California Hiking - you will want to go every weekend!
There are a number of different types of trails to hike in California. During certain times of the year you can take your choice of mountain hiking or desert hiking. It will be so enjoyable that you may want to go for a week and try different trails or maybe you just have a weekend available. You can take your pick of hiking around rivers, glaciers, deserts, and the coastline and in the grasslands.
If you choose Mount Tallac you will have a 9.4 mile round trip hike with elevations reaching 9,735 ft. with a gain of 3,255 ft during the hike. Make sure you bring lots of water, you are working hard and your body needs to have the fluids replenished to sustain the healthy level you need for this type of hike. There are both wooded areas and flatlands for you to enjoy on this hike. It is considered to be one of the best hiking trails at Lake Tahoe where you will enjoy the beautiful views from the summit. When you get to the switchbacks toward the top you will experience a real change to hot, just be ready for it.
If you choose to hike Upper Yosemite Falls you will be on a 7.2 mile round trip hike with an elevation at the summit of 6,526 ft and an elevation gain of 2,700 ft. This hike is best if done from May to July because the waterfall is at its full force during this time and the view is beautiful. This hike will take you through a section of switchbacks through the forest and then you will enter the flat area of the trial with your first view of the falls. The mist from the falls will be heavy as you get closer and then you will encounter another set of switchbacks before the summit. These are very steep and the most difficult area to climb so be prepared to work hard here.
Let’s switch areas and go to Mosaic Canyon and look at the hike that is available there. The trail is just 2.5 miles round trip. It is best to take this one from December to March to avoid the extreme heat of the desert. Be sure to bring plenty of water, you’ll need it. While hiking on the mountains is fabulous so is canyon hiking. The canyon formations are beautiful. You may even see some desert life on your hike. This is the hottest place in the US so be sure to pack in lots of water..regardless of the time of year.
Back to the mountains and this time it’s the really high hike. Prepare for Mt. Shasta, the most challenging trail in California. The trial is 12 miles round trip and the summit is 14,179 ft with an elevation gain of 7,259 ft. You will work on this trail to see the beauty. The time to plan this hike is from May to mid July due to the unpredictable weather in the spring and the lava rocks and rolling boulders that come crashing down the mountain after the snow melt in the summer. Not only is this more than a hike, you will have issues with altitude sicknes if you are not careful so make sure you go with a partner for safety and practical reasons. Read all you can about this hike before you begin, it’s not one for the faint of heart.
Mt. Shasta offers you a different type of hike. You will want to bring your sunscreen, sunglasses, an ice axe and shelter. Since you won’t have much warning if the weather is going to turn on you take the shelter to offer protection when, and if, you need it. Bring along your crampons, helmet, summit pass, and winter boots and wear extra layers of cloths, and again, plenty of water. Don’t plan on drinking snow melt around Helen’s Lake since it is contaminated by human and animal urine…yummy!
Another of the biggest challenges for a hiker is Half Dome which is a 16 mile round trip hike with an elevation gain of 4,800 ft to reach the summit of 8,842. You will need to plan this one for between late May and early October. Hearing about this hike at Yosemite National Park has brought people from all over the world here to take the challenge. Because of the difficulty of this climb (hike) if you aren’t in superior physical shape with lots of hiking experience behind you, pass on this one. You will face switchbacks that are rocky causing many ankles to be injured, be careful. Nevada Falls is the halfway point on this hike. When you reach it you should take some time to assess your strengths and skills before continuing on. The climb gets tougher from here on and if you aren’t ready for it not only will you be miserable, you can expect to get hurt. If you aren’t in good shape, turn around at this point and go back, you’ve still done more than most people. If you decide to go on know that the hike will be very steep, excruciatingly hard and long before you reach the back of Half Dome rock. The switchbacks assault your body during this whole phase and you aren’t done yet! Half Dome cables will both shock and send fear into you (at least they should) so assess your ability to go on. If you are sure you can, the success of the climb will give you a fabulous view of Yosemite Valley below and bragging rights for the rest of your life!
Source: family activity
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