Sporty Sunday: T25 Alpha

I’ve finished the Alpha portion of Beachbody’s T25 workout, with Shaun T. It was 5 weeks of 25 minute workouts: 1 per day (Monday - Thursday) and 2 on Fridays. Each week was a different selection and ordering of Cardio, Speed 1.0, Total Body Circuit, Ab Intervals, and Lower Focus. Saturdays were rest and Sundays were for the 25 minute stretch workout. I did every single weekday workout for a total of 30 25-minute sessions (+ the 3 minute cooldown/stretch after each workout). I completed the stretch workout twice.

Why
I have a full schedule of running, swimming, and hiking that I refuse to change. The runs (three 4-mile runs/week) are for my dogs. The hikes (5-12 miles) are both for my dogs and myself. And the swims (three 2300-yard sessions/week) are important for cross-training. I’ve kept this routine up for years and, while it burns calories, it is no longer challenging. I needed to shake things up. I’ve contemplated adding something intense (P90X or Insanity) to my routine, but I don’t have 60 - 90 minutes more a day to exercise. After seeing the abs Kim developed on the T25 schedule, I checked it out. I thought I could squeeze in 25 more minutes of exercise per day (on top of my already 1+ hours) and ordered the T25 set from Amazon.

Review
Shaun relies on jumping motions to raise the heartrate and build muscle. However, Tanya, the modifier, demonstrates every high impact move with a low impact equivalent. I always at least attempted the jumping moves until too exhausted and then substituted Tania’s modifications until I recovered enough to try jumping again. As I progressed, I was able to better keep up with the high impact moves. Having a ballet background, I know it is important to lower the heels on each landing for greater power and injury prevention. (On the DVD, Shaun coaches you to lower the “balls of your feet” to the ground, but he means the “heels.”) Those with joint issues can still get a great workout following Tanya.

There were some exercises that I absolutely hated. Basically, anything that required me to touch the ground and then stand back up again (e.g. burpees). But I hated them because they were hard. So I made myself do at least a few more each time and, like the jumps, gradually built my capacity and hated them a little less.

The set includes a tracking sheet on which the participant is to check “Barely Made It” or “Nailed It” after completing each workout. Even the Alpha cycle was challenging enough that I never felt that I “Nailed It.” I wish there was an in-between box to check!

The hardest workout was probably the Total Body Circuit. The easiest was (duh) the stretch. Although I only completed the stretch twice, it left me feeling great.

Overall, I felt this was a safe, but effective, workout that challenges the heart AND muscles. I loved that I could do it at home, since I don’t have time to drive to a studio or the club and home again every morning.

Results
This workout has all the elements I needed: intensity, unpredictability, and calisthenics. I took a “before” picture that will never see the internet and also tracked my measurements. The numbers aren’t amazing (I lost 4 pounds and maybe an inch off my waist), but I wasn’t overweight or unfit to begin with. I have noticed more ease in my clothing. I’m no longer overflowing my bras. I see new definition in my legs. And Beefy has noticed my firmer midsection. I’m only halfway through, but I’m encouraged!

The second part of T25 is 5 weeks of Beta. Beta workouts are similar to Alpha but focus on greater intensity and more core and upper body exercises. I’m looking forward to fresh workouts and a chance to finally “Nail It!”
Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Quick Release Collars

While crossing a stream below Twin Lakes today, Jackson caught his collar on a tree branch. Jasper and I were sloshing across the low water dam, but Jackson had chosen to swim across the pool on the upstream side. I noticed his distress immediately. His ears pinned back and his paddling took on a frantic pace as he found himself stuck in deep water. Thankfully, the branch held him above the waterline, but the force of the creek pulled his body downstream, against the dam, where he frantically clawed at the surface, unable to pull free. His collar was pulled tight, and the water was numbingly cold, so it took me a good fifteen seconds to unclasp his collar and release him from the trap.

Both Jasper and Jackson wear simple nylon collars with quick release buckles, but I only purchased those because they are the only collars permitted by our daycare. Jasper has a lovely, studded, leather collar that fastens with a prong buckle and I’m so glad we stopped using it and that we never put a collar like that on Jackson. Their quick release collars win no style prizes, but are far safer than the traditional buckle style.

