Ascending San Francisco's mountain peaks on a cold and foggy morning: 3 September 2016

Sixteen people met at 9:00 a.m. at Starbucks Coffee on West Portal Avenue in San Francisco. Lincoln was going to lead the group on a hike of San Francisco's mountain peaks. The agenda included Mount Davidson, Twin Peaks, Mount Sutro, Tank Hill, Mount Olympus, Corona Heights Park and Grand View Park. The fog was dense, and it was windy and cold; precisely the kind of weather that builds character! I used a wide-angle 9mm fisheye body cap lens to take the photographs. I left the walk in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, at which time I walked up to Carl Street where I boarded an N-Judah streetcar going to a BART station.

A view from the summit of Corona Heights Park. Downtown San Francisco is ahead on the left. The fog is beginning to lift. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.

The distance I traveled was approximately 10.4 miles (16.7 kilometers). The cumulative elevation gain was about 2,071 feet (631 meters). Mile markers are displayed on the GPS generated track. Click the image to see the full-size map.



The group meeting at Starbucks Coffee in the West Portal area. Click the image to see the full-size photo.

The fog was thick as we climbed Mount Davidson. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.

The cross on the summit of Mount Davidson. Mount Davidson with an elevation of 928 feet (283 meters), is the highest natural point in San Francisco. Click the image to see the full-size photo.

On Noe Peak, 910 feet (277meters), the southern portion of Twin Peaks. It was windy, cold and foggy. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.


Descending Noe Peak and preparing to ascend Eureka Peak, 904 feet (276 meters) the northern peak of Twin Peaks. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.



A view from Eureka Peak looking East. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.



A view from Tank Hill 650 feet (198 meters), looking North. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.

A view of Mount Olympus 553 feet (169 meters). Click the image to see the full-size photograph.


A view from Corona Heights Park, looking South. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.

 The summit (520 feet, 158 meters), of Corona Heights Park. Downtown San Francisco is visible in the background. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.

This graph shows the elevation changes encountered during the hike. Click the image to see the full-size chart.

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lang 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

My first San Francisco Bay Area Photoblog contains galleries of photographs that I posted between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view the 2002 to 2011 photo galleries.

San Francisco, from the Ferry Building to the Pacific Ocean: 28 August 2016

This was a walk across the northern portion of San Francisco. We started at the Ferry Building and finished near the Pacific Ocean. The weather was glorious. I used a wide-angle 9mm fisheye body cap lens to take the photographs. Donna accompanied me on this jaunt.

The Russian Orthodox Holy Virgin Cathedral is located on Geary Boulevard in the Richmond District. Click the image to see the full-size map.

The distance traveled was approximately 10.0 miles (16 kilometers). The cumulative elevation gain was about 888 feet (271 meters). Mile markers are displayed on the GPS generated track. Click the image to see the full-size map.

The eastern portal of the Sunset Tunnel. Click the image to see the full-size photo.

Traveling west on Sacramento Street and passing Brooklyn Place. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.

St. Dominic Catholic Church had nine flying buttresses added to the structure in the early 1990s to strengthen the building against potential earthquake damage. Click the image to see the full-size photo.

The site of Sutro Baths. Click the image to see the full-size photograph.

The Murphy Windmill is located at the southwestern corner of Golden Gate Park. Click the image to see the full-size photo.

This graph shows the elevation changes encountered during the hike. Click the image to see the full-size chart.

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lang 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

My first San Francisco Bay Area Photoblog contains galleries of photographs that I posted between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view the 2002 to 2011 photo galleries. 

Alleyways, pathways, and one-way streets of San Francisco's Telegraph Hill: 20 August 2016

I decided to view the old narrow one-way streets, alleyways, and pathways that make Telegraph Hill such an intriguing and delightful place to explore. In fact, I did not see all of the locations that I hoped to visit. A second and perhaps a third exploration will be necessary. I used a wide-angle 9mm fisheye body cap lens to take the photographs.

A view of the summit of Telegraph Hill. Coit Tower is sited on the top of the hill. The view is from the Filbert Steps. 

Telegraph Hill as seen in 1892. The picture was taken from Russian Hill; the view is looking East. The Berkeley Hills are across the bay. 

A photo of Telegraph Hill taken in 1896 by Dr. John Eng, a dentist who lived in Oakland. The photo was taken from a ship on San Francisco Bay. The view is looking West. 

A map of the Telegraph Hill streets, alleyways, and footpaths explored on this walk. 

Bartol Alley. 

Bartol Street.

Bartol Street. 

Bartol Alley. 

The intersection of Fresno Street and Grant Avenue. 

Fresno Street. 

Fresno Street. 

The intersection of Romolo Place and Fresno Street. 

Fresno Street. 

The intersection of Fresno Street and Kearney Street. 

The Basque Hotel is located in Romolo Place. 

The bottom of the Vallejo Street Steps. 

The Vallejo Street Steps. 

The top of the Vallejo Street Steps. 

The North Beach Restaurant is located on Stockton Street. 

The Stinking Rose Restaurant is a garlic lover's dream. It is located on Columbus Avenue. 

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church is located on Filbert Street across from Washington Square Park. 

Kearney Street. 

Cafe Trieste and St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church are located on Vallejo Street. 

Hodges Alley. 

Hodges Alley. 

Pollard Place. 

Pollard Place. 

Windsor Place. 

Windsor Place. 

Castle Street. 

School Alley.

School Alley. 

Alta Street. 

The Filbert Steps. 

Genoa Place. 

Sonoma Street. 

Sonoma Street. 

Varennes Street. 

Montague Place. 

Varennes Street. 

Bob Kaufman Street. 

Bob Kaufman Street.

Nobles Alley. 

Medau Place. 

. The intersection of Medau Place and Krausgrill Street. 

Medau Place. 

Krausgrill Place. 

Jasper Place. 

Cadell Place. 

A view looking east from the Filbert Steps. 

This graph shows the elevation changes encountered during the hike.

"A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” Dorothea Lang 

"Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important." Henri Carter-Bresson

"There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer." Ansel Adams

"The important thing is not the camera but the eye." Alfred Eisenstaedt

My first San Francisco Bay Area Photoblog contains galleries of photographs that I posted between 2002 and 2011. Click Here to view the 2002 to 2011 photo galleries.