Hiking is one of my favorite hobbies because I can combine it with my love of nature and my photography hobby. It's fun to hike with friends and share the wonderful outdoors, but I also enjoy hiking solo and just being one with my surroundings.

I'm fortunate to live in a area that is surrounded by hills full of hiking trails, and the beach is only an hour away. While I've enjoyed underwater photography, taking pictures of nature on land is just as fun and sometimes as challenging. I try to get out often to hiking in the hills, through the forests, and along the sea.

The following links go to pictures from the many hikes I've been on, grouped by land type more than anything else, though within each there area are pictures of different types: animals, trees, flowers, insects, etc.

Big Basin is undoubtably one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I live only an hour and twenty minute drive from this wonderful redwood forest, hike there at least once a month, and it never ceases to amaze me with its beauty. I try to get there in different seasons, and each time am treated with new types of plants and different conditions on the trails.

Vicky, who is also my dive buddy, often hikes Big Basin with me, as does my youngest son Tim. Unfortunately I can't take my dog Cannon there, but he gets regular trips to the ocean.

Big Basin in Winter
Big Basin in Summer
More Big Basin

Castlerock, which is right before Big Basin, is also an amazing place to hike. It has some similar trees like young Redwoods and pines, but it also has a lot of Madrones that grown very differently than they do in Big Basin. On this hike, we also enjoyed a lovely rainfall.

Castle Rock

Sanborn is not a place I recommend unless you are in super shape. We only made it onto the flattest part of the trail, then left as the rest of the park goes steeply uphill for a 1,100 foot elevation climb.

Out of the woods and onward to the sea. The California coast is amazingly beautiful and diverse. I've returned to the same beach many times, only to find it looking like a different place altogether. When the flowers are in bloom the beach is breathtakingly beautiful. And I love the rocks!

Bluffs and Sand

I'm not the only one who loves the beach, of course. My dog Cannon very much enjoys a good romp through the waves and then chases the foam.

Day at the Beach

This beach was a total suprise. We saw that people were parked along the highway, and I saw someone with a surfboard. We pulled over and followed the surfer through the bushes, over the train tracks, down a long trail, and then we descended onto one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen: Four Mile Beach. Four Mile Beach

On occasion I like to take a day off during the week and go to the beach. It's less crowded then and traffic is good. This day was no exception, and well worth the drive.

Thursday at the Beach

I'd been meaning to go to Wilder Ranch for some time, and then finally made it there with my friend Dionna. A few of these pictures are hers, and say so with her name in the photo, and obviously, she was the one taking pictures of me.

Wilder Ranch

Pt. Lobos is not only one of the best diving spots, but it's also one of the best hiking spots, any time of year.

Pt. Lobos in July

This day I decided to head north and went to a lovely hiking park called Edgewood.

Edgewood

While many places in the states are rainy and cold in February, California enjoys blooming cherry and plum trees.

California in February

At last I took the kids to the snow in Lake Tahoe. They weren't the only ones to enjoy it. Cannon had a great time too.

Lake Tahoe in Winter

Though technically not a hike, the area on The Land of the Medicine Buddha is absolutely beautiful. I've been there for talks and a few retreats, and took these photos on my first retreat.

Land of the Medicine Buddha

While Oahau was fun for swimming around in the ocean and checking out the fish, the rain forest hike was equally as fun and beautiful.

Oahau Hike in the Rain Forest

Oakland Zoo

I often go into the Santa Teresa hills as they are in my backyard, so to speak. On this day, the deer were out feeding.

Santa Teresa Deer

These were taken at a hill right near my house. It was a beautiful time of year to be taking photos:

Santa Teresa Hill

Shoreline is best known for it's water fowl, but I found a few other wonderful critters there as well.

Shorline