What we’re about
Welcome to our Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Jose hiking and friendship group. Make friends and sweat 💦😅😋😊👍.
We offer an array of outdoor activities, with a focus on moderate to challenging hikes. Our hikes are also a place to learn some of the natural history of our area. Some hikes will go slowly enough to identify and photograph plants and mushrooms, and the occasional newt or bird (or mammal, of course). Other hikes are more focused on getting a good workout in a beautiful environment, in the company of other pleasant people. Most of our hikes are a mix of the two. Please be compassionate and mindful of everyone during our hikes.
We also sponsor a smaller number of indoor activities, be it (optionally) getting together at a pub or restaurant after a hike, or our monthly, roving trivia night. We sometimes refer to these events, affectionately and mirthfully, as "Connect Indoors".
Please join us!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Quail Hollow: Unique sand hill ecosystem [Ben Lomond]Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, Felton, CA
Join us for a trip into one of our rare Sandhill ecosystems. The terrain and views are quite nice, but not as spectacular as the natural history and flora. The pygmy redwood forest is fascinating, while the tiny fern that saved us from the age of dinosaurs and fever swamps at the poles is mind blowing.
This is a relatively gentle hike, so those who want to stop for a quick photo or plant ID will be able to stop briefly and then catch up with the group.
3 to 4 miles, 600’ elevation (map).Parking does get quite full on weekends, so carpooling recommended!
Natural history: "The Sandhills–exposed remnants of an ancient seabed now four miles from shore. Here in the Sandhills, an ecosystem has developed that is remarkably different from the surrounding habitats of mixed evergreen forest, with plants and animals that have evolved to survive in the porous, nutrient-lean sandy soil. Some of those creatures are found nowhere else in the world. And ponderosa pines grow here but are virtually never seen elsewhere in California at such low elevations. Once covering 6,000 to 7,000 acres, the Sandhills are now down to 4,000 (including only 2,500 that are completely undeveloped), displaced by home building, mining, and the introduction of nonnative animals and plant like acacia. Today the Sandhills, once contiguous, are cut into several fragments, owned and managed by different entities, including a state and a county park, and also separated by houses and a mining operation. Despite the fractured nature of the habitat, pieces of it still persist and, with a little help, just might survive".
From Bay Nature magazineWe will also be looking for the four species of Manzanita that we identified a last year in the related sand hills ecosystem of the Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve.
After hiking some of us may stop for food or happy hour. Options include The Trout Farm down the road, Tavern in Felton, or someplace you suggest.
Links
Endangered Santa Cruz Wallflower
Protecting yourself from ticks
Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for this hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.
- Trivia Night [Abbott Square]Abbott Square, Santa Cruz, CA
Join us for the first Abbott Square Trivia Night of the Summer, hosted by Lookout Santa Cruz, and let’s see if our winning streak from 2023 is revived in 2025!
6pm — Arrive and find each other (look for Debra’s magnetic smile (center of photo). Brainstorm a group name! Buy some food or beer!!
6:30 — Trivia game begins.
8pm — Game ends.
8:10 — 9pm Optional sunset walk to work off the beer?NOTE on tickets: We have tickets for 10 members, and may grab another 10 if we have a large demand. You may initially be on the waitlist, as we sort out our team. Please do not “no-show” if you get a seat with us (just update your RSVP on this page). Returning attendees may be given priority from the waitlist, due to their track record of showing up.
Abbott Square Trivia web page here.During our legendary winning streak of yore, the Abbott Square goodie bag of prizes was fun, but unlike Greater Purpose trivia night, it included no free beer! Of course, free beer had its down side. What trims the budget can pad the waistline. 😂 Also, we regret to report, Greater Purpose went bankrupt as we started to cash in our winnings, so maybe Abbott Square has wised up. GP has been replaced by Balefire Brewing, sans the game room / ping pong tables 😢.
Come at 6pm to help us commandeer a table or two! Games start at 6:30.
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Our original / notorious trivia intro:
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Is your brain a trove of useless facts? Useless no longer! Join our team to compete in this high-stakes trivia competition!If they ask about Santa Cruz hiking trails, or which local wildflower garners the word "fetid" in its name, we've got it covered. But, for more arcane topics, like music, or Kanye West's shoe size, we are at a loss. That's why we need you!
