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AdventuresHiking

El Corte Madera OSP: Resolution Trail and Plane Crashes

by Paulina Dao June 5, 2014
written by Paulina Dao

Hike: Resolution Trail, Plane Crash and Vista Point
Where: El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: Star Hill Road
Level: Moderate
Duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Length: 4.7 miles
Gear: Icebreaker Women’s Tech T Lite T-Shirt, Arc’teryx Delta LT, Lululemon leggings, REI Flash 18 Pack, 
 and Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot
Cost of Parking: Free

Had a rare day off several weeks ago with no real plans, so I called up my friend, Karl of Alpha Roaming, to see what kind of mischief he was stirring up for the day. We decided to go chase some plane crashes near El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve.

The first and more interesting plane we stopped by, well, is sort of a secret to preserve the sanctity of the crash. This plane found its final resting site nestled among dense redwoods. Story goes that the pilot was coming in too close and abandoned plane before it crashed here. However, not much is known about this wreckage.

El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve: Resolution Trail and Plane Crashes El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve: Resolution Trail and Plane Crashes El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve: Resolution Trail and Plane Crashes El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve: Resolution Trail and Plane Crashes El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve: Resolution Trail and Plane Crashes

The second crash site lies within El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve off of the Resolution Trail. It’s pretty easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Most of the debris has been picked over, and supposedly, a lot more of it lies down the steep hill. We started at Star Hill Road, headed down the El Corte Madera Creek Trail to the Resolution Trail and up to the Vista Point. Near the Vista Point, a memorial plaque is dedicated to the 19 people who perished in the Resolution plane crash on Kings Mountain. More information can be found about the crash here.

El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve: Resolution Trail and Plane Crashes El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve: Resolution Trail and Plane Crashes

For more information on the above two crash sites, please visit Karl’s blog post here.

June 5, 2014 0 comments
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AdventuresHiking

Hiking Horsetail Falls and Ropi Lake

by Paulina Dao June 3, 2014
written by Paulina Dao

Hiking Horsetail Falls and Ropi Lake

Sometimes you plan on a really long day out. Sometimes those plans get cut short because you’re captivated by the beauty around you.

That’s what happened to me this weekend. I set out to hike up Horsetail Falls into Desolation Wilderness backcountry and out to Lake Aloha. Ropi Lake cut me short.

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June 3, 2014 1 comment
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Gear

Hydrapak Wooly Bottle – 25 oz

by Paulina Dao May 29, 2014
written by Paulina Dao
Hydrapak Wooly Bottle 25 oz. review

When you think Primaloft, do you think of water bottles? No? Well, Hydrapak is here to prove you wrong.

The Hydrapak Wooly is not my first encounter with an insulated bottle; I currently own a Klean Kanteen that’s like a tank. If you are looking for something to keep cold beverages cold and your hot beverages hot without adding a ton of weight, the Wooly is for you.

The Wooly bottle is 25 fl. oz of pure insulated awesomeness with double-walled plastic with Primaloft insulation weighing in at 4.5 oz when dry. It has a High-flow Mammoth™ Valve constructed from soft Thermoplastic Elastomer that allows for easy access to the bottle without needing to pull on the valve with your hands. Additionally the Thermoplastic Elastomer is not a magnet for teeth marks, a downside many of these bottle styles have.

The bottle has a wide mouth (60mm to be exact) and makes it easy to clean. This is top rack dishwasher safe and freezer friendly too! Full bottle dimensions are fairly standard: 10.25″ L x 2.75″ W.

The only real problem I found with the bottle was how difficult it was to get that very last drop. Once you get to the last few sips, it is tough to wrestle the water out without extreme yoga skills and squeezing. It’s much easier to stop what you are doing to unscrew the cap. If you’re really on the go and you’re running low on water, this can hinder your performance.

Lastly, the design on the outside of the bottle could be more aesthetically pleasing, but if you’re going for function over form, this isn’t a deal breaker.