I can only imagine how much longer it would have taken and how much more panicked I would have been to try to force wet, cold leather through a metal loop and then back from a prong, underwater and under force. Fancy collars have their place, but, if you have adventure dogs, like mine, please make sure they are wearing quick release (or no) collars around water.


Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Best Dog Discs

Jasper is a frisbee* dog. My limit is one hour but I’ve never found his. He will chase the disc forever.

Jasper is generally easy on the discs; he doesn’t use them as chew toys. However, I’ve learned that the standard, plastic frisbee is too flimsy for dog play. Even a soft-mouthed dog punctures the hard plastic, creating a serrated-knife-like surface that’s hard on the hands and tongue. (The dog’s tongue, not mine. I have a well-calloused tongue.) With rough play, the rigid disc warps beyond even an experienced throwers ability to throw in a straight line. Eventually, the lip disintegrates and the thrower is left attempting to fling something that more closely resembles a weapon than a toy. A doggy disc is required.

We’ve tried Kong frisbees and they are durable, but heavy, and fly like shit. The softer fabric frisbees are also difficult to control. Jasper’s and our favorites are the Aerobie Dogobie and the Ruffwear Hydro Plane.

Aerobie Dogobie


The Aerobie Dogobie is the perfect balance between durability and performance. We have two of these discs, one for each car, and the only damage to either disc is the result of frisbee stealers at the dog park. (We occasionally encounter dogs that take Jasper’s frisbee to chew or play tug-of-war while their owners either laugh, shrug or never look up from their cell phones.) They’ve each been thrown and retrieved hundreds of times with minimal wear. The discs remain soft and easy on the mouth.

The disc isn’t entirely rigid, so proper throwing technique is important. If the disc is released levelly, with plenty of spin, it flies far and true. This is the perfect, all-around, dog disc.

Ruffwear Hydro Plane


My nickname for the Ruffwear Hydro Plane is “the floaty frisbee.” The canvas-covered foam floats and the ring shape is easy to retrieve from the water. But the fun doesn’t end there. Jasper makes “sweet sweet love” to all frisbees. His moves consist of licking, face-rubbing, and tossing the disc. The Hydroplane is slightly elastic, and has that handy hole in the middle, so he is able to slingshot it into the air, in addition to the other activities. We take the Hydroplane to the river and spend 60% of the time tossing and retrieving and 40% of the time making sweet, sweet frisbee love.

The Hydro Plane flies true, but not exceptionally far. The foam has dented from enthusiastic play, but that hasn’t impaired it’s floatability or throwability. The fabric covering is dirty, but not worn or torn. I anticipate many months, if not years, of wet fun with this toy.

All discs are stored out of our dogs’ reach, so they aren’t chewed or tugged on without supervision.

Any other doggy disc favorites out there?

*Yes, “frisbee” is a trademarked brand, like xerox or kleenex, but I’ve used it here interchangeably with “flying disc.”

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday - Hiking Shingle Falls

Beefy and I completed this hike almost two years ago, just weeks before Jasper arrived. As we walked, we imagined what it would be like to have a dog with us. I would never have predicted that I would return to hike to Shingle Falls with two dogs!

This popular, easy walk is known for the falls at the end of the trail, but I like it best for the scenery along the way. The road (and later actual trail), winds through some of the prettiest, oak-dotted, rolling pasture in Northern California. This hike is best in the wet season, when the grass is green and lush, the falls are thundering, and the brooks are babbling.


The falls themselves are impressive, but dangerous. A chain link fence borders the worst of the drop-offs, but it has been bent to barely waist high in places. After craning your neck over the edge, I recommend walking downstream to one of the smaller falls and calmer pools for a break.

The route is fairly straightforward. A dirt road, ending in a gate, marks the first half of the route. Shortly after passing the gate, and entering the meadow, the hiker has a choice of three routes to the falls: the upper loop, the lower loop, and a dirt road. Top Trails Sacramento recommends taking the upper loop to the falls and the dirt road on the return. The upper loop is initially steep, but soon levels to a narrow track along the side of the ridge. On the return, the road will take one along Dry Creek with plenty of opportunities for doggy dips.

Please note that hunting is permitted in this area from Sept 1 to Jan 31. We heard many shots while hiking but no hunting activity took place along the walking route.

