Ecology Cooking Tip

In the morning, I boil a pot of water for tea.  Yum!   I pour the extra boiling water over my sponges in the sink.  Also:

• I put my sponges in the dishwasher when I run it.
• I recently read in our local paper that another way to disinfect your sponges (which can harbor a TON of bacteria) is to put them in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds.
• The other recommendation was use one sponge for dishes and another for cleaning the kitchen to prevent cross-contamination.

What’s your favorite kitchen tip?

Trail Tip: Better Bow Knot Improves your Footing & Performance on the Trail

A hiking buddy taught me this tip and I’ve noticed a significant difference in how my hiking shoes perform on the trail.

This 2 minute video contains one of our very favorite trail tips.
The secret to learning to do this quickly and effortlessly  is to loop the lace around your thumb, leaving enough space to easily pull the other loop through.   Be sure and watch the whole thing, as there is an important caution.
Enjoy!

Late Spring Hiking & Exploring

Some photos from this past week.   This morning we started our hike from Muir Woods.  We saw a mama deer and 2 fawns trotting down the stream – yes, in the middle of the stream that winds thru Muir Woods.  The photos are lousy – but if you click to enlarge, you’ll see that they’re actually IN the stream.  We also saw a turkey in the trail gobbling at us.  The glowing Paintbrush below is our Coastal variety and the color is from the sunshine.  None of my photos are ever touched up, WYSIWYG.

		Click any photo to enlarge.Click the back button to return to post.

The columbines were from my Sawyer Camp Bike Ride.   The first photo (Tidytips) are from Mori Point which is also the scenic photo.  Right now, Mori Point, in Pacifica, is bursting with color.

Spring Flowers, April 2012

Spectacular year for irises, literally hillsides full of flowers – the best year I’ve ever seen!  We’ve been enjoying the abundance from recent rains.

…and others – vetch, mallow & manzanita bells (the ground was so white with bells, it looked like snow).

It’s so much easier to look around and enjoy this abundance when we hike with poles.    As always, click on any picture to enlarge, click back button to return to post.  Enjoy!

Handy auto tool to help prevent falls

This lever fits easily in the car door latch  (when open).  It’s an ideal gift for anyone who has trouble getting in and/or out of a car.  Universal fit, portable, supports up to 300 lbs, lifetime guarantee.   It’s really cool!

Practice Hikes: Using Trekking Poles to explore EB Parks

The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is the largest park district in the nation; second largest in the world.  Every 2 months, they have an activity guide called Regional In Nature “RIN” in which they list an amazing array of classes/workshops/events, including a variety of PoleWalking classes and practice hikes/walks…presented and taught by yours truly   My class sizes are limited to facilitate optimal learning.  They fill fast, so reserve early.

Friday’s Practice Pole Hike at Tilden Park’s Botanic Garden was magical.  Go NOW!  It’s Free!  Glorious blooming flowers smile at you!   The creeks are roaring and you get to explore the entire State of CA (botanically) in about 2 hours.  Stop in the nature center, say howdy,  and see the cool pine cone display.    EBRPD staff are friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely interested in helping you have the best possible experience in the park you visit.  Above are the Fawn Lillies and the Giant Wake Robin (Trillium).  Click on any picture to enlarge then the back button to return to post.  

Below, in photo #3 Helen’s poles are behind her on the stairs – they would support her better if they were out in front of her.  I met Helen at Yosemite Conservancy’s Spring Forum (scroll down to see that blog post).  At 85, she wants to keep hiking so I encouraged to her come to the Botanic Gardens Practice Hike.  It was a lovely afternoon in a spectacular setting   We wandered all around the Gardens exploring and marveling at our CA abundance.

The next day, Saturday, was our 3rd time this year at Black Diamond Mines Regional Park.  May-Oct we head to cooler climes.  But right now, it’s spectacular.  Take the Mine Tour

The morning Basic Skills Class was a great intro for 11 Happy Hikers.   We cover the basics, learn (or re-learn) how to walk with attitude and spinal rotation, then we pick a hill with reasonable footing and march up and down.  We practice powering up the hill and supporting our joints on the down.  We lengthen, then lengthen again, again and again until we know the OPTIMAL length to use on downhill.  It’s not until you know what TOO long is, that you will feel what long enough does for your knees.  This phenomenon is something you really want to experience.  Having good hand and body position is essential, but pole length is an important factor in achieving optimal performance when hiking downhill.

