Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25127
SAN FRANCISCO You can scream all you want, San Francisco has some of the best waves in California. Ocean Beach, located within the city limits, has powerful, s~ifty peaks that throw fairly hard and will even humble touring pros. This isn't a place to grab your "rental" and charge out. If the ocean doesn't school you with its rules of phy,sics, the sharp-toothed "landlords" will. Give Wise Surfboards (415-750-9473) a call for current conditions. The word "birthplace" gets thrown around a little too much around here but what the hell. Sammy, Frank and Dean had Vegas. Mt Tamalpais is a damn good place to ride a mountain bike, and that's important for you to know. Head north over the Golden Gate Bridge and you smack right into the thing. The best bet is to head into Mill Valley, one of many towns that border the mountain. Mill Valley Cyclewerks (415-388-6774) on Miller Avenue in Mill Valley has a guy named Ed. Talk to Ed. He' ll make sure you head in the right direction. During the warmer months, stay on the trai Is on the western slope, they tend to be about ten degrees cooler. Find a trail that takes you down to the Pelican Inn (415-383-6000 www.pelicaninn.com) in Muir Beach (it's an old English pub). Drink. Rock climbing is by far the safest way to scare the snot out of yourself. Donner is about one hour from Lake Tahoe so maximize your days here, sports fans. From the town of Truckee, head west towards the Donner Summit. That's where all those people ate each other many years ago when the mule trains got stuck going over the pass. The story goes that the whole crew ran out of food and started gnawing on each other .... Donner Summit is great for rock climbing, with easy access to climbs for all you flatlanders who start to wheeze in the high altitudes. As you take the road up to the summit, which is the old highway, you ' ll instant- ly begin to see the climbs all around you. Get a local guidebook or call the National Forests Service (303-275-5350). The guidebook is cheap and filled with a bunch of really good information. The key to climbing is actually making it safe. Don't screw that part up.