Tucked up on a plateau overlooking Murrieta and Temecula lies the Santa Rosa Plateau Reserve. This 8,000 acre park features 40 miles of hiking trails, the largest remaining Engelmann oak habitat, adobes dating back to the 1860's, vernal pools, and miles of rolling meadows studded with oaks and sycamores.Distance: 5.7 MilesElevation Gained: 500'Difficulty: EasyTime: 3.5 …
Continue reading "Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve – Sylvan Meadow Loop"
Distance: I'm guessing about 7.5-8 MilesElevation gained: I'm guessing 2,200'Difficulty: Moderately strenuousCritters: Grey squirrels galore.Get there like this.Note: You will need an Adventure PassJust as important: You need to get here early on weekends and holidays since this place is insanely popular.Just a few linear miles from the endless urban sprawl of Los Angeles county …
Continue reading "Santa Anita Canyon, Thanksgiving Day Edition"
Distance: 2 + milesElevation Gained: Not MuchDifficulty: Not HardCritters: Not many, aside from a flock of quailGet there like this.Details:All over California you will find remnant populations of trees. These relics are leftover from a cooler, damper time. During that time, various species of trees, such as Torrey Pines, Redwoods, and Giant Sequoias, occupied much …
Panorama of the San Gabriel Range looking east to Mt. BaldyDistance: 4.2 MilesElevation Gained: 1,600'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: 2:30Directions to the trailheadNote: Don't forget your National Forest Adventure PassDetails:Red Box Canyon from the TrailheadThe Front Range of the San Gabriel Mountains looms like a massive, green wall over the cities of the San Gabriel Valley. This …
Panorama looking south from the crest of Palomar MountainDistance: 2-3 MilesElevation Gained: Minimal - there are only a few brief moments of climbingDifficulty: EasyCritters: 1 DeerDirections to the Doane Pond Parking LotDetailsCedar and White Fir forest along the Doane Valley Nature TrailI came to Palomar Mountain for the first time with Kelly on January 1st …
This is the last blog in the Yosemite series, and will probably be the last hike I do for a couple of weeks. I've got what I believe is plantar fasciitis, and I'm going to take some time off from hiking to see if the rest will do it any good. I also will be …
Last year, I set a goal for myself that I would hike 1,000 miles in a year. This goal encompassed exploration of new and old places, a physical fitness challenge, a philosophical, emotional, and intellectual undertaking, an outlet creativity, and a way to relax.I learned a great deal along the way, which I will detail …
Distance: 14.2Elevation Gained: 2,500Difficulty: StrenuousTime: 6:50Critters: Deer, GrousesNew Trees: Mountain Hemlock, White PineDetails:After months of hiking, planning, charting, and documenting, it all came down to one last hike. I had tried to work everything out so that my last hike in this process would be a memorable one to make a fitting end for what …
Distance: 1 MileElevation Gained: negligibleDifficulty: EasyTime: 1 hourCritters: 3 bucksDetails:We had finished Panorama Trail, but, by my calculations, I needed at least 15 miles to reach my goal of 1,000 miles on the year. I was debating whether I would traverse Cloud's Rest and come down the same gory downhill stretch of the Muir Trail, …
Panorama looking south from Whitney summitPanorama looking north from Whitney summitDistance: 15.7 MilesElevation Gained: 3,000'Difficulty: StrenuousTime: 11:00Critters: Marmots, ChipmunksPros:- The most epic mountain views I've ever seen- Night hiking under an impressive canopy of stars- Sunrise at 13,600 feetCons:- Aside from a headache at the top, none- Having to experience the wag bag at an …
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Hiking and photography in the Southwestern U.S.
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