Archive for December, 2006

Resolution ‘06

Published on December 31, 2006 in hiking, motivations and site news. 1 Comment

Yes, yes, yes. 2006 is coming to an end. We all know this, and we are all obliged to look back with a thoughtful eye. To learn from our defeats and hold high our victories, beating our chests and gloating to for all within earshot.

Fortunately for the Modern Hiker, this site is still very, very young. There’s really no point in saying, “hey, remember that time I got Wordpress working?” because you could probably just scroll two or three inches down and see it for yourself.

But other than starting this site, 2006 was a fairly big year for me. It’s the year I really discovered hiking in southern California, and how much I liked it. From San Diego and Anza-Borrego to New England and Takao-san in Japan, I put a lot of miles on my boots this year. 245.41, to be approximate. 2006 was also the year I bought a GPS, so from now on they’ll be accurate.
I climbed my share of peaks, too. Eight under 5,000 and thirteen above, with a total gain of just under 47,000 feet.

I’m still stuck in a depressingly snow-less New England right now, and after I ring in the new year with a Smuttynose Imperial Stout (they don’t make beer like that in SoCal!), I’ll be lacing up, stretching out, and hitting the California trails again. This year, I’m going further, higher, and longer … and I hope you’ll come with me.

At least, metaphorically, here on the site. I don’t want those trails getting too crowded.

TO DO 2007:

  • Qualify for listing on the Sierra Club Hundred Peaks Chapter
  • Backpack more
  • Learn to rock-climb properly
  • Volunteer
  • Climb San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Peaks
  • Return to Yosemite
  • Add Channel Islands, Lassen, and/or Arches and Bryce to the National Parks checklist
  • Continue tweaking the site and fooling around with Google Maps
  • Update and re-post all my old trails

And now that that’s all up on the Internets, I’ll be more inclined to actually get that stuff done.
Now to crack open that stout and pray for good flyin’ weather. See ya in ‘07!

Creationism in the Canyon?

Published on December 30, 2006 in Grand Canyon National Park and Politics. 2 Comments

This morning, a friend sent me a link to a press release from PEER, the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. The release has the sensational headline, “How old is the Grand Canyon? Park Service won’t say,” