Hiking Adventures in the San Francisco Peninsula and Beyond
As some know, I teach a Comparative Privacy Law course at a local law school. Before my Monday night class, I was able to attend the tail end of a program on the invasion of Ukraine and why it matters. The student audience was engaged and the discussion robust. I spent the first few minutes of class … Continue reading Kyiv
Kiev I was born in Ukraine, Kiev to be precise. It is still Kiev to me, not Kyiv. I left when I was five, in 1979, turning six in Italy, en route to the United States. We, ten of us, arrived in San Francisco on November 30, 1979. I celebrate that day, usually in my … Continue reading Ukraine
The California Poppy, captured during our last hike (Mount Diablo) I have been enamored of this concept for quite some time. Not exactly minimalism or disposing of anything that does not spark joy. Decluttering, yes. Not exactly essentialism or mindfulness, although both can be worthwhile, for different reasons. Not shorter, less strenuous hikes, although next … Continue reading Less is More
Summit (3849 feet) Some stats, notes and observations: Duration: 7 hours (including a few stops for water, snacks, etc.)Distance: 13 milesElevation Gain: 4,200+ feetWeather: 47° F at 8am; 75° F at 3pmStarting Location: Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center, 96 Mitchell Canyon Road (Clayton)Hike (URL): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mitchell-rock-mount-diablo-and-north-peak-loopMount Diablo Information: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517Lunch: BYO. Notes and Observations: Leave early. Parking lot opens at 8am sharp. Bring $6 (exact … Continue reading Mount Diablo
View from the ridge just to the south of Mission Peak Some stats, notes and observations: Duration: 5 hours (including a few stops for water, snacks, etc.)Distance: 11.6 milesElevation Gain: 3,363 feetWeather: 42° F at 8am; 62° F at 1pmStarting Location: Ohlone College - Student Parking K, Pine St, Fremont, CA 94539 (37.52772, -121.9154)Hike (URL): Mission Peak and Peak Meadow … Continue reading Mission Peak
Perfection in a bag Not quite, but close. No, these beans will not help you navigate the rules of COVID, which seem to change by the day, or the hyper-volatile stock market, or illuminate the metaverse, defi, or crypto, but they will make the early morning videoconference less unbearable. For what it’s worth, I’m an early riser … Continue reading Magic Beans
Dear Reader, Time to rebrand. Why? Reflections was too serious a title and really said nothing about what you might find on this site. Reflections on what? Exactly. The Daily Grind is more apt, although, I concede, not terribly original. Perhaps slightly better than Central Perk. Let me know if you agree. That said, I … Continue reading The Daily Grind
Sugarloaf Peak (San Mateo, CA) The surge continues. But, at Sugarloaf Peak, in San Mateo, but for a masked hiker (new show?) or two, it might as well be business as usual. Mind you, Sugarloaf was not my first choice. Pulgas Ridge (https://johnpavolotsky.com/2021/12/24/pulgas-ridge-and-hiking-year-in-review/), my go-to for dog friendly hikes, was packed, no parking except on the streets, perhaps a third … Continue reading Sugarloaf Peak
Leading one of my monthly hikes, to Point Reyes this time I never envisioned myself as a coach, but one day my spouse volunteered me to be an assistant coach for my son’s AYSO U-10 soccer team. I had fun and next year I volunteered myself to be head coach. In AYSO, everyone plays, essentially equal time. A … Continue reading Find a Coach!
Stairs to Point Reyes Lighthouse Trust but verify. Trust is earned. Trust me (pun intended), I get it. In no small part, the job of a lawyer is to question, probe, challenge, test, etc. the assumptions and motivations of his, her, or their clients and the other side. More granularly, we scrutinize not only individual words, but the placement … Continue reading Trust (In a Low Trust World)
The Peninsula Hiking Club 