Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve
MVP:
REI Swiftland Hydration Vest—This was my first time using my newly acquired running vest and it worked like a charm. It was mostly comfy (a little hotter than wearing a backpack) and 100% better when I wanted to jog.
Hike Review:
I hiked the Lower Calaveras Fault Trail to the Vista Point. Specifically, I hiked the Kestrel Trail, Sierra Vista Trail, then the Lower Calaveras Fault Trail.
The Sierra Vista Trail is supposed to be interesting because of the historic house that sits next to it, but frankly, I found it not very interesting and I thought it was rather inconvenient due to the bugs that seem to occupy the now vacant property. On a higher elevation part of the trail, there were some cows and calves, but they were docile and minded their own business. Actually, at the highest elevation parts of this trail, I found it beautiful with breathtaking views of the city and surrounding hills. There wasn’t much shade on this trail.
The Lower Calaveras Fault Trail was steep. Thankfully, it was mostly shaded (until the top of the hill), so it didn’t end up being too bad. Still, this was the crux of the hike.
Every time I checked my phone, I had strong signal on my cell phone.
Besides cow dung, I did not see any trash. It was probably due to how unpopular this trail seemed. I did not see one soul on this trail.
What I Learned:
Although I have a penchant for overheating, I did not do too bad even though I jogged for short parts of it. The wind and unnaturally low temperatures totally helped.
I ate a large meal an hour before I started hiking, and it led to cramps after the first half mile. I have to remember to eat smaller meals before hikes!
While the running vest was comfortable, the 1 liter of water that I packed was just perfect for this hike. For anything over 10 miles (or if I can’t hydrate before the hike), I should pack extra water.
Media Consumed:
A People’s History of the United States
What Happened?
8.5 miles, 2 hr 37 mins, 2158 ft of ascent
With my plans of glory on Mount Shasta and Yosemite dashed—respectively due to snow (!) and fire (!)—I settled in for a quieter weekend around the bay area. Since I had the afternoon free, I decided to finally hike this trail, which I had been eyeing for just an occasion for a year.
I wouldn’t have been very excited about this hike (I knew it would be hot and dusty), but I was due to it being the first time taking the running vest out on a hike. It ended up proving the purchase to be a good one, as I found the vest to be comfortable and just about perfect for a hike of this length. I guess the only negative was how awkward it was to take the camera out to take pictures, but I’d rather deal with that then to wear a backpack that’s less comfortable.