In the evening of January 30th, 2026, 21 YSCers and friends gathered at Slice House on Haight Street to fuel up before our hike. Shortly after 6:30 PM, we headed down Haight Street toward Buena Vista Park, where we were joined by another member who surprised us along the trail by jumping out of the bushes.
We took a quick detour to enjoy views of the city lights from the top of Duboce Street before continuing up to the picnic grounds. There, we stopped to gaze at the stars and the nearly full moon while enjoying chocolates provided by long-time member Niels Nielsen.
After our break, we stopped by the “Storybook House” at 45 Upper Terrace. Built in 1917 using rubble from the 1906 earthquake, this historic brick building is well-known for its elaborate Halloween decorations and is one of the few brick buildings in the City.
From there, we continued past the Randall Museum and ascended Corona Heights. Though it is typically one of the windiest spots in the city, we enjoyed a calm, light breeze and spectacular views. A few brave hikers even climbed the rock at the summit.
We finished the night by heading down to Castro Street for treats at Hot Cookie, where we were joined by a couple of late arrivals, before concluding the evening with a well-earned beer at the Pilsner Inn.
It was a fantastic night with great weather and even better company.
