Hiking!!

[Sleepingrock]

Me, my dad, and my friend are probably hiking on Thursday before Coach.... Anyone know which hikes are best??? 7 Sisters waterfalls, or Joshua tree!!??!!?

Any other suggestions... hiking or not are welcome

Thanks!

Reid

[EVillSD]

Indian Canyons: Palm, Andreas, Murray and Tahquitz are all primo right now and will be then too... Lots of water flowing through, JT is great but twice as far. Try Painted Canyon near Mecca too.

[humanoid]

I was just in Andreas canyon 2 weeks ago and it was awesome...I hadn't ever hiked out in this area before, but now I'm totally looking forward to checking out more whenever I'm in the area

[momof5]

Don't get too hot and tired on your hike-you need to conserve energy for Coachella!

[chairmenmeow47]

if you can make it up to idyllwild, it's beautiful there.

[jimmycrackcorn]

ladder canyon & painted canyon...
they are in mecca...
here are some pics

[jimmycrackcorn]

more pics

[jimmycrackcorn]

not a strenuous hike... 5-7 mile loop maybe 500ft elevation gain over easy terrain... but BEAUTIFUL + some shade in the heat of summer

[carokube]

i hiked thru death valley about a year ago. it was great and you can get to some pretty neat heights without too much work. though i guess april might be a bad time! february was nice. i've been to joshua tree too, but i didn't like it as much cause it was flatter. but there is a lot more vegetation/animals if that is you thing.

[Cheddar's Cousin]

The Palm Springs Canyons..any mentioned above...are great.

[algunz]

Tahquitz is really beautiful and since it's at a higher elevation it shouldn't be as hot.

[pancakespancakes]

Joshua Tree is wonderful. As chairmenmeow said, Idyllwild is wonderful as well... completely different terrain, of course. The hike to the top of Ryan Mountain in J-Tree is highly reccommended.

[humanoid]

Joshua Tree is wonderful. As chairmenmeow said, Idyllwild is wonderful as well... completely different terrain, of course. The hike to the top of Ryan Mountain in J-Tree is highly reccommended.

I love Idyllwild, but mostly when it's really cold weather. The times I've been there with nice weather, it's been packed like Disneyland...it's still a cool place to hike though

[pancakespancakes]

I love Idyllwild, but mostly when it's really cold weather. The times I've been there with nice weather, it's been packed like Disneyland...it's still a cool place to hike though

Yeah, completely agree, I'm not much interested in the place unless there's snow. I just drove up there last week, it was amazing. Couldn't do much hiking, though. But the snow was everywhere and I loved hanging out in that little town when it's all quiet, peaceful and winter-like.

Off-topic? Yes, sorry...

[pancakespancakes]

Alright well here's me on the 49 Palms Trail in Joshua Tree. Pretty nice hike. Not too special. It's kinda far from Coachella, too.

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v374/26/31/521652655/n521652655_1465226_6981.jpg

Always have to wear your QOTSA shirts when you're in Joshua Tree, it feels right.

[Sleepingrock]

Why not U2?? They did an album there :P

[Courtney]

pancakespancakes, I am envious of your seemingly very thick hair.

[pancakespancakes]

Yes my hair does look very unusually thick in that picture for some reason. Especially strange considering I was in the desert.

[rhcpdude13]

i think 2 people from the caochella board should hook up and it can be like, a coachella board romantic thread.

[Sleepingrock]

i think 2 people from the caochella board should hook up and it can be like, a coachella board romantic thread.

I just read your post about you hooking up with a 14 year old..... creepy

[pancakespancakes]

Here's the top of Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree... Ryan is my real name, so I was happy to be here, hahaha.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y262/ryankindelan/joshuatree140.jpg

This is the new Post Your Picture Thread, for the record.

[rhcpdude13]

OOOOOH YEAH.

[jimmycrackcorn]

the hike from the top of the tram to san jacinto peak is a nice 12 mile roundtrip hike with 2,000 ft elevation gain... nice even in the middle of summer because of the elevation... there's a nice tally sitting on top of the sign that i enjoyed after reaching the summit

[Sleepingrock]

Here's the top of Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree... Ryan is my real name, so I was happy to be here, hahaha.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y262/ryankindelan/joshuatree140.jpg

This is the new Post Your Picture Thread, for the record.

I FOUND WALDO!

[Sleepingrock]

Theres me hiding from the camera!!