Source: Evans, Stephen L. "Shingle Falls Trail: Spenceville Wildlife Area" Top Trails Sacramento. 4th ed. Birmingham: Wilderness, 2012. Print.

Length: 4.9 miles.

Water: Dry Creek flows all year. In January, the tributary streams were flowing as well.

Use: Heavy.

Differences from published description: None.

Jasper’s rating: 4 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Blue Ridge Trail

This is the third time I’ve made the 2100 foot climb up Blue Ridge and it still makes my legs ache for days afterwards. Top Trails Sacramento gives this a difficulty rating of 5 (out of 5) and my friend Jerry calls it “the death march.” I was hoping for a little holiday penance and a tired puppy. I got both.

This is a popular off-season hike because it’s accessible all year long (except after strong rains). In the summer, I hear it really is a “death march” because of the exposure and steep climb. If you do visit in summer, I recommend a leisurely walk up Rayhouse Road, instead, and then a return to Cache Creek for a cooling dip.


The 2.69-mile climb to the top of Blue Ridge (and the junction with Fiske Peak Trail) takes you from dense forest at the bottom to sparse chaparrel (and plentiful boulders) at the top. Although the grade is challenging the views open up by the time you might consider giving up. Others I’ve talked to don’t consider this trail finished unless they’ve hiked the additional mile south, along Blue Ridge, to Fiske Peak. Personally, I think the views from the ridge itself are amazing.

This is a great trail for dogs, but use caution. The trail is narrow and there are many blind corners. It can be difficult to pass non-dog-loving hikers and easy to surprise both dogs and peoples at turns. (I’ve had two bad experiences here when a dog ran ahead and scared itself and the oncoming hiker at a blind corner.) There are steep drop-offs that are dangerous for both dopey mutts and unattended children. The trail is mostly dry and always steep so bring water for the humans and canines.

Source: Evans, Stephen L. "Blue Ridge Trail" Top Trails Sacramento. 4th ed. Birmingham: Wilderness, 2012. Print.

Length: 5 miles.

Water: Cache Creek (actually a river) flows year round. This excursion was the first time I’d seen Still Gulch flowing. Generally, the hike is dry after the first half mile and you should bring plenty of water for yourself and your animal companions.

Use: Moderate to heavy. The grade discourages some folks, but others come for the views and free access.

Differences from published description: None.

Jasper’s rating: 4 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Running With Your Dog - Preparation

Are you ready to start running with your dog? First, let’s make sure that your dog is suitable, healthy, and properly equipped.

Suitability. A youngish, medium-sized dog with a normal snout is going to make the best running companion. This dog will have the energy, leg length, and proper airway to run more than a few blocks. I do have a friend who runs with a chihuahua, so small breeds aren’t necessarily eliminated. Large breeds may be prone to hip problems. Older dogs may also have joint issues that make running uncomfortable. Flat-faced dogs can experience inefficient breathing and cooling, making running uncomfortable or even deadly.

Vet Clearance. Schedule a checkup for Fido and ask your vet if your dog can start running with you. Your vet will consider the factors discussed above as well as age and any other discovered health issues.

Equipment. I recommend running with a body harness. Jasper’s harness is a back-clip model, but a front-clip would work as well. I do not recommend running with your leash attached to a standard collar, a choke collar, a pinch collar, or a head halter (e.g. Halti). At running speeds, a sudden lunge when your dog spots a squirrel can injure his head or neck. When choosing a harness, look for a well-made, durable, and soft model. Nylon harnesses can chafe. Jasper’s is made of a soft, soy fiber material (the New Earth Soy Comfort Wrap Dog Harness). A front-clip harness will give you more control of the dog’s direction.

Use a standard (i.e. non-retractable) leash made of leather or natural fiber. Nylon leashes can give you leash burn. Personally, I use a ROK Strap leash. The leash stretches, making any doggie lunges less jarring to the handler. It also features a non-stretch loop near the base for leading the dog through crowded areas. I find this useful as we negotiate the light-rail station. The leash has excellent reviews (on Amazon) and I’ve heard good stories about the company’s response to leash failures. I demonstrate the leash’s stretch in the below video:


Next up: Getting Started!

