Dick Hagerty, an Oakdale real estate developer active in community nonprofits, has written an excellent community column in the Modesto Bee about getting outdoors and hiking the Sierras.
I truly love getting outdoors, and I encourage everyone to visit the cathedrals of nature and see what something beyond your TV screen and computer monitor. The world is a wide and wonderous place!
From the column:
It is not too late in the summer season to take a short drive up to the mountains and enjoy a day hiking through the woods and the wilderness. We just did the Panorama Trail in Yosemite this week, and despite the very strenuous ups and downs it was one of the all time greatest view treks I have ever experienced.
Day hikes in the Sierra are one of the pure joys that those of us living in the Stanislaus area can enjoy with little expense and time involved.
These outings are easily accessible and require a minimum of special equipment. Actually all that is required is a comfortable pair of hiking shoes or boots and a bottle of water.
Day hikes do not require reservations or permits and they are as varied as the energy levels of each individual hiker.
You can read the rest of the column HERE.