POST YOUR PIC.....

[pancakespancakes]

That looks nice, where is it?

[pancakespancakes]

the hike from the top of the tram to san jacinto peak is a nice 12 mile roundtrip hike with 2,000 ft elevation gain... nice even in the middle of summer because of the elevation... there's a nice tally sitting on top of the sign that i enjoyed after reaching the summit

I've always wanted to do that hike. Maybe I will soon. Definitely wouldn't do it around Coachella though, I need to save my energy, haha. That's definitely a 6 hour+ hike.

[Sleepingrock]

That looks nice, where is it?

Canada haha

Its a provincial park near my house.... Where I live is the closest to Cali we get haha

[algunz]

Since this has turned into a healthy celebration of all good things about hiking:

This is a trail called Holy Jim in Silverado Canyon.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/IMG_1395.jpg

This is how I do most of my hikes these days, but Izzy is starting to get too heavy. An extra 40+ pounds is a lot to haul up a mountain. This was in Mount Laguna near San Diego.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/Mount%20Laguna/028_25.jpg

I love hiking. I love mountain biking, but hiking gives you so much more opportunity to absorb and appreciate your surroundings.

[humanoid]

mountain biking is great to cover more ground, but it always feels like I'm racing through the wilderness rather than truly enjoying it

[Sleepingrock]

Agreed, it all depends on my mood for me..... Some times a lovely 4 hour exploration in my local park is wonderful and sometimes going really fast and hoping not to run over snakes is enjoyable too ( mountain biking)

[pancakespancakes]

I go up to Mount Laguna several times a year, I think it's great in the winter. But I really prefer the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains... if I'm going to drive a couple hours, I like getting up to higher elevations. The Big Bear area actually has some great hiking in the summer and fall and it's mostly above 6,000. There's a great trail that overlooks the Mojave desert on the north side of the lake that's about 8,000 feet up. Everything just seems a lot better to me when I'm that high up.

[pancakespancakes]

mountain biking is great to cover more ground, but it always feels like I'm racing through the wilderness rather than truly enjoying it

Yeah, mountain biking seems very intrusive to me. I never have as much fun with it. I almost feel like I'm on a motorcycle or something, I dunno. I just can't get in touch with nature at all, and that's a big reason why I love being out there and going hiking.

If I do want to see lots of things and cover a lot of ground... I'll just get in the car. For whatever reaosn, that seems better to me.

[humanoid]

Yeah, mountain biking seems very intrusive to me. I never have as much fun with it. I almost feel like I'm on a motorcycle or something, I dunno. I just can't get in touch with nature at all, and that's a big reason why I love being out there and going hiking.

If I do want to see lots of things and cover a lot of ground... I'll just get in the car. For whatever reaosn, that seems better to me.

during the summer, I went on a 30 ish mile backpacking trip through the backcountry in the northern part of Yosemite with 2 friends and my brother...my two friends were intent on basically sprinting through the beautiful scenery in an effort to get to the campsites as soon as possible.

My brother and I opted to instead take our time, letting them go ahead, while relishing the amazing serenity of the beautiful untouched wilderness. Our plan allowed a true feeling of communing with nature in an area where they strictly limit daily hiking access in order to preserve the natural beauty.

We reached camp a few hours later than them each day, then set up our tents and enjoyed the relaxation, just like them. To this day, my brother and I have wonderful recollections of our time in the wilderness, while our friends seem to only remember the time in the camps. To me, the enjoyable part is being deep in the forests and meadows at 10,000 feet, where you see only a couple of people a day, rather than in the camp where people are plentiful.

I know, different than mountain biking, it just reminded me.

[kalamalka]

Coming from Canada....
I have enjoyed Hiking in Joshua Tree. With only one day ( Thursday) to explore either Ladder canyon/Painted Canyon in Mecca or the Indian Canyons in Palm Springs, which one should I choose?
Thanks

[EVillSD]

One thing to think of when picking a spot...
Not all cars can make it to Ladder Canyons.. I actually camped out there in October and the end of the road where the trailhead is was 4x4 only. People in 2 wheel drive were needing to get pushed or pulled out of sand right and left.

There is something about being in the desert and having a cool stream coming down a canyon filled with palm trees and waterfalls..
Ladder Canyons is beyond a 10 but with only one day, do the Indian Canyons. Any other time I'd pick Ladder Canyons but right now (and coachella time) the water is FLOWING!

