In the past year, I have become a semi-prolific (day) hiker. A friend pointed out that real hikers go on multi-day treks. I do not disagree, but I am not much of a camper, and a one-day 10-mile loop suits me just me. A multi-day Alps trek is very tentatively planned for Fall 2022. Huts, not tents, for that one, but still the real deal.
In the United States, Monday was Memorial Day, honoring fallen soldiers and other military personnel. In retrospect, a visit to the Presidio and Crissy Field was quite appropriate. The primary driver was to escape a heat wave (of sorts) in the Peninsula. The cool breezes from the Pacific, as they passed over, under, and through the Golden Gate, were much welcomed. When I started at my current company, 8 years ago, there was an office in the Presidio, near the Lombard Gate. I worked from there about once a month and thoroughly enjoyed each visit, especially the views. It was nice to be back, to retrace my steps, to talk walk through the past. San Francisco Days is a Chris Isaak song/album from the early 1990s. Listen to it when you have a chance. Similarly, if you’re looking to learn more about San Francisco, during the seminal and turbulent 1960s-1980s, read Season of the Witch (Talbot), an eye opener even for a near native San Franciscan.
As I have written in other posts, I moved to San Francisco in the late 1970s, when I was 6. I grew up in avenues, in the Richmond and Sunset districts, where summers were foggy, cold, and sometimes raw. Other parts of the City usually fared better, with the fog line sometimes not advancing beyond Twin Peaks. June-August were particularly dreary, and an escape to more pleasant climes was always appreciated. For a few summers, I attended a summer camp in San Francisco with almost daily trips to Junipero Serra County Park (San Bruno), about 15 miles south of San Francisco, and just beyond the fog line. I recall a grassy area at the top of a hill, with views of San Bruno Mountain, SFO, downtown San Francisco, and the East Bay in the distance, where we played capture the flag, red rover, and other childhood games. I recall hiking this park, the towering eucalyptus trees, the over-abundant (and bright red) poison oak plants, and a connecting trail down to San Bruno City Park, with a heavy, and much-welcomed, canopy. Last Friday, after an almost 40-year hiatus, I retraced my steps, with the very competent assistance of my dog. Unsurprisingly, the park was much smaller than I had remembered, but, otherwise, it was largely unchanged. Start at the De Anza parking lot and proceed south to the Quail Loop Trail, which, after a steady, but very manageable, climb will lead you to the grassy field. On the way down, switch to the Live Oak Nature Trail and enjoy the coast live oak, valley oak, California buckeye, pacific madrone, and California bay trees, before returning to the lot.
In the past week, I have also hiked Sugarloaf and the Bay Trail, both in San Mateo. While shorter hikes, these are always welcomed, especially after being glued to the computer screen for most of the week.
As noted in other posts, hikes are not bereft of substantive conversations. During one of the hikes above, I discussed, with a friend, the process by which a new role could be created in an organization. That role could be a standard position posted (or filled) in another organization or a novel role, that (hopefully) meets the needs of the organization in question. Invariably, creating such a role would require considerable pre-work (and timing), and the initial conversation would need to be with someone at the top of the relevant organization. A crystal-clear charter and value proposition would also be imperative. The simpler route would be to be presented an interesting opportunity by someone you know (and trust). One friend, an engineer, recently mentioned hiring a former boss (and friend). This seems less of an option for legal jobs, but I could be wrong.
Similarly, hikes provide ample opportunity to discuss business books and their practical applications. The Attacker’s Advantage (Charan) and Unapologetically Ambitious (Archambeau) are two such examples.
Needless to say, there are more hikes to plan (and conversations to enjoy). Comments welcomed.
The Peninsula Hiking Club 