Sporty Sunday: Running With Your Dog - Why?

Every morning, before work, I take Jasper for a four-mile run. This may be the best, and most successful, habit I’ve ever undertaken. If you’re thinking about running with your dog, here are a few reasons why I think it is so great:

Motivation. On dark, cold mornings, I’d rather drink coffee and blog, but Jasper is pawing at the front door, ready for our run. Left to my own devices, I might rationalize skipping the run with plans of eating nothing but salad all day (to offset those calories not burned) or an evening Zumba class (that, to be honest, I’ll skip in favor of a few glasses of wine). But there’s no way to convince myself that Jasper doesn’t need his morning exercise. I run for him, if not for myself.

Accountability. I’ve tried many methods of accountability (workout logs, buddies, teams, pre-paid classes), but no one calls my bullshit like a dog. Who hasn’t been secretly glad when their human workout partner cancels on them? “Ah, the pressure is off. Time to sleep in and eat pancakes.” Jasper, on the other hand, never cancels. (But he isn’t averse to pancakes and a nap afterwards.)

Good Behavior. Nearly every dog trainer’s response to behavioral issues is, “What kind of exercise is Fido getting?” Young and/or active dogs need at least an hour of aerobic exercise a day. If they don’t get an hour of heart-pounding, tongue-panting, tail-thumping activity, they’ll find other ways to spend that energy. Cue tales of dogs eating through drywall, digging craters in the backyard, or strewing trash through the house. As soon as Jasper was cleared to run, all behavioral problems ceased. (My behavior is better after exercise, too.)

Connection. Running with Jasper strengthens my bond with him and makes me more aware of my surroundings. This exhilarating activity is something he only does with me, making me person number one in his book. I’m giving him all of my attention and, consequently, noticing what interests him. Without Jasper’s sudden stops, I may never have noticed that dead squirrel in the gutter or the creepy guy digging through the neighbor’s recycling. He’s been my introduction to neighbors I may never have spoken to and experiences I would have run right past. It’s impossible to zone out when running with a dog and I’m glad he’s forced me to stop and “smell the dog poop.”

Performance. I run better and run faster with a dog. Instead of plodding along with my weight on my heels and my eyes on the ground, I’m focused and alert. My weight is forward, ready to change directions or stop on a dime. My eyes are constantly scanning for distractions and dangers. My speed has gradually increased as I attempt to keep up with a dog who can easily outdistance me. (I’m running. Jasper is trotting. I could never keep up with his gallop.)

Over the next few weeks, I’ll share my tips and recommendations for getting started with the best running buddy ever: your dog.

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Castle Pass

The hike to Castle Pass, along the Pacific Crest Trail, just gets you started on the path to explorations in the Castle Peak area. But even as a simple, 6.72-mile out and back, it’s a lovely walk through glacier-scraped granite, soaring conifers, and flower-filled meadows (in season, of course). From Castle Pass, the views are outstanding. November timing brings chilly temps and the chance of ice and snow, but it also discourages other hikers from this easily-accessible trail, leaving a wilderness experience for the intrepid.

Top Trails directs the hiker to the Boreal-Pacific Crest Trail parking area to begin the hike, but a permit is required November 1st to May 30th. A permit costs only $25, but the fine is $94.50. Those without a permit can chance parking at the east or west bound rest areas, as the trail wraps around both. (Starting at the west bound rest stop cuts off a little more than a mile from the hike.)


We started at the west bound parking area and made it to the pass in an hour. With plenty of energy to spare, we headed for Castle Peak (pictured in the fourth photo). However, strong winds and occasional icy patches discouraged me from going further than the little peak on the left. We’ll have to try again in the summer.

We will definitely be back to this area. I’ve previously hiked a couple of other trails, starting at the Boreal-PCT lot, and enjoyed the scenery and ease of access. None of my hiking books adequately cover the Tahoe National Forest trails along I-80, so I ordered a map for explorations next year!

Source: Evans, Stephen L. "Pacific Crest Trail: Castle Peak Area." Top Trails Sacramento. 4th ed. Birmingham: Wilderness, 2012. Print.

Length: 6.72 miles

Water: The trail to Castle Pass skirts a few small lakes, small streams, and the significant Castle Creek. The lakes and Castle Creek still had water in November, despite low precipitation.

