Bushwacking Diaries: Castle Rock State Park

Castle Rock State Park is located in the Village of Cats (Los Gatos), and it is flourishing with natural sandstones and panoramic view of Pacific Ocean overlooking Santa Cruz beach town.

On one weekend in October, I visited this popular nature playground for the first time.

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Nearly one hour into the hike, we realized the trail was ‘cutting off.’ Strange thing. I took the lead on bushwacking route up the seemingly dead end hill trail and advanced to the peak of rocky hill.

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The process of taking unexpected detour into the unpaved trail and getting back to the main trail was quite thrilling and rewarding at the same time. There high on the rocks trees stretch their colorful branches of burning leaves into the autumn sky.

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Next time I visit here, I must come for boldering challenge. Castle Rock (Pictured above) was filled with climbers.

Castle Rock State Park is a great short getaway hike trail in South Bay that welcomes many outdoor enthusiasts.

East Fork Carson River: The Ultimate Hot Spring Experience in California

If there is one thing that stirs autumn sensation in Japanese man’s heart, hot spring is definitely the one.

I remember numerous late summer travels to Japanese country side with my grandmother to visit hot spring in Nagano mountains. Hot spring is more than a pool of hot water to cleanse your body; it is healing source to release tensions from chaos infused modern life. Go figure. Jump into the hot spring and stretch out and you will know exactly what I mean 🙂


 

I had a blast visiting some of the best hot springs in California this past weekend. Trail head to East Fork Carson River is merely 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive from San Francisco Bay Area.

The trip was a grand introduction to discover more hidden hot springs in California…

East Carson River

Waking up early on Saturday morning is never possible without the incitement of golden adventure. In this case, it was easy: Long awaited backpacking hike and hot springs to soak into! It was also perfect season to catch the changing colors of the Eldorado National Forest.

Morning view of Freeway 580 as we drive East from San Francisco.

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Around 11am: we reached the Hope Valley Cafe in Eldorado National Forest to merge with other half of the group.

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Autumn colors were in full swing!

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After meeting with the rest of group – We hit the road for another 20 minutes to reach the end of Diamond Valley Road where we parked our cars and commenced on roughly 5 miles hike to reach the stream of East Fork Carson River where we camped out for a night.

Hot springs are located near the border of Nevada and California (on California side) and it is otherwise hard to reach by ordinary mean of transportation. My Honda Civic wouldn’t make it without busted engine and destroyed tires. I was fortunate to hitch the ride with group of awesome hikers (Greg, Amy, and Meira) and 4WD through dusty road to trail head.      007

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Hiking started with off the path trail into desolated field and continued unto relentless mountain trail that added great elevation gains/losses to the total hike.

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After hiking for 3 hours, the river has finally appeared in our sight.

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One of the small hot springs by the river.
Smell of sulfur that pool emits may bother some people, but to me it was a great reminder of hot springs visited in Japan.

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At night, I took a very long bath at one of the hot springs that sits atop the hill overlooking the river stream below. Sense of time was rather useless, and all I could see was a last streak of sunlight gradually vanishing into the West mountains.

Once the lights are diminished and darkness engulfed the surroundings, I looked up to the night sky and saw a carpet of stars shimmering above my head. It was very bright night despite the absence of moon. Beautiful illumination of galaxies drew sufficient amount of light to the earth and with only my head above the steaming pool surface I have indulged on this magical view.
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As if by magic, the moon appeared from the top of mountain and pitched a long silver reflection on the river surface like a spear thrusting into the water. I watched the silver hand reaching the depth of river bed… and with it I felt my muscle aches dissolved into the steam.


In the morning, when the temperature was still low I saw the steam trail created by hot spring stream.

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In the modern world, convenience is the twist of valve that magically produces the hot water; but in real world that is miracle. Being in the wilderness even for a day can let you feel the blessing of mother nature that warms up your cold body from the inside. Morning bath in the hot spring is necessity for chilled body waking up in the middle of desolated valley, and certainly something to look forward to.

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If you are all sore from heavy duty life and tense from fixated daily cycle, maybe it is time for you to pack up and make a hike to natural hot spring.

Over 5 miles of intensive hike with 38 lbs. backpack may be a bit of challenge for backpacking starters (you can make it even lighter if you are smart about packing though) however, the cost you pay for the epic moon gaze and witnessing sunrise from hot spring is well worth it. East Fork Carson River was nice little hidden spot in California that I can certify as legit hot springs experience (as semi-professional hot springs enthusiast from Japan of course 🙂 ).

Suddenly, Boston: AGFA Vista plus 200

4 years ago, I was living in the heart of city also known as Beantown. I was poor college student working 3 shifts and constantly browsing through used CD racks at Newbury Comics and attending shows at Middle East Downstairs.

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbHSummer of 2008 in so many ways has the best memories of me in Boston. I’ve seen Dinosaur Jr., The Cure, M83, and visited Museum of Fine Arts like 10 times over the course of late July and August. Summer season in Boston can’t beat the summer season in any other places; an ephemeral advent of delightful sunlight transforms the New England into paradise for youth.

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbH

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbHI sincerely miss the liveliness of Boston in summer.
My recent trip to celebrate my friends’ wedding in Cambridge somehow put me in a small time machine to revisit good times that flowed almost eternally.

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbH

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbHOne thing I completely forgot about Boston after living in California for 4 years is how this city is a big academic center. I visited Boylston Street/Tremont Street crosswalk where I used to pass by every day while attending Emerson. I saw gazillion of students and parents wearing their school T-shirts respectively, and turning their heads around with guide maps trying to find where the Freedom trail starts. I used to be there too.

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbH

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbHMaybe I am no longer a college student who once had less responsibilities and more time in hand that I feel a bit of outsider now.

Perhaps it may be a sign that I am getting old.

Nonetheless, it was quite natural to stop at each memory spot from my college days and realize that I do not belong to the same place. This feeling was neither sad nor disappointing, it was just simply interesting like finding onion ring in your french fries.

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbH

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbHOne great thing that highlighted my short visit to Beantown was reunion with all the familiar faces. Friends from college and my family. Although there are only quite few left in town, it was amazing how we can see each other again and dance to the same songs we used to dance to. I was too grateful and into the full swing of alcohols to even take proper pictures of nice wedding ceremony at Cambridge Art Center.

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbHCongrats, James & Sara!

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My brother lives in Somerville, MA which is northern neighbor to Cambridge, MA. It is quite peaceful town sharing streets and house numbers with other sweet small neighborhoods in the area: Inman Square, Union Square, and Porter Square. When I took T-train to Central Square Station, I immediately remembered all the days hanging out with friends under “slight” influence of beverages and carrying around boxes of camera gears trying to interview people on the street for documentary project. Boston has special place in my heart, and it will continue to be my 3rd place to call home (I have 6 homes at the moment).

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Here is some iconic view of Charles River from Massachusetts Avenue bridge facing West. Citgo sign and Fenway Park to the left.

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I was quite surprised to see the new transformation of Newbury Street. Many new coffee shops and boutique shops opened up. It may well be the second coming of Williamsburg in Boston.

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Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbH

Traffic on Mass Pike.

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Pru and John Hancock Tower near Hynes Convention Center.

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbHSomerville at dusk.  Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbH

Morning walk in Harvard Square was quite refreshing and reminded me of all the small charms this place has.

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I love you Boston, until next time.