[humanoid]

thanks for the tips, I want to check out Ladder Canyon soon

[kalamalka]

One thing to think of when picking a spot...
Not all cars can make it to Ladder Canyons.. I actually camped out there in October and the end of the road where the trailhead is was 4x4 only. People in 2 wheel drive were needing to get pushed or pulled out of sand right and left.

There is something about being in the desert and having a cool stream coming down a canyon filled with palm trees and waterfalls..
Ladder Canyons is beyond a 10 but with only one day, do the Indian Canyons. Any other time I'd pick Ladder Canyons but right now (and coachella time) the water is FLOWING!

Great information...Thanks.

[zipperhead]

This site seems to have a lot of good info:

http://www.hiking-in-ps.com/trails.php

I'm still deciding on what hike(s) to do this year. I did a pretty good jaunt in Palm Canyon last year with mixed results.

Don't forget the water.

[foreman.]

This is a trail called Holy Jim in Silverado Canyon.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/IMG_1395.jpg



Ah, good trail. Its like 10 minutes from my house... did you go all the way to Santiago Peak?

[jimmycrackcorn]

don't be these guys
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990303009
or these guys
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990303005
just within one week here...
:nono

[morelifefucker]

went to joshua tree last week, that place never gets old. There is always new areas to explore. The booth at the entrance has been closed lately so its pretty much free to get in. The landscape is unreal and it feels good. Ranger guy says snakes be out within a couple weeks so now would be a good time to go.

[JJizzle04]

This is all great info. Our group is planning on arriving in the area on the Tuesday night (the 14th) with an RV, definitely plan on doing some hiking, but will need a place to park the RV for the night. The original plan was to hit up the northern part of Joshua Tree and basically just explore, but Ladder Canyon sounds very intriguing. Would it even be possible to get in there with an RV, or even if we had to hike in?

[Sleepingrock]

:bump

[carokube]

http://www.carokube.com/n11822171_35645698_6.jpg

this is death valley... went by myself and had never been on a serious hike before. my friends would tell you that the fact that i survived means it wasn't very hard. but it was serious fun.

[Devin the Dude]

w0w! hikers! who'd've thunk it. i prefer my mtn bike, but i always hop off at the top of a giant incline and take a smoke break. that's appreciating your surroundings lul

thread pwnz

[JewFace]

Hey hikers! I haven't been on a hike in ages and now that I have some extra free time I need to get going. I'm probably going to be house-sitting in Orange County next week. Any recommendations for hiking in Orange County? South, Central or North County is fine.
Thanks!

[Geno_guerrero]

I hiked to the top of Yosemite Falls, I want to try half dome...

[menikmati]

I'm doing Pike's Peak in about a month.

[shermanoaksyo]

For next year I'd like to spend a few days car camping Joshua Tree after the festival. I am totally useless at work for the early part of that week after so I might as well just say fuck it and chill out in the desert.

[Dale Gribble]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y152/DJArcLight/n617905194_3436098_8339.jpg

[pancakespancakes]

BEST THREAD EVER

[humanoid]

I hiked to the top of Yosemite Falls, I want to try half dome...

Half Dome is awesome, but it's usually really crowded...check out Cloud's Rest...it's much less crowded and you get some amazing views..it's almost 10,000 feet, so you get some great views of a lot of the park

still do Half Dome though, even with the crowds, it's really fun

[pancakespancakes]

Cloud's Rest is insane. I loved it. Never been up Half Dome though, never even been to Yosemite Valley. Seems like it would be too crowded for my taste... I really love the east half of Yosemite though.

[humanoid]

Cloud's Rest is insane. I loved it. Never been up Half Dome though, never even been to Yosemite Valley. Seems like it would be too crowded for my taste... I really love the east half of Yosemite though.

Half Dome is really cool, but you're up there with a few hundred other people almost every time, so it feels a little like Disneyland

Everything north of Yosemite Valley is awesome, since it's all much more remote

backpacking the John Muir trail is rad, they severely limit the amount of backcountry permits they issue to only a few a day, so you only see a few people over an entire several day trip

just outside the park too, there are tons of amazing trails through the High Sierras

we saw several bears last time I was there too, pretty awesome

[Geno_guerrero]

Crain Flats is cool during winter, but Yosemite falls is a good trail half day up and half day down...

[menikmati]

Next time I get back to Yosemite, I would love to try the Half Dome trail...the last part with the cables looks like it will awaken the butterflies in the stomach.