On our afternoon Practice PoleHike, we started and ended with the steep mine tailings – working on our footing and doing lots of adjusting to FEEL the optimal length on the downs.  Then we wandered over to the Visitor Center Mine which is OPEN after a long closure.  We watched the historical short video on the area then headed out on the trail on a gorgeous clear day.   The views were stunning!

Even when the rest of the East Bay is a mud-fest, the sandstone here provides good footing.  Our hike is somewhat challenging and gives us lots of opportunities to practice pushing up with power and picking our way down.  With practice, confidence improves.  Everyone has some homework to do and is encouraged to practice what feels a bit awkward.  We provide many tools for your hiking toolbox and every class is different, which is why some folks take classes again – to refresh, to learn additional skills and to expand their hiking horizons!

Spring Hiking in Northern CA

Spring Hiking is HERE!   Interesting phenomenon this year.  More varieties, less abundance.  Lack of rain delayed our usual suspects.  Big rains came and everyone is HAPPY!   Here’s a sampling from our Easter Sunday morning hike on Mt. Diablo:   Larkspur, Paintbrush & Western Wallflower (remember Pinnacles?):

followed by a study in Henderson Shooting Stars, which would normally be completely dried out by now.

From last week’s foray on Mt. Tam  (does any AdventureBuddy not know that I’m OBSESSED with newts?):

Also from Mt. Diablo:   These next 2 photos show the wild Clematis single flower as well as the large bushes that are in full and glorious bloom.

AdventureBuddies UNITE, get outside and check for ticks!

Yosemite Conservancy’s Spring Forum

AdventureBuddies Jayah and Bob traveled to Yosemite for Spring Forum, a yearly event hosted by the Yosemite Conservancy.   Spring Forum is a day of adventures, lectures, hikes and Yosemite experiences.  We taught 3 classes:

• Using POLES for Hiking & Outdoor Exercise – with a hike to Lower Yosemite Falls
• Fitness for the Trail (keeping people OUTSIDE)
• Using POLES for Balance & Mobility

Here are some photos of the day:  (be sure to click on the first one especially, then hit the back button to return to post)

On the way up we were in awe at the orange hillsides covered with California Golden Poppies.  We got up there a day early and hiked to the top of Yosemite Falls.    This is a hike where we DEEPLY appreciate our trekking poles.  Hiking up the rocky terrain we were able to get WAY more power.  Plus, being at sea level the day before, we needed all the help we could get    The downhill was significantly easier with our “extra legs.”   We were careful to put our feet, when possible, on flat surfaces as that type of terrain is real ankle twister.

The day of Spring Forum was unique for me.  Growing up in Florida and living in CA, I’ve not seen much snow.  That day went from bright to overcast to sunny to windy to gentle rain to FULL ON SNOW that blanketed everything in sight.  Roads were closed.  People were either putting on chains or wondering what to do.  We were playing   Hope to see you OTT (on the trail)!

Wrist Stretch for people who use Trekking Poles

I end most of my Yoga classes with this gentle and effective wrist stretch.    This  subtle movement lengthens and “tractions” the joint.  The radius and ulna bones in the healthy forearm articulate.   Creating  s p a c e  in the wrist joint and lengthening the space in the forearm enable better articulation and function.  Keep in mind:

• Less is more.
• Purposely work shorter/smaller than your brain wants to.
• Forget about the Destination – Focus on the Journey.
• Invest the time to feel the subtlety of this movement.
• BREATHE!
• Allow this movement to bring mindfulness to your hand, wrist & forearm.
• Learn it so that you can use it when you need it.

A good friend and I filmed this one morning so we  could share it with AdventureBuddies!  After a long day at the computer or after a rigorous hike, try this and relieve tension/tightness/stress in the wrist joint.

Be loving and gentle with yourself    Try it and let me know what you think?

Trail Tip: ALLERGIES

My ENT doctor strongly recommended something that has changed my life and significantly reduced my allergy response to CA    Nasal Saline Spray:

• non-addictive, non-invasive, simple stuff
• spray as many times a day as I like
• I put a spray bottle everywhere – my car, my bedside table, my purse, my hiking pack
• Spraying after a hike is HUGELY helpful (as well as during)
• I’ve reduced my intake of OTC allergy medication to almost none, even in peak season
• I’m happier!
• I got the Walgreen’s generic brand in both sizes.

Very Important:  Spray outward towards your cheekbone, not straight up your nose.   Click for  More allergy tips on this blog.

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