A Virtual Hike Through Big Basin Vineyards—and Beyond

Each year, we enjoy hiking through Muir Woods for our annual kickoff to one of the largest events in the San Francisco Bay Area: the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference week. Last year, we took a group of J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference attendees across the Golden Gate Bridge and traveled to beautiful Marin County for a five-mile hike down Mount Tamalpais—through waterfalls, ferns and redwoods—to the base of Muir Woods. It was a behind-the-scenes look at one of the local area treasures.

While this year is different, we were extremely excited to host a virtual edition, “Hike-and-Tell with Wine,” on Friday, January 8, to kick off this year’s J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference week. A total of 30 innovators and entrepreneurs joined me and my colleagues (the “trail guides”), John Pennett, National Technology & Life Sciences Group Leader, Eisneramper, West Coast Technology & Life Sciences Group Leader, and Michael Morris, Director, for this virtual experience.

Our guests joined us from the comfort of their homes as we took a virtual hike-and-tell through the Big Basin Vineyards, located in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. After opening a bottle of Syrah from Big Basin, each guest shared a photo from a memorable hike and shared their story with their peers. Some of these stories included:

Segway through the city of Vienna, trekking up Mount Washington via Tukerman Ravine, spending time at Lake George in New York, staying at an eco-resort near Machu Picchu, exploring the Highlight Trail at Glacier National Park, running from elephants during a safari in India, enjoying a trail in Illinois, having an adventure at the Great Wall of China, and rock climbing with friends.

While we aren’t meeting in person this year, we’re delighted that we’re still able to reconnect with each guest during our virtual Hike-and-Tell. We’re looking forward to hosting our fourth annual hike next year in-person to kick off next year’s JP Morgan Healthcare Conference week. Subscribe to our event emails (select “Life Sciences” as your industry) in order to receive an invitation to next year’s hike.