[humanoid]

Next time I get back to Yosemite, I would love to try the Half Dome trail...the last part with the cables looks like it will awaken the butterflies in the stomach.

the first time I did it, I was admittedly terrified...but then I watched as little kids and out of shape housewives did it and the cable portion of the trail became less intimidating...

[Dr. Lufs-al-ot]

I hiked to the top of Yosemite Falls, I want to try half dome...

if you haven't already, try Nevada and Vernal falls
its a great hike!
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/mist-trail/mist-trail.htm

not exactly a challenging hike but definitely a good one!

[menikmati]

Mist trail looks awesome...I really need to get back there and do all these.

[Geno_guerrero]

if you haven't already, try Nevada and Vernal falls
its a great hike!
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/mist-trail/mist-trail.htm

not exactly a challenging hike but definitely a good one!

Yeah that trail looks nice, upper yosemite falls is scary at the top, those rails are not that safe to lean on...
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/images/thumbs/yosemite-falls-lookout-350.jpg

[Dr. Lufs-al-ot]

^ ha ya i know what you mean. Im not really scared of heights and will usually go and see whats going on at the edge of a cliff/mountainside but i wouldnt go near the edge when i did that hike!

the best hiking is really in tuolumne meadows

its absolutely beautiful!

[Geno_guerrero]

Did any one check out the spider caves in the valley, boulders fell to create a cave and native indians painted on the inside of the cave, the way in sucks, it gets really tight, but the exit is just a huge boulder missing...

[jimmycrackcorn]

Yeah that trail looks nice, upper yosemite falls is scary at the top, those rails are not that safe to lean on...
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/images/thumbs/yosemite-falls-lookout-350.jpg

WOW that's a nice picture!

[humanoid]

Did any one check out the spider caves in the valley, boulders fell to create a cave and native indians painted on the inside of the cave, the way in sucks, it gets really tight, but the exit is just a huge boulder missing...

if something is called spider caves, that is a definite sign for me to avoid it

[Geno_guerrero]

There's no spiders in there but you have to crawl like a spider to get in, it's really a sight to see, the dwelling painting on the walls are worth the trouble...

[humanoid]

^ ha ya i know what you mean. Im not really scared of heights and will usually go and see whats going on at the edge of a cliff/mountainside but i wouldnt go near the edge when i did that hike!

the best hiking is really in tuolumne meadows

its absolutely beautiful!

the highcountry above Tuolemne Meadows is amazing, tons of small little secluded lakes to camp around, and you hardly see more than a few people

Mist Trail is absolutely awesome, just unfortunately it's an extremely popular day hike and sometimes you are surrounded by literally bus fulls of tourists and it detracts from the experience...beautiful though

[humanoid]

There's no spiders in there but you have to crawl like a spider to get in, it's really a sight to see, the dwelling painting on the walls are worth the trouble...

that's what I figured, I'm just a total pussy about spiders!!

cave paintings and petroglyphs are definitely really cool

[Dr. Lufs-al-ot]

gahh i need to get back up to yosemite
its the first year in about 12 years that i havent been up there!
:(

[menikmati]

coachella board hiking trip this summer!

[Dr. Lufs-al-ot]

coachella board hiking trip this summer!

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/msg/site/9/el/thumbsup_2.gif

[Geno_guerrero]

I'm down...

[menikmati]

Me too.

[Dale Gribble]

I really need to check out Yosemite. I've only been hiking around Arizona. We have beautiful hiking trails but I need something different.

[Sleepingrock]

Why not the day after Coachella, we organize a hike or something!! For the Canadians!

[pancakespancakes]

the best hiking is really in tuolumne meadows


QFT! Tuolomne Meadows area is my happy place. One of the most beautiful places in California. The sweeping glacially-carved ridges really do it for me. It's so wide-open and empty.

the highcountry above Tuolemne Meadows is amazing, tons of small little secluded lakes to camp around, and you hardly see more than a few people


I did one of those High Sierra camps with my mom up there last summer around the Cathedral Lakes, on the John Muir Trail, really beautiful area with hardly any other hikers, I hope I can go back there again really soon...

coachella board hiking trip this summer!

SHIT YEAH! I am in!

[Dr. Lufs-al-ot]

the Cathedral Lakes, on the John Muir Trail,


i did this hike last year with my father and brother and it was fantastic

[HowToDisappear]

the first time I did it, I was admittedly terrified...but then I watched as little kids and out of shape housewives did it and the cable portion of the trail became less intimidating...

