Once a month a group of us get together and paddle Newport Harbor after work. We launch from the beach next to the Newport Aquatic Center and paddle over to Pizza Nova in the main harbor in a combination of kayaks and SUPs. There we dock our boats, partake in a feast of pizza and beer, and then paddle back to the cars. We do this all year round and in pretty much all conditions. Light, dark, rain, and the dead of SoCal winter where you're tempted to put a sweater on with your flip-flops.
You can find write-ups of other pizza paddles here. For notifications on when we're doing the next one see our facebook group Pizza Paddle Associates. (Send me a message so I know you're not a spam bot!)

August 29th, 2018

[Pics] [Map]

We've still been doing these monthly -ish but the conditions haven't been ideal for pictures or a write-up. That's unfortunate as we only have another month or two of launching in daylight and enjoying sunsets on the water but at least this months outing was a return to form.

August 25th & 26th, 2018
Mount Crocker (12,458')
Hike In From McGee: 5.9 miles, 2,300 ft 
Hike In From Mosquito: 20.3 miles, 5,200'
Summit Day & Out: 11.9 miles, 2,400'

This was yet another set of peaks I'd eyed for a number of years but never got around to actually climbing meaning they'd been standing out as the only remaining red dots in the area on my Peakbagger SPS map.

Since pretty much everyone we know who has tried to do both Sawtooth and Needham with a group as a two-day backpack has ended up turning back on Needham we decided to make it three and toss in the unlisted Mineral Peak as a bonus climb. We also advertised it as intending to maximize the 3rd class as much as was reasonable and took the opportunity to camp at the less visited Crystal Lake vs the more commonly visited Monarch Lakes.

August 17th to 19th, 2018
Sawtooth Peak (12,343')
Needham Mountain (12,520')
Mineral Peak (11,615')
Day 1: 5.6 mile s, 3,700'
Day 2: 5.7 miles, 3,800'
Day 3: 6.7 miles, 1,600'

[Pics] [CalTopo] [Map]

Last year a trip to Mineral King to climb my namesake peak happened to occur around the birthday of my good friend Victor Gomez. Seeing as how he is a fellow beer aficionado we turned the latter part of our first day into a lakeside alpine beer tasting event.


It turned into such a photogenically good time we just had to plan another! And so this summer we decided to visit Treasure Lakes in August and climb a few easier (-ish) end 3rd class peaks. And we filled up pretty much instantly.

August 4th to 6th, 2018

Trapezoid Peak (12,920')

Mount Johnson (12,871')

Hurd Peak (12,237')
Day 1: 3 miles, 1,300'
Day 2: 6.7 miles, 3,400'
Day 3: 5.5 miles, 2,300'

[Pics] [CalTopo] [Map]