Use: Heavy in the spring, summer, and winter (snowshoeing and cross country skiiing are popular here). Light usage in late fall.

Differences from published description: A Sno-Park pass is required to park in the trail lot November 1st to May 30th..

Jasper’s rating: 4 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Five Lakes

I’m trying not to let the dreary weather (low clouds and drizzle) and smoke (from the King fire) color my opinion of this hike. If it had been a sunny day in early June, I might have liked it better, but that would have also been due to the fresh green vegetation and wildflowers. On a smokey, sprinkly, September Sunday, though, the hillsides were brown, dry, and dusty. The rock formations were the walk’s most interesting feature.

Most of the hike traverses a slope of Alpine Meadows ski resort near Lake Tahoe. Even on a clear day, though, I don’t think the lake is visible. Instead, there are views of vacation homes, the ski resort, and some admittedly stunning granite folds.


It’s uphill nearly all the way (1000 vertical feet) to the underwhelming five lakes, warranting a difficulty rating of “moderate” from Best Dog Hikes Northern California. If you’re staying in the Tahoe City area during the non-snow season, this is an easily accessible, dog-friendly hike to pump up your heart rate on the way up and then burn your quads on the way down.

Source: Mullally, Linda B. and Mullally, David S. "Five Lakes Hike." Best Dog Hikes Northern California. Morris Book Publishing, 2014. Print.

Length: 4.8 miles

Water: The trail is dry except for the destination lakes.

Use: Moderate to heavy. We saw no one on the trail this day, but the proximity of the hike to recreation areas and the width of the path suggest heavy use during the summer season.

Differences from published description: None . . . in fact the book gives excellent directions to the trailhead, a thorough description of the hike, and detailed commentary regarding the appropriateness of dogs in this area.

Jasper’s rating: 3 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Showers Lake

Yosemite is my favorite place in the world. The hikes I like the best are those that remind me of the summer I lived and worked in the park. The hike from the Meiss Trailhead, along the Pacific Crest Trail, to Showers Lake put me in a Yosemite frame of mind. There are sweeping views (including Lake Tahoe to the north), an enormous, golden meadow, and a granite-rimmed lake. Unlike Yosemite, though, you can bring your dog on this hike. (And we saw at least a dozen dogs!)

California Hiking gives this hike a difficulty of one boot out of five, but I would give it at least two boots. It is five miles to the lake (and five miles back), includes two significant climbs, and stays above 8,000 feet.



The destination lake is lovely, but my favorite part of the hike was Meiss meadow and the historic cabin and barn. A plaque outside the structures provides some history on the Meiss family and their time in the area. A broken board on the barn’s wall allows a peek inside (where it looks as if the occasional hiker squats). I entertained myself with imagining what it might have been like to spend an entire summer at the cabin, watching cattle graze the golden meadow by day and the endless sparkling sky by night.

Source: Stienstra, Tom and Brown, Ann Marie. "Showers Lake." California Hiking. 3rd ed. San Francisco: Foghorn Press, 1997. Print.

Length: 10 miles

Water: The smallest tributaries are dry, but the lake and larger streams still have plenty of water.

Use: Moderate to heavy. We saw two groups of horses and riders and many hikers with dogs, so be prepared to encounter these animals.

Differences from published description: This is not a moderate hike, not an easy one. There is a $5 fee to park at Meiss Trailhead.

Jasper’s rating: 5 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Dardanelles Lake

I’ve overlooked this hike in the past. I don’t think it’s mentioned in any of my local hiking books, but it gets a small blurb in California Hiking (the hiker’s bible). A friend of mine is planning an overnight trip to Darndanelles Lake later this month, so I thought I’d check it out.

I’m often hesitant to plan Sunday hikes that start on the eastern side of the Sierra. Traffic home can be a real bitch, with all the weekenders returning from the Tahoe area. But September and October are quiet for Tahoe recreation so I chanced being caught in a 10-mile traffic jam on 50 in the afternoon. (I got lucky.) I also avoid the Tahoe area because the trails can be a little too accessible and crowded. Again, though, knowing we are between busy seasons, I gave it a go.