Ha. This makes me laugh 'cause it's true.

The whole family did it seven years ago. It was a month before my 40th birthday --- my daughters were 13 years old, my husband 41. We all made it. :)

[humanoid]

I did one of those High Sierra camps with my mom up there last summer around the Cathedral Lakes, on the John Muir Trail, really beautiful area with hardly any other hikers, I hope I can go back there again really soon...







Cathedral Lakes are awesome, I've been there a few times...never tried the High Sierra camps...but they seem pretty appealing since you don't have to carry 50 pounds of gear on your back!!

did you stay at that Sunrise Camp? I've camped there, but just at the backpackers campsight...awesome place

[amyzzz]

Whoa, missed this thread. I drove through Yosemite to see Catherine Wheel in SF once. :D

I want to get back into hiking now that my kids are school age and can actually go along for a while. Jacob is starting to get into fitness a lot too, so I hope that means he would want to go hiking too. I hiked down into the Grand Canyon a long time ago, would like to go back sometime soon. Also, we have the Superstition Mountain practically next door to us, so I need to check that out.

[menikmati]

Need to go search for the lost Dutchman's gold mine.

[Geno_guerrero]

Also, we have the Superstition Mountain practically next door to us, so I need to check that out.

I went there for my cousin wedding, it's really cool around the mountain, didn't get a chance to climb it, but I did play there golf course, The Lost Dutchman mine I heard is cool, there's stories of an old man guarding the mine...

My cousin in laws family lives on Superstition Mountain Golf Course, nice house, when my cousin and cousin in law are done with Chiropractor School, they are gonna open up business in AZ, can't wait to visit and climb superstition mountain, and I won't drive vespas drunk again...

[menikmati]

I don't believe anyone has ever found the mine, and if they say they have, then they're lying.

[BobCaygeon]

the first time I did it, I was admittedly terrified...but then I watched as little kids and out of shape housewives did it and the cable portion of the trail became less intimidating...

When I did Half Dome in the early 80's, the cables were lying flat on the rock and we had to batman our way up. I believe they are at waist height now?

[humanoid]

When I did Half Dome in the early 80's, the cables were lying flat on the rock and we had to batman our way up. I believe they are at waist height now?


yeah, they are about waist high, so you don't have to crawl up the rock anymore

[menikmati]

Do you have to clip yourself in? Or is it basically the only thing up there on the final ascent a pair of cables you just death grip on?

[HowToDisappear]

http://theunpersons.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/half-dome-54-cables-and-face.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Half_Dome--cables.jpeg

http://www.eskimo.com/~turnip/pa/20050729_halfdome/pix/069_DownTheCables.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/36386.jpg

No clipping in, but there are a pile of gloves at the bottom --- you just grab a pair and return them when you get down.

On the day we did it, the volume of people wasn't as bad as that first photo -- maybe a third of that.

[send me ctrpllrs]

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs114.snc1/4839_571178596657_30609966_33778523_5500445_n.jpg

That was from the top of a mountain we hiked in Big Sur while there for the Animal Collective show. Walked past Noah hiking the same trail as we came down. It was a beautiful hike, I got a lot of good pictures. If I get the time off, I may go back there soon. Most likely my next hike will be Iron Mountain again, some friends and I have been talking about going. You can see quite far over San Diego county from the top.

[algunz]

Coachella Board Hike? Awesome!! Who's gonna treck in the beer?

[Cheddar's Cousin]

l Falls bridge- looking back down the canyon.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m260/robdowning/The%20Trees%2008/TheTrees2008012.jpg

Vernal Falls in September
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m260/robdowning/TheTrees2006032.jpg

[Geno_guerrero]

Coachella Board Hike? Awesome!! Who's gonna treck in the beer?

I'll carry some, but not all of it, haha...

[pancakespancakes]

That was from the top of a mountain we hiked in Big Sur while there for the Animal Collective show. Walked past Noah hiking the same trail as we came down. It was a beautiful hike, I got a lot of good pictures. If I get the time off, I may go back there soon. Most likely my next hike will be Iron Mountain again, some friends and I have been talking about going. You can see quite far over San Diego county from the top.

DUDE! I love Iron Mountain. I was just up there last week. Such a blast. There's so many little nooks and crannies in that park to go exploring. And a lot of great views from the top.

