If there's one way I love to spend my meager paycheck, it's on gear. I love finding ways to keep it budge. Here's what it would look like if someone put a grenade in my pack:

What a mess. There's my REI Mars 85 pack, all my clothing layers, a couple dry sacks, medical kit, MSR water boiler, floppy green bowl and cup, Steri-pen, and the great Mora knife. 

Someone came to see why I was standing on the chair.

This is my current plan for if I have to float the pack in deep water. I'm thinking it could float on my mattress if it's not buoyant enough.

This is what I'll see as my pack floats down the river without me.

Excitement grows as my voyage to Arizona draws nearer. I look forward to many close encounters with Arizona's bounty of dry and poisonous flora and fauna. However since that's a few weeks away, I thought I'd put up some pictures of California's intensely massive bounty of nature. Follow me on my long-haired adventures of 2011!

Looking good and sassy at Flag Hill. I'm the jerk on the right.
Sunol Regional Wilderness is a great park staffed by very friendly, helpful people.
Definitely worth supporting if you're in the area.

Lupine, my grandma's favorite flower. (Sunol Regional Wilderness)

Miner's Lettuce. What can I say? It's edible and everywhere. California! (Sunol Regional Wilderness)

The inlet to San Francisco Bay as seen from the Land's End trail in San Francisco. Nature's splendor.

Actually, that day was kinda hazy. Land's End, San Francisco, CA.

A chance encounter with one of California's favorite residents... Bigfoot. This was taken at the "Legend of Bigfoot" roadside store (2500 Highway 101 in Garberville). 

My bro crew for a long weekend at Lost Coast, CA. This is our trailhead at Black Sands Beach. Arcata, CA

Probably the most luxurious campsite in California, and I'm all about living large.
We were very lucky to snag it first this day. Big Flat on the Lost Coast Trail, Arcata CA.

Buck Creek meeting with the Pacific. Lost Coast Trail, Arcata, CA.

The sun heading around the corner at one of our campsites. Lost Coast Trail, Arcata CA.

The best and worst thing about this section of the Lost Coast Trail was that we could see our
destination the entire time. Torturous. Arcata, CA.

Me, my gut, and my sister in law at the Hetch Hetchy Trailhead.
We ended up making the Lake Vernon loop, starting out at Rancheria. Best tap water in California! Yosemite, CA.

Two of my favorite backpacking friends, lost in Emigrant Wilderness.
This was taken about a half mile East of Chain Lakes, en route to Studhorse Meadow.
After this, I bought a new compass.

More pondering and plundering in nature! Emigrant Wilderness, CA.

Looking West into the Grouse Lake Valley. California is amazing. Emigrant Wilderness, CA.

My tent of GLORY. Oh wondrous tent, great protector of Chris. Keeper-awayer of harmful creatures.
Praise be to REI. Lost Coast, CA.

And that concludes my picture post about my observations of nature in 2011 where I remembered to take my camera. Until next time, may your bounty be plentiful.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! If you are here, you are interested in exploring nature's massive bounty. As am I, friend. My name is Chris. I live in San Francisco's Richmond District. Here are a few important things to consider when reading my blog: 1) I am poor, 2) I am a "city boy", and 3) I am in no way "athletic." Whilst my definition of "adventures", "nature", and maybe even "bounty" are truly flexible, they are none the less true for me.

As we enter-eth the beginning of April, I am planning two trips. The first (and my first trip leaving the state) will be to Arizona to explore the Sedona and West Clear Creek Wilderness areas. After that, Yosemite in June. Oh the preparation. Oh the many, many joys.