Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite, California [9/2007]
Bear Basin Butte Lookout, California [8/2007]
Mt Rose, Nevada [7/2007]
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California [05/2007]
Bodega Bay, California [5/2006]
Salt Point State Park, California [9/2005]
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon [7/2005]
Big Sur, California [6/2005]
Emerald Bay State Park, California [6/2005]
Death Valley National Park, California [2/2005]
![Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite, California [9/2007] : Tuolumne Meadows is my favorite part of Yosemite National Park and I like to go there whenever I can. This time, we had grand plans of doing a long tough hike while out there but instead had to content with a relatively small loop hike via Dog Lake and around Lembert Dome. There were threats of storms and we didn't want to risk a long hike.
We got plenty of snow in our camp but more fun were the three black bear visits. One of these actually came very close to our food lockers and came within 5-6 ft. of where we were standing trying to scare it away. While I have seen a few bears over the years before in the wild, this was definitely the closest I had come to one.](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=4483646&Size=Tiny&AlbumKey=TnLLa&rand=5869 "Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite, California [9/2007] : Tuolumne Meadows is my favorite part of Yosemite National Park and I like to go there whenever I can. This time, we had grand plans of doing a long tough hike while out there but instead had to content with a relatively small loop hike via Dog Lake and around Lembert Dome. There were threats of storms and we didn't want to risk a long hike.
We got plenty of snow in our camp but more fun were the three black bear visits. One of these actually came very close to our food lockers and came within 5-6 ft. of where we were standing trying to scare it away. While I have seen a few bears over the years before in the wild, this was definitely the closest I had come to one.")
![Bear Basin Butte Lookout, California [8/2007] : Bear Basin Butte Lookout is an old lookout tower deep inside the Six Rivers National Forest in northern California (almost at the border with Oregon). Ronda organized a trip here and along with her and Ed, we went up to spend a couple of days here. The views were phenomenal though Eug and I didn't really end up doing much hiking there. We just lazed about at the lookout playing board games and getting drunk. The feeling of total isolation was awesome. We even saw a bear along the way on the road.](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=3915080&Size=Tiny&AlbumKey=gEstN&rand=3891 "Bear Basin Butte Lookout, California [8/2007] : Bear Basin Butte Lookout is an old lookout tower deep inside the Six Rivers National Forest in northern California (almost at the border with Oregon). Ronda organized a trip here and along with her and Ed, we went up to spend a couple of days here. The views were phenomenal though Eug and I didn't really end up doing much hiking there. We just lazed about at the lookout playing board games and getting drunk. The feeling of total isolation was awesome. We even saw a bear along the way on the road.")
![Mt Rose, Nevada [7/2007] : We camped at Mt Rose campground which is near the Ski resort of Mt. Rose and the mountain of the same name. The goal was to climb Mt. Rose as a day hike and camp two nights. Eugenia and I didn't make it to the top but others in our group did. After we returned from the hike, we hung out in King's Beach in North Lake Tahoe. More details on this trip here.](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=3226573&Size=Tiny&AlbumKey=FBdW2&rand=6622 "Mt Rose, Nevada [7/2007] : We camped at Mt Rose campground which is near the Ski resort of Mt. Rose and the mountain of the same name. The goal was to climb Mt. Rose as a day hike and camp two nights. Eugenia and I didn't make it to the top but others in our group did. After we returned from the hike, we hung out in King's Beach in North Lake Tahoe. More details on this trip here.")
![Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California [05/2007] : We made our first car camping trip this year to Pfeiffer Big Sur state park where we go often. This time, we had a nice (and huge) river side site. We went with Vanessa, Jose, and their kids. Before heading back, we also took time to visit the fabulous Pfeiffer beach and picnicked there.](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=2880001&Size=Tiny&AlbumKey=NtyxF&rand=2110 "Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California [05/2007] : We made our first car camping trip this year to Pfeiffer Big Sur state park where we go often. This time, we had a nice (and huge) river side site. We went with Vanessa, Jose, and their kids. Before heading back, we also took time to visit the fabulous Pfeiffer beach and picnicked there.")
![Bodega Bay, California [5/2006] : With friends Vanessa and Jose with their little one, Sebastian, we went for an overnight camping trip to Sonoma Coast State Beach near Bodega Bay. Our campground was at Wright's beach. This was probably the first time we had actually camped this close to a beach. Our site was a "premium" site because of its ocean view but it was difficult to drive the tent stakes in as we hit bedrock quite fast. The beach was gorgeous though because of its easy access from Highway 1, quite crowded. The campground itself was full of RVs and there were only a couple of others who were tent-camping like us.
It didn't rain on Saturday and we had a swell time but the following morning, the showers were incessant and we decided to pack up earlier than planned. Our 8 person tent was reduced to a 2 person tent because of the fact that I couldn't stake it down in the sand the night before. After we left the campground, Eug and I drove around Bodega Bay for a while. We went to the Marina as well as the beautiful bluff called Bodega Head, which is a prime whale watching site. Bodega Bay was made famous by Alfred Hitchcock who filmed parts of the movie "Birds" here.](http://donaji.smugmug.com/Outdoors/Camping/Bodega-Bay-California-52006/bodega43/71149877_YRNsa-Ti.jpg "Bodega Bay, California [5/2006] : With friends Vanessa and Jose with their little one, Sebastian, we went for an overnight camping trip to Sonoma Coast State Beach near Bodega Bay. Our campground was at Wright's beach. This was probably the first time we had actually camped this close to a beach. Our site was a \"premium\" site because of its ocean view but it was difficult to drive the tent stakes in as we hit bedrock quite fast. The beach was gorgeous though because of its easy access from Highway 1, quite crowded. The campground itself was full of RVs and there were only a couple of others who were tent-camping like us.
It didn't rain on Saturday and we had a swell time but the following morning, the showers were incessant and we decided to pack up earlier than planned. Our 8 person tent was reduced to a 2 person tent because of the fact that I couldn't stake it down in the sand the night before. After we left the campground, Eug and I drove around Bodega Bay for a while. We went to the Marina as well as the beautiful bluff called Bodega Head, which is a prime whale watching site. Bodega Bay was made famous by Alfred Hitchcock who filmed parts of the movie \"Birds\" here.")
![Salt Point State Park, California [9/2005] : Salt Point is a state park located on the beautiful Sonoma Coast north of San Francisco. We went car camping there with the Saltzes, Ed and Ronda. We were there two nights. Our campsite in Gerstle Cove had a great ocean view and it was one of the best sites I have ever camped in.](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=820719&Size=Tiny&AlbumKey=fcvE3&rand=4449 "Salt Point State Park, California [9/2005] : Salt Point is a state park located on the beautiful Sonoma Coast north of San Francisco. We went car camping there with the Saltzes, Ed and Ronda. We were there two nights. Our campsite in Gerstle Cove had a great ocean view and it was one of the best sites I have ever camped in.")
![Crater Lake National Park, Oregon [7/2005] : Eug & I went on a long road trip to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon during the July 4th break with Vanessa, Jose and their baby, Sebastian. At 1943 ft., it is the deepest lake in the US and the 7th deepest in the world. It was created by a massive eruption of the then 12000+ ft. Mt. Mazama thousands of years ago. The volcano collapsed into itself creating a massive caldera and was filled by rain and snow. The colors of the lake are an unreal blue due to its ability to absorb every color of the spectrum except blue.
We had a great time camping in Mazama Village and driving the rim road around the lake. We also did a small but steep hike down to Cleetwood Cove, the only legal way to access the lake. It was interesting to see snow in July throughout the park.](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=637064&Size=Tiny&AlbumKey=J3jKY&rand=8387 "Crater Lake National Park, Oregon [7/2005] : Eug & I went on a long road trip to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon during the July 4th break with Vanessa, Jose and their baby, Sebastian. At 1943 ft., it is the deepest lake in the US and the 7th deepest in the world. It was created by a massive eruption of the then 12000+ ft. Mt. Mazama thousands of years ago. The volcano collapsed into itself creating a massive caldera and was filled by rain and snow. The colors of the lake are an unreal blue due to its ability to absorb every color of the spectrum except blue.
We had a great time camping in Mazama Village and driving the rim road around the lake. We also did a small but steep hike down to Cleetwood Cove, the only legal way to access the lake. It was interesting to see snow in July throughout the park.")
![Big Sur, California [6/2005] : We went camping with Vanessa, Jose and Sebastian. Julia Pfeiffer is an awesome park full of redwood trees.](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=584453&Size=Tiny&AlbumKey=LvyB3&rand=9262 "Big Sur, California [6/2005] : We went camping with Vanessa, Jose and Sebastian. Julia Pfeiffer is an awesome park full of redwood trees.")
![Emerald Bay State Park, California [6/2005] : This was supposed to be a first time backpacking trip for the not yet 1 year old Sebastian. However, it ended up being just a camping trip because of warnings from the rangers of 70 mph winds at Granite Lake in the Desolation Wilderness where we were supposed to go. Vanessa did the planning for this one and we camped at Emerald Bay State Park in South Lake Tahoe. The campsite (#29) simply was the best site I had ever stayed in as far as car camping sites go. Baban, Jose and Sebastian were also there for the weekend trip.](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=607178&Size=Tiny&AlbumKey=C9tgA&rand=908 "Emerald Bay State Park, California [6/2005] : This was supposed to be a first time backpacking trip for the not yet 1 year old Sebastian. However, it ended up being just a camping trip because of warnings from the rangers of 70 mph winds at Granite Lake in the Desolation Wilderness where we were supposed to go. Vanessa did the planning for this one and we camped at Emerald Bay State Park in South Lake Tahoe. The campsite (#29) simply was the best site I had ever stayed in as far as car camping sites go. Baban, Jose and Sebastian were also there for the weekend trip.")
![Death Valley National Park, California [2/2005] : Photos from a trip to death valley national park. I went with Raghu, Papi, Baban, Ed and Ronda. This was my third trip to the national park and unlike the previous times, it was raining almost incessantly this time. We coined the term wet valley to describe it afterwards. Still had a great time.](/photos/random.mg?AlbumID=591954&Size=Tiny&AlbumKey=5AXrz&rand=1647 "Death Valley National Park, California [2/2005] : Photos from a trip to death valley national park. I went with Raghu, Papi, Baban, Ed and Ronda. This was my third trip to the national park and unlike the previous times, it was raining almost incessantly this time. We coined the term wet valley to describe it afterwards. Still had a great time.")
