Napa, CA (Part I)

Napa is, of course, best known for its vineyards and wineries, but I went for the hiking, and the fabulous Margo’s birthday.   We used a CA guide book to identify a semi-long hike that was sure to work up our appetite for wine and taco truck later that night.  We set out for the Bald Mountain Trail at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, widely said to be one of the best wine country hikes around, but we were lost before we hit the parking lot, somehow finding ourselves at the wrong trailhead, and instead taking the Goodspeed trail to Gunsight Rock (http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=XDH006-049).  We were assured by the sweetest local woman, whom looked like she had hiked the trail everyday for the last 100 years, that we were not lost, and that Goodspeed was in fact a much better hike, while Bald Mountain forces you onto a fireroad to the peak.  Happy with our mistake, we continued on Goodspeed through switchbacks lined with Manzanita and wild flowers, and along a sun exposed ridge, making the steady, modest climb to Gunsight rock. 

Gunsight is an amazing, sunny, rock formation overlooking the vineyards in the valley.  This was our main destination (the remaining few hundread feet to the summit didn’t offer much for views, especially for the steepness of the climb) and a great spot to park for lunch.  I packed us almond butter and apple butter sandwiches and Pink Lady apples, but my attention was drawn to the other side of the rock formation to see what delicious treats C+R whipped up: homemade carob balls!  They were tasty and packed with energy, but I was most impressed by how versatile the recipe is…

Super Easy Super Energy Carob Treats:

1 cup peanut butter (or almond butter, or any kind of nut butter)

¾ cup honey (or maple syrup, or ½ cup agave)

¾ cup carob powder ($1.50/lb at Rainbow CoOp)

1 cup toasted wheat germ (or any kind of germ or bran or meal)

½ cup sunflower seeds (or pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, seseme seeds, etc)

Mix it all together.  Use the seeds in the mixture, or to roll the ball in after.  Roll into balls.  Cover in seeds?