All in all, the Hydrapak Wooly is a good deal if you’re looking for a functional and lightweight bottle that you can haul along for hot summer runs and rides to keep your beverages cold, or for those chilly days where a warm beverage sounds incredibly delightful. Buy through Hydrapak for $11.99.

This was sent to me for review.

May 29, 2014 0 comments
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AdventuresHiking

Forest of Nisene Marks: Five Finger Falls

by Paulina Dao May 27, 2014
written by Paulina Dao

Hike: Five Finger Falls
Where: Forest of Nisene Marks
Trailhead: Porter Family Picnic Area
Level: Moderate
Duration: 5 hours
Length: 10.2 miles
Gear: Icebreaker Women’s Tech T Lite T-Shirt, Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Socks – Women’s, REI Flash 18 Pack, Ahnu Sugarpine Boots, Outdoor Research Contour Shorts, and Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles
Cost of Parking: $8

The Forest of Nisene Marks in Aptos, CA is one of those little known gems in the Bay Area. Trails wind through the Santa Cruz Mountains under second-growth redwoods, next to trickling creeks.

I set off to explore Five Finger Falls here after hearing many great things about it. The trail was long and semi-strenuous. I started at the Porter Famil Picnic Area and headed up the Aptos Creek Fire Road for a little over a mile. From there, there was a sign to Aptos Creek Trail out to Five Finger Falls. The hike begins off fairly mellow, but around 4 miles out, it begins to wind up some steep switchbacks.

The falls and Aptos Creek were flowing, but barely! The falls were just a small trickle into a basin of water. It was beautiful, but a little disappointing. This is a hike I will want to do again after torrential downpour to really experience the magnificence of the falls.

Forest of Nisene Marks: Five Finger Falls Forest of Nisene Marks: Five Fingers Falls Forest of Nisene Marks: Five Fingers Falls Forest of Nisene Marks: Five Fingers Falls Forest of Nisene Marks: Five Fingers Falls Forest of Nisene Marks: Five Fingers Falls

May 27, 2014 0 comments
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AdventuresHiking

Desolation Wilderness: Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake

by Paulina Dao May 21, 2014
written by Paulina Dao

Hike: Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake
Where: Desolation Wilderness
Trailhead: Eagle Falls
Level: Easy
Duration: 2 hours
Length: 2.5 miles
Gear: Icebreaker Oasis Crewe long-sleeve, Camelbak Aventura Pack, Arcteryx Women’s Alpha SL Hybrid Jacket, Triple Aught Design Artemis Hoodie, REI Sahara Convertible Pants, Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles, and Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot
Cost of Parking: Free off Emerald Bay Road or $3 at the trailhead

A few weeks ago the boyfriend and I hiked up the Bayview trail and peered down onto Eagle Lake. The next day, we decided to hike to Eagle Lake and peer up to where we were standing before.

This is a fairly mellow 2.5 miler out and back hike with views of Upper Eagle Falls, granite walls, and a clear blue Eagle Lake.

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May 21, 2014 0 comments
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Paulina Dao Little Grunts

Hi, I’m Paulina! A full time adventurer with a day job, I’m a firm believer in the 5-9, and maximizing every second of being out of office. I didn't grow up outdoorsy. This little corner of the internet chronicles my trials and tribulations of heading outside. Learn more about me or just say hi!

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littlegrunts.com
  • About
    • About Paulina
    • Why Don’t They Look Like Me? The Diversity Dilemma in Outdoor Media
    • Contact Me
  • Climbing
    • Bouldering at Castle Hill, New Zealand
    • Bouldering at the Jardines, Queenstown, New Zealand
    • The Best Beginner Boulders in the Buttermilks, Bishop, CA
  • Backpacking
  • Hiking
  • Travel
  • Destinations
    • California
    • Iceland
    • Idaho
    • Washington
    • Utah
    • Greece
    • New Zealand
    • Norway
  • Gear Reviews
    • How to Build Out a Subaru Outback Without Any Building
  • Work With Me!