 14th June 2015
Miles: 4 (6.4 KM)
Note: Easy. Starting at the State beach and walk north towards Dana point.  Dunes and Pier are attractions. $15 parking.

Quail Hill Trail

City of Irvine, OC, CA.
Date: Many .
Miles: 3 (4.8 KM)
Note:  Easy. Rain or shine , this is our favorite backyard  trail with friends and family.

Phoenix Vacation Trails

Camel Back-Cholla Trail, Phoenix, AZ.
Date: 23rd July 2015
Miles: 3.5 (5.6 KM)
Note: Moderate. Part of our Phoenix trip. Waited until the sun to set and the hike was steep. Tara says this is the first rock climbing she did without a rope. A popular trail enjoyed watching the locals.

Cathedral Rock Hike, Sedona, AZ
Date: 24th July 2015
Miles: 2.5 (4 KM)
Note: Moderate.  Rangers encouraged us. Mostly rocks to climb and we stopped halfway. Tara wanted to climb all the way up but we discouraged her because it was hard to keep-up with her. These are a couple of best spent hours in Phoenix.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, AZ
Date: 25th July 2015
Miles: 3 (4.8 KM)
Note: Easy.  Great Cacti preserve with miles of trail.  Very impressive collection of desert plants, wonderful sunset and evening. It’s free!

Caspers Wilderness Park, OC, CA

Date: 18th Sep 2015
Miles: 6
Note: Moderate to difficult . A great park with lot of cacti fruits to much . Nice camping grounds as well. With this one we crossed over 100 miles this year. So it was a nice finish.