The (Big Meadow) trailhead parking is easy to find off of Highway 89. There is no use fee and the mapless hiker can snap a photo of the trail map at the start.


The way to Dardanelles Lake starts on the Tahoe Rim Trail. It crosses Hwy 89, and after a short incline, enters the very large Big Meadow. Next, the trail climbs up and over a ridge (the toughest part of this hike, but not terribly strenuous), to a trail junction at mile two. There, hikers take a right, and then 0.2 miles later, at an unsigned trail junction, make a left to Dardanelles Lake. After 1.2 miles, the trail ends at a string of campsites along Dardanelles Lake.

The lake is clear and cold with sloping granite “beaches.” Perhaps the most striking feature is the granite monolith that dominates one end of the lake. The setting is pretty as a painting.

This was my first experience with the Tahoe Rim Trail. As it’s name suggests, the TRT is a loop around Lake Tahoe. It is 165 miles long, but I only hiked 2 miles of it before turning off to head towards Dardanelles Lake. I’m intrigued, though . . . so stand by for more TRT adventures after this one!

Source: Stienstra, Tom and Brown, Ann Marie. "Dardanelles Lake." California Hiking. 3rd ed. San Francisco: Foghorn Press, 1997. Print.

Length: 7.6 miles according to the book, 6.8 miles according to the map at the trailhead, and 9.5 miles according to @sidecar_tony on Instagram. (It felt like 6.8 miles to me.)

Water: The smallest tributaries are dry, but the lake and larger streams still have plenty of water.

Use: Moderate to heavy.

Differences from published description: Some discrepancy on just how long the trail is.

Jasper’s rating: 4.5 paws out of 5. (Jasper knocked this down half a paw because there weren’t enough sweeping views.)

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Grouse, Hemlock, and Smith Lakes

I thought I’d done all the hikes around Wright’s Lake. Now I recall that I attempted the hike to Grouse Lake (and beyond) last summer but took a wrong turn and ended up at Twin and Island Lakes instead. While both hikes share the first 1.1 miles of trail, the ascent to Grouse Lake (after the fork) is memorably steep. And the later ascents to Hemlock Lake and Smith Lake are hard to forget! Finally, Smith Lake is so stunning that I’d have remembered hiking here before.


I love this hike for the challenging elevation gain (1750 feet), plentiful water features, and views. At 5.6 miles round-trip, it’s easily done in a day, even with the drive from and back to Sacramento.

Source: Soares, John R. and Soares, Marc J. "Grouse, Hemlock, and Smith Lakes." 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California. 3rd ed. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2008. Print.

Length: 5.6 miles

Water: All lakes are full and the outflow is moderate.

Use: Moderate to heavy.

Differences from published description: None.

Jasper’s rating: 5 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Twin Lakes and Island Lake

Wright’s Lake, a destination in its own right, is also the starting point for multiple Desolation Wilderness hikes. The hike to Twin Lakes is one of the most popular. It’s a fairly steep (1000 foot elevation gain) 1.5 miles through mostly open granite. Both the lakes and their outflow offer opportunities to splash and cool off.

The two lakes are large enough to accommodate many visitors while maintaining a wilderness experience. But hike half a mile further to Island Lake and one really feels the peaceful quiet of the alpine. All three lakes are dotted with small rock islands that tempt the hot hiker to enter the clear, cool depths for a short swim.


The trail itself can be a little tricky to find in sections, especially over bare granite. I found Jasper to be very useful at those times! If you don’t have a trail dog, though, I recommend bringing a map to keep yourself topographically on course. It’s well worth a little “getting lost” for a dip in one of the lakes!

Source: Evans, Stephen L. "Twin Lakes Trail" Top Trails Sacramento. 4th ed. Birmingham: Wilderness, 2012. Print.

Length: 5 miles. (Hiking to Island Lake and back adds another mile.)

Water: The lakes are quite deep in places and I assume contain water in even the driest years. The outflow from Twin Lakes and nearby Grouse Lake is at about half capacity. I expect the water level in the streams will drop as our drought continues.

Use: Heavy. This is a short hike with great reward. Many hikers make the trip, despite the elevation gain. The parking lot for the trail fills up early. We try to arrive by 8 a.m. to gt a spot.