My favorite San Diego mountain to hike though for views is just up the street from me... Black Mountain in Rancho Penasquitos. It's only like 1,500' elevation but it's really isolated so the views around it are incredible, you can see Mount Baldy in LA and you can see downtown San Diego and Tijuana and the Coronado islands and San Clemente Island on a clear day. It's crazy and it's only about a 30 minute hike to the top.

[pancakespancakes]

I want to hike up to the top of Saddleback Mountain in Orange County this summer. Anyone ever done it before? I'm sad that I still haven't... I would think the view from up there would be quite panoramic.

[algunz]

I'll carry some, but not all of it, haha...

Last hike I went on I trecked up a growler. I was everybody's best friend.

[Geno_guerrero]

yes, that sounds like fun, have lunch and beer and hike down...

[algunz]

And/or other things . . . we'll just have to make sure Salah and Feather don't wander off and die.

[Geno_guerrero]

HAHA, I will bring the smoke too...

[algunz]

I'll bring the lighter and the Girl Scout cookies. :)

[HowToDisappear]

DUDE! I love Iron Mountain. I was just up there last week. Such a blast. There's so many little nooks and crannies in that park to go exploring. And a lot of great views from the top.

My favorite San Diego mountain to hike though for views is just up the street from me... Black Mountain in Rancho Penasquitos. It's only like 1,500' elevation but it's really isolated so the views around it are incredible, you can see Mount Baldy in LA and you can see downtown San Diego and Tijuana and the Coronado islands and San Clemente Island on a clear day. It's crazy and it's only about a 30 minute hike to the top.

pancakes, have you done Cowles Mountain yet? Highest peak in the city. Beautiful 360 views from up there, too.

[humanoid]

Coachella Board Hike? Awesome!! Who's gonna treck in the beer?

water bottle full of Jack is my tactic...beer takes up way too much space and adds too much weight

[sames44]

Cowles Mountain is great - so peaceful and quiet at the top. Sometimes there are a ton of people on the trail, but it's always been pretty deserted once I've reached the top.

[humanoid]

I want to hike up to the top of Saddleback Mountain in Orange County this summer. Anyone ever done it before? I'm sad that I still haven't... I would think the view from up there would be quite panoramic.

yeah, I've done it several times, it's very close to me...if it's clear, it's a very cool view

summer time is pretty hot, the trail is exposed to sunlight most of the way

[algunz]

I've ridden my bike to the top many times. Let me know when you want to go, and I'll give you the weather report.

[Sleepingrock]

I'm going camping in the bush for 2 days in 2 days!! I'll be sure to post the pictures n such of our venture into the woods =D!
Spectrum Lake! I have to watch out for Grizzly Bears and possibly Avalanches....but I heard about a Grizzly Bear that plays some good tunes!

[humanoid]

I'm going camping in the bush for 2 days in 2 days!! I'll be sure to post the pictures n such of our venture into the woods =D!
Spectrum Lake! I have to watch out for Grizzly Bears and possibly Avalanches....but I heard about a Grizzly Bear that plays some good tunes!

I just watched Grizzly Man for about the 10th time a couple nights ago, apparently you're supposed to crawl up to Grizzlies and smack them on the nose, they seem to really like it...I never knew that before watching that doc, interesting fact.

[Sleepingrock]

I'd prefer not....

[feather]

I'm going camping in the bush for 2 days in 2 days!! I'll be sure to post the pictures n such of our venture into the woods =D!
Spectrum Lake! I have to watch out for Grizzly Bears and possibly Avalanches....but I heard about a Grizzly Bear that plays some good tunes!

I LOVE CAMPING IN THE BUSH! Have fun Reid I want to hear owl about it when you come back...

[Sleepingrock]

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees110.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees114.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees127.jpg
I can't take pictures of my self....I look funny
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees129.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees135.jpg
Find the Snake...........Ladies
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees141.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees143.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees165.jpg
we pushed my friends car along a dirt road down a hill, that was quite the action shot..fun!
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees171.jpg
Crop Circles
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees103.jpg
Loons are canadian eh? Loonies!
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii231/Sleepingrock/TheMonashees107.jpg

[feather]

Crop circles? Creeeeepy. Love the pics Reid! I wish I could have gone.

