Stuart G.'s Profile

Great experience from estimate to permit.  Price appeared competitive and good value. Crew was capable, friendly and considerate. Everyone arrived on time and our complete new install was completed to schedule, with no surprises.

Been a customer with these guys for at least five years and I've received nothing but great responsive service and competitive pricing.  I've never had to call on their services as a result of an incident (thankfully) but in every respect I've worked with them they've been nothing short of professional.

(They recently changed their name from Legoullon to True Blue, btw)

It's hard to fault REI on selection and service, and totally impossible to pick fault with their returns policy which has saved my neck on multiple occasions.

Some items can be a little on the pricey side, but if you're patient enough to wait for one of the regular sales then you'll be laughing.  And at least you can always comfort yourself in the knowledge that you'll be getting 10% off with your dividend.  (You are a member, aren't you?)

We enjoyed the park's 4 1/2 mile hike along the Heritage Grove Trail.  It had a little of everything, from gigantic old growth redwood trees to sweeping open views over the neighboring Santa Cruz mountain ridge-tops.

For the most part this loop trail's twists and turns fall under the shelter of a forest canopy, which makes it a good choice for a peninsula hike on a hot summer day.

Remember to check out the Heritage Grove site where you'll find a collection of old growth redwood trees saved from logging by local concerned citizens.

The park requires a day-use fee and is usually unmanned, which means you'll want to bring along a pen and a small fist-full of bills just in case.

I have full details and a map of the trail over here:
http://www.trailspotti...

If you promise to keep a secret, then there's a relatively unknown little coastal hike near Pacifica that I'd like to tell you about - with unparalleled views of the peninsula shoreline.

An area of outstanding coastline and natural habitat of several endangered species, the Pedro Point Headlands tower above Linda Mar beach and the southern most point of Pacifica. Now publicly owned, these lands are slowly recovering from dirt-bike use and are gradually being nursed back to health with plans to eventually open series of official trails.

There's nothing stopping responsible hikers from taking full advantage of all the park has to offer, and if you're particularly lucky you might even have the whole mountain to yourself!

Marker is positioned at the trailhead. I have more information on the trails and the trailhead parking over here:
http://www.trailspotti...

Good food and a great menu too. I can't ever find myself getting excited either by the food or the restaurant itself, but as far as Pacifica cuisine goes, it's certainly above par.

Fast, friendly, tasty, cheap and clean - just like a Subway should be.  Plus the guys there will talk your ear off about soccer if you give any kind of acknowledgment that you've vaguely heard of the sport before.

Oh, and did I mention that they're fast already. These guys have the production line down to a tee.

You won't find the Mt. Dana Summit Trail on your National Park Service map and you're unlikely to find it in your hiking guidebook either. What you will find on this trail however, is a challenging trip up the second highest peak in Yosemite National Park which rewards with some of the best panoramic views you'll experience anywhere.

Hike up the side of Yosemite Valley and reap the rewards of one of the finest views in the world.  Sure, you could drive up to Glacier Point and get the same view, but  it's the journey that makes you appreciate it all the more.

Full trail review, photos and trail map over at Trailspotting: http://bit.ly/ZfL0j
(9 1/2 mile out-and-back hike.)

It's difficult to approach Yosemite's Half Dome without a sense of trepidation. Perhaps it's the scale of the seventeen mile hike and 4,800ft elevation gain. Perhaps it's a fear of heights and worry over the final ascent of the cables, almost a mile above the valley floor. Alternatively, maybe it's just the dread of the Yosemite crowds compounded by the added attraction of Half Dome itself.

An early start is essential to mounting an attempt on Yosemite's crowning glory and sunrise is a good time to start.

I have a full trail map and set of photos over here:
Trailspotting - Half Dome: http://bit.ly/HpJAm

Have no doubt the final ascent up Half Dome looks crazy, almost vertical. In truth the climb is relatively safe thanks to the cable & post system erected by the Park, and though steep, the incline rarely exceeds 45 degrees. Anyone who can tackle a 17-mile day hike can overcome this final climb with little difficulty - I've witnessed folk from their early teens to both early teenage kids and folks well into their sixties (and likely much beyond) climbing the cables.

One final note on the crowds. Whilst we prefer our trails to be tranquil and well away from the throngs of the masses, that's never likely to be the case on Half Dome. Unused to sharing the route with such a large of traffic we were surprised to find that we begin to enjoy the company - sharing expressions, comments and even the occasional joke. And perhaps that's because we're mixing with people like us - people who'd get up at 5am to hike seventeen miles up a mountain and back!