Differences from published description: None

Jasper’s rating: 5 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Loch Leven Lakes (via Salmon Lake)

Loch Leven Lakes are a popular destination for hikers and dogs. But it seems that few people know the “secret” way to the lakes. Most hike up 1,000 vertical feet of switchbacks from I-80. The back way, described in Top Trails Sacramento, starts from a dirt road at Salmon Lake trailhead, has very little elevation gain, and features a fourth lake (in addition to the three Loch Leven lakes).

Although the high point of the hike (High Loch Leven Lake) is only 250 feet above the start, there are enough ups and downs in the 2.5 miles to give one a good aerobic workout. The four lakes, Salmon Lake (full of catfish, not salmon), Lower Loch Leven Lake, Middle Loch Leven Lake, and Upper Loch Leven Lake, offer plenty of opportunities to cool hot hikers and dogs. The views, while not outstanding, are a nice mix of forest, granite, lakes (including many small lakes besides the big four), and distant peaks.


The downsides of this trail: heavy use, lots of dogs (only a negative if you don’t like dogs!), and the long and confusing drive on dirt roads to the Salmon Lake trailhead. For more of a wilderness experience, I recommend hiking this trail off season or on a weekday. Top Trails Sacramento describes the route to the Salmon Lake trailhead, but there are some misprints and missing commas that make it easy to miss the trailhead. I’ve noted the corrections below.

Loch Leven Lakes via Salmon Lake is an easily hiked alpine experience and a great day trip or overnight. In fact, I’m considering making this Jasper’s first overnight backpacking trip later in the season!

Source: Evans, Stephen L. "Salmon Lake Trail to Loch Leven Lakes" Top Trails Sacramento. 4th ed. Birmingham: Wilderness, 2012. Print.

Length: 5 miles.

Water: Plenty of water in the four lakes! But the shallower ponds and the smaller seasonal streams are dry.

Use: Heavy! As noted, this trail is popular with dog owners. We only encountered well-behaved pooches, but I recommend avoiding this trail if dogs make you uneasy.

Differences from published description: From Yuba Gap Road, turn right on Lake Valley Road, not Long Valley Road. The next turn is in 1.1 miles (book says 1.3 miles). Once on Road 38, drive exactly 2.0 miles to the trailhead, just a bit past Huysink Lake. The text in the book is missing commas, so it mistakenly reads that one drives 2.0 miles past Huysink Lake to the trailhead. If you do that (like I did the first time), you’ll have gone much too far (and the road becomes inappropriate for highway vehicles)!

Jasper’s rating: 4 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Lyons Creek Trail

I’ll be honest. In the late summer and fall, this trail is a dull, dry slog to an unremarkable lake. In the mountain “spring” (i.e. July), the five boring miles to the Sylvia Lake are livened up by an unrelenting wildflower display and occasional glimpses of charming Lyons Creek.

In whatever season you hike, I recommend skipping Sylvia Lake altogether in favor of the additional 320 feet of elevation gain to nearby Lyons Lake. Unfortunately, on this excursion, we were short on time and couldn’t add Lyons Lake to the itinerary. (But we saw it in September and it’s such a gem!) We contented ourselves with Sylvia Lake, which admittedly offers much better shores for fetching sticks from the lake’s surface.


Whichever destaination you choose, the hike along Lyons Creek will leave you footsore but not challenged beyond bearing. The path gains 1520 feet between its start and Lake Sylvia, but the grade is rarely steep. The jaunt to Lyons Lake is the only portion that will leave you gasping.

This is the best time of year to hike the trail and see lupine, columbine, paintbrush, lilies, larkspur, asters, and more. (Believe me, without the colorful flowers, the five miles never ends.) But bring your bugspray because wildflower season is MOSQUITO season in the Sierra. I’ve got the bites to prove it!

Source: Evans, Stephen L. "Lyons Creek Trail" Top Trails Sacramento. 4th ed. Birmingham: Wilderness, 2012. Print.

Length: 10 miles (to Lake Sylvia and back)

Water: Seasonal streams are dry, but Lyons Creek and the runoff from Lake Sylvia are flowing moderately well.

Use: Moderate. We hiked this on July 4th and there were surprisingly few people on the trail for a holiday.

Differences from published description: none.

Jasper’s rating: 4 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!