Spring is in Full Bloom in San Francisco

On a recent hike, I was asked what comes to mind when I think of spring. I liked this question because it's not something I hadn't really thought about before in any concrete way.

As I thought about it, I realized that for me, spring means the change in light and the burst of color from new flowers.

Springtime flowers in Redfield Alley in Russian Hill

Since starting Urban Hiker SF last summer, I have gained an acute sense of the changes in weather and season.

During the summer, the bushes and trees burst with fruit exhibiting nature's abundance throughout the city. As fall comes, the rain transforms the brown, dusty hilltops into lush green hideaways. And there are much more subtle shifts too too. There's a changing of the guard for the city's flowers seemingly every few weeks. There's always something new to look at.

Now is a great time to get out for a hike because there is evidence of spring almost everywhere you look. On a recent hike in the Presidio, I saw gorgeous lilies growing wild by the dozen. On hike yesterday in Russian Hill, flowers filled up a tiny garden with color. My 1:30 pm hikes, which usually end with a darkening sky and a cool breeze are now warm and light the whole hike through.

Lilies in the Presidio

In spring, the world just seems greener. What comes to mind when you think of spring?

Comments

Four Quick Steps For Identifying Poison Oak

It's that time of year again, and poison oak leaves are sprouting out all over the Bay Area. Getting poison oak is no fun, so if you don't know what poison oak looks like, today is your day to learn! Poi son oak, you say... So first, why is poison oak so poisonous? It's not that it's actually poisonous, but it does contain urushiol , an oil that can irritate the skin, causing rashes or blisters. The frustrating thing about poison oak (well, one of many frustrating things) is that it's hard to know immediately if you've had contact with the plant. It normally takes 24-36 hours for any skin irritation to appear. I have a quick four-step system to identify poison oak. Feel free to check it out and let me know what you think. (Remember, I am not a medical professional. This is not medical advice. :)) The four-step system Step 1: Listen to the old adage, "Leaves of three, let it be." Poison oak has clusters of three leaves on the entire plan...

Two Great Hikes Near Cavallo Point and Fort Baker

L ast year, I went to a wedding reception at the Cavallo Point Lodge and my boyfriend and I decided to spend the night there. The morning after the reception, we wanted to take advantage of our location and get some exercise, so we decided to explore some local trails. I revisited these trails again recently and wanted to write about them so you can take advantage of them, too. Hike 1: Cavallo Point Loop  1.9 miles, 300 feet elevation gain Shortened version on the trail on Relive Strava route to download or duplicate From outside the hotel’s main building (where the valet stand is) walk diagonally across the large lawn to reach the intersection of Murray Circle and Center Road. There you'll see a (small) trail sign for the Bay Trail. Head straight here onto Moore Road and then take your first left onto Sommerville Street. Start walking along Horseshoe Bay. When you reach the Presidio Yacht Club after about 0.1 mile, take a wood walkway in front of ...

Hike all of SF Post 6: Lake Merced Loop

I'm on a mission to #hikeallofsf . These are the stories of my hikes. _______________ ______________________________ _________ The Lake Merced Loop at 4.2 or 4.5 miles Hike Name: Lake Merced Loop Distance: 4.2 - 4.5 miles Elevation: <100 feet Difficulty: Easy to moderate Time: 1.5 - 2 hours Dog Friendly: Yes, on leash Hike Description Lake Merced is located in the Lakeshore neighborhood in the southwestern corner of San Francisco. The Lake Merced loop is not the most scenic hike in San Francisco, nor it is the most peaceful. Despite these negatives, what I like about this hike is that it carries a certain sense of accomplishment with it. It’s a good enough distance that you’re going to be walking for an hour to an hour and a half, and you get to circle an entire natural lake and bird habitat. Much of this route is flanked with busy roads - namely Lake Merced Boulevard, John Muir Drive, and Skyline Drive, so expect to hear some leve...

Urban Hiker SF

Search This Blog