[Sleepingrock]

Come to Canadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[feather]

I would love it, I know :)

[Sleepingrock]

But South America first <3

[humanoid]

Come to Canadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I gotta visit, that looks like a beautiful area...and definitely looks like Grizzly country!

[algunz]

Outside of Mammoth - 1.5 mile hike to Crystal Lake.

Izzy was a champ and hiked the whole way up, but I had to carry her 45 lbs. down. Awesome! :thu

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/bikes/DSCN0877.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/bikes/DSCN0886.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/bikes/DSCN0888.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/bikes/DSCN0903.jpg

[humanoid]

that lake looks pretty awesome...were there a lot of other hikers around?

[algunz]

Yeah, it's a short hike so perfect for families and dogs. The water was freezing.

[humanoid]

Yeah, it's a short hike so perfect for families and dogs. The water was freezing.

That's what I was guessing, that's usually not my favorite type of hike, as I like to get away from people while hiking....but I need to find a couple really cool short hikes to help get my 13 1/2 year old daughter into it. She's athletic and perfectly capable, but nothing around OC has captured her interest yet. She really loves the outdoors once out in it, but she's not interested in putting in any work to get there! I know part of it is just the age, so hopefully a little more time will help too.

[Geno_guerrero]

Looks like fun, I've jumped in water that is snowmelt and it's cold, I tried to walk across Pinecrest lake on logs that were tied together across, fell in and almost got Hypothermia...

[algunz]

The thing that sucks about hiking in the OC is that you never really feel like you get away from the suburban sprawl.

This guy jumped in swam across and then hiked up some rocks and dove. It was awesome, but my husband and friend, Andrew in the picture on bottom with Izzy, were reluctantly ready to dive in and save his ass. You can't shake those life guarding instincts.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/bikes/DSCN0899.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/bikes/DSCN0901.jpg

[pancakespancakes]

That looks lovely algunz, the snowpack there is pretty incredible too.

We're going up to the Mammoth-ish area in a couple weekends for a few days, going to be a really relaxing kind of camping trip with just some short day hikes. We're doing three nights at the Rock Creek Campground, I think it is, just south of Lake Crowley. I'm missing Underworld at HARD for it... so I'm hoping it's a great trip?

[amyzzz]

Might go hiking in Payson, AZ on Sunday.

[amyzzz]

I ended up doing an 8 mile hike in Payson near Christopher Creek with Jacob, his sister Brooke, her husband Torsten, and Torsten's mom (I think her name is Edeltraut, crazy German names). The Highline (?) trail on 90+ degree day really kicked my ass, but it was beautiful: butterflies and dragonflies everywhere amid the pine trees. I will try to post some pics later.

[humanoid]

I ended up doing an 8 mile hike in Payson near Christopher Creek with Jacob, his sister Brooke, her husband Torsten, and and Torsten's mom (I think her name is Edeltraut, crazy German names). The Highline (?) trail on 90+ degree day really kicked my ass, but it was beautiful: butterflies and dragonflies everywhere amid the pine trees. I will try to post some pics later.

not hiking related, but Torsten is a fantastic name

[Sleepingrock]

One friend whos coming to Coachella next year, his brothers name is Torsten

[algunz]

I took mushrooms with a Torsten in Reno.

[humanoid]

I played soccer in high school with a German exchange student named Torsten, but that was my last personal encounter...I think I may get to go to Berlin next year, so my odds of encountering another shall likely increase

[amyzzz]

I had no idea that Torsten was such a popular German name, but then again, they only have so many to choose from.

[humanoid]

I had no idea that Torsten was such a popular German name, but then again, they only have so many to choose from.


A quick wikipedia search told me this....the name just got cooler

The name is composed by the words Thor (Scandinavian "Lord of Thunder and War") and sten (Swedish for "stone"). It can be translated to "Thor's stone," "Thor's hammer" or even "adamant as Thor."

[amyzzz]

Well, he is 6'4", so "Thor's hammer" is definitely an apt name.

[seandlr]

Anyone ever hiked Half Dome?
I'm pretty sure a buddy of mine along with myself are gonna go to the top next week

[humanoid]

Anyone ever hiked Half Dome?
I'm pretty sure a buddy of mine along with myself are gonna go to the top next week

Yes, it's awesome. Are you starting from the bottom or camping at the Little Yosemite Valley campsite and going from there?

[seandlr]

Yes, it's awesome. Are you starting from the bottom or camping at the Little Yosemite Valley campsite and going from there?