Help round out our square team. If hundreds show up, we can just branch out into multiple teams like a high IQ plasmodium! (Haven't heard of plasmodium? Hmmm, don't tell your trivia mates, and learn about them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8HEDqoTPgk).
Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for a trivia night, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any social activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.
- Franklin Point & Butano State Park: North Coast Explore!Butano State Park, San Francisco, CA
Stay cool this Wednesday by hiking in the ocean breeze. We’ll be exploring Butano in the afternoon and then (extended option) catch the sunset at Franklin Point!
There is also a short walk in wetlands we can explore between Butano and Franklin Point, known to bird watchers. Combined, all three hikes would be about 7 miles & ~900’ elevation.
Join One or Both:
1) Moderate (4.5 miles) but strenuous hike in Butano
2) Sunset / Full Moon Rising! Starts w mellow walk through the Pescadero marshlands (bird habitat), finishing at Franklin Point for the celestial handover.Full Details Coming!
Comment below, or message me, if you have questions.
Schedule (TBD):
4pm - Meet at Butano [Coming] HIKE
6:30pm — Meet at the marsh [“]
7:30pm -- Walk to Franklin Point: Meet at the "North Whitehouse Creek Trail" directly across Highway 1 from the main Costanoa entrance. Here is the route from Hwy 1 Brewing. Note there is another trail labelled Franklin Point, but we will walk the N Whitehouse trail. The parking area is not highly visible from the road, so watch for the big Costanoa sign (see image in photos).Butano Parking: The main lot is convenient, but as a State Park you will want to bring an annual pass or pay a small fee (~$6-10).
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Stay cool this Wednesday by hiking in the ocean breeze. We’ll be exploring Butano in the afternoon and then (extended option) catch the sunset at Franklin Point!
Combined, the three hikes will be about 6 miles & ~500’ elevation.
Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for this hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any social activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.
- Trivia Night [Abbott Square]Abbott Square, Santa Cruz, CA
Join us for the first Abbott Square Trivia Night of the Summer, hosted by Lookout Santa Cruz, and let’s see if our winning streak from 2023 is revived in 2025!
6pm — Arrive and find each other (look for Debra’s magnetic smile (center of photo). Brainstorm a group name! Buy some food or beer!!
6:30 — Trivia game begins.
8pm — Game ends.
8:10 — 9pm Optional sunset walk to work off the beer?NOTE on tickets: We have tickets for 10 members, and may grab another 10 if we have a large demand. You may initially be on the waitlist, as we sort out our team. Please do not “no-show” if you get a seat with us (just update your RSVP on this page). Returning attendees may be given priority from the waitlist, due to their track record of showing up.
Abbott Square Trivia web page here.During our legendary winning streak of yore, the Abbott Square goodie bag of prizes was fun, but unlike Greater Purpose trivia night, it included no free beer! Of course, free beer had its down side. What trims the budget can pad the waistline. 😂 Also, we regret to report, Greater Purpose went bankrupt as we started to cash in our winnings, so maybe Abbott Square has wised up. GP has been replaced by Balefire Brewing, sans the game room / ping pong tables 😢.
Come at 6pm to help us commandeer a table or two! Games start at 6:30.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --
Our original / notorious trivia intro:
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --
Is your brain a trove of useless facts? Useless no longer! Join our team to compete in this high-stakes trivia competition!If they ask about Santa Cruz hiking trails, or which local wildflower garners the word "fetid" in its name, we've got it covered. But, for more arcane topics, like music, or Kanye West's shoe size, we are at a loss. That's why we need you!
Help round out our square team. If hundreds show up, we can just branch out into multiple teams like a high IQ plasmodium! (Haven't heard of plasmodium? Hmmm, don't tell your trivia mates, and learn about them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8HEDqoTPgk).
Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for a trivia night, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any social activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.
![Quail Hollow: Unique sand hill ecosystem [Ben Lomond] cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/a/b/e/event_503383710.webp "Quail Hollow: Unique sand hill ecosystem [Ben Lomond]")
![Trivia Night [Abbott Square] cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/d/0/5/event_515504293.webp "Trivia Night [Abbott Square]")
