[asdfman123]

Off topic, but I realized that I can initiate a backpacking trip by walking out of my front door near El Camino, over the foothills, and all the way to Half Moon Bay. Maybe secretly camping in a state park up there in between.

This is extremely novel to me, being from Houston, and I definitely want to try it now.

[qrohlf]

Have a peek at https://doingmiles.com/hike-sf/ for some longer itineraries like this. Lots of options if you're willing to do a little stealth camping (please be ethical/considerate [1])

[1] good writeup from the same authors https://doingmiles.com/techniques-stealth/

[zupzupper]

Look up the skyline to sea trail, it's near you.and wonderful.

[greendave]

Note that much of that trail is still closed from the 2020 CZU fire (basically all the sections in Big Basin - about 12 miles).

[zupzupper]

Oh dang, I'd have thought they'd opened back up by now. Well shoot, good to know.