Paulina Dao, Author at stg.littlegrunts.com

Adventures Hiking

My 5 Favorite Bay Area Hikes

The folks at Arc’teryx Stanford Center asked me to share a few of my favorite Bay Area hikes and nonprofits at their spring launch event. There’s nothing I love more than talking about outdoor adventure, so I happily obliged.

For this roundup, I only wanted to include hikes within an hour of the Bay Area. These are all places you can go and get in mileage but still make it back in time for dinner and drinks with friends.

These are the best Bay Area hikes that I return to time and time again.

Paulina Dao April 5, 2018

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Adventures Backpacking Hiking

Hiking the Heritage Grove, Sam McDonald County Park

I turned 28 on a quiet evening in the Sierra Club Hiker’s Hut. The next morning, we woke up to fog and the slow pitter patter of rain on the wooden hut. Josh had class in the afternoon and I had plans to curl up in bed for a lazy birthday. We packed up all our things to head back home.

Instead of retracing our steps, we opted for the Heritage Grove trail instead.

Paulina Dao April 3, 2018

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Adventures Backpacking

Staying at the Ollie Mayer Hiker’s Hut

I’ve been winging it on plans lately. I seriously just don’t feel like planning anything. I realized a few weeks ago that my birthday was coming up. Last year, I backpacked in Zion. I’d taken the day off work, but aside from that there was nothing on the schedule.

The Sierra Club Hiker’s Hut in Sam McDonald County Park is a spot I’ve been meaning to check out for a while. It’s close enough for me to not want to spend a weekend there when I could be elsewhere. But for a quick overnighter for my birthday, it was perfect and did not disappoint.

Paulina Dao March 22, 2018

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Gear

Outdoor Research Ascendant Hoody

In 2015, Outdoor Research introduced the Uberlayer Hoody to its line up of puffies. To this day, it’s still one of the pieces that I reach for the most. Last spring, the Ascendant Hoody popped onto the line-up, as the Uberlayer’s lightweight little sister.

How does it compare?

Paulina Dao March 5, 2018

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Adventures Climbing

Staying at the Hostel California

Normally when we head to Bishop, we camp. Tent sites are cheap at the Pit and free in the Buttermilks. Camping is easy and close to climbing. It’s kind of a no brainer.

This past trip over the long February weekend was a little different. We were spoiled with a stay at the Hostel California. Their slogan is “Pro climber luxury, dirtbag prices”. Read on to see if the hostel was true to its word.

Paulina Dao March 1, 2018

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