I'm so glad I now have someone to talk to about this. Were pretty sure were gonna start from the bottom only because our goal is to knock it out in one day.
Were not real avid strenuous hikers so I hope you don't mind the questions.
Are the type of shoes you wear really important?
What time of year did you go?
What trail did you take up? (There's 4 right?)
Did you camp at Little Yosemite or start from the bottom?
Did you train?
What was the hardest part and why?
How long did it take you?
Any tips/ reccomendations?
THANKS

[humanoid]

I'm so glad I now have someone to talk to about this. Were pretty sure were gonna start from the bottom only because our goal is to knock it out in one day.
Were not real avid strenuous hikers so I hope you don't mind the questions.
Are the type of shoes you wear really important?
What time of year did you go?
What trail did you take up? (There's 4 right?)
Did you camp at Little Yosemite or start from the bottom?
Did you train?
What was the hardest part and why?
How long did it take you?
Any tips/ reccomendations?
THANKS

the easiest way to do it is to camp at Little Yosemite Valley and hike from there as early as possible in the morning to beat most of the crowds. If you hike from the bottom, you have a few hours of all uphill hiking before you even get to Little Yosemite Valley, then you still have many miles and hours to reach Half Dome, then have to hike all the way back down.

You can take a small tent,and minimal supplies, hike up from the Valley floor, camp at Little Yosemite Valley, then wake up at 4 am and start heading up at first daylight...this is what I would recommend...you can leave your tent up all day at this campsite, take only a little food and plenty of water up half dome, then return to the campsite and hike down again in the morning.

I think if you head up from the main valley (the bottom) to Half Dome, it is something like a 15 mile roundtrip hike, which if you're not experienced hikers, is an extremely long day hike and some of you may regret it.

All the other trails require backcountry permits (which can be difficult to come by in the summer, as they severely limit them)and a lot more preparation.

make sure you have very comfortable shoes, or if you were hiking boots(also recommended), make sure they are well worn it ....I've had friends completely destroy their feet for weeks...I did a 40 mile backpacking trip once in boots that apparently weren't worn in well enough, and I literally thought I was going to lose a few toes afterward...your feet swell inside your boots when doing hiking and it can be excruciating if you're not comfortable....on that long trip, I literally felt that I couldn't go any further one of the days because my feet hurt so terribly....and I hike and backpack all the time.

I have been at several times of the year and they are all great. Some of the trails are totally inaccessible and highly dangerous though in cold conditions. The summer, although crowded at times, is the best, simply because of the longer sunlight hours available to you.

read this for sure

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/halfdome.htm

[seandlr]

Hiked Topanga Canyon today which is some what near Santa Monica beach and iss off the PCH and it was really nice and not crowded at all and the weather was perfect. Im thinking about hiking somewhere near Joshua Tree on friday, possibly San Jacinto Peak.

[Dr. Lufs-al-ot]

Topanga Canyon and Venice Beach are miles apart from each other...

[algunz]

We went for a hike and I think it's time for Izzy to do her own walking. I managed to carry her for about a mile, but that's as much as I could manage. I mean for god's sake she's WALKING in the thing.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee218/alessandragunz/izzy/DSCN1769.jpg

[blackchango]

Wow a baby angel !

[jimmycrackcorn]

-dusting off the hiking gear-

gonna head out for a medium hike with the GF to get ready for coachella... need to get the stamina back up and acclimate to the heat (it was like 80 degrees here yesterday)... will post a pic later

[Sleepingrock]

The other day on Ometepe Island we did a 8 or 9 hours hike up Volcan Maderas into the lagoon, it was beautiful but kinda grueling haha, I will have pics when I return to canada
Here is a stock photo for now
http://www.fincamagdalena.com/turs2.jpg

[jimmycrackcorn]

start of hike

[jimmycrackcorn]

peak of lykken trail south

[jimmycrackcorn]

desert is in full bloom with wildflowers after recent storms... nice cactus flower here

[jimmycrackcorn]

nice spot if you can find it:

there are 5 or 6 benches
a bonfire pit
and a nice view in the night

it's only a few hundred feet after the end of a private road...
a VERY nice place to hang out and empty some beers on a summer night under the stars

http://www.trazzler.com/trips/desert-riders-park-in-palm-springs-ca-92264/?from_rss=true

[Dr. Lufs-al-ot]

Going to be hiking Eagle Rock in a week or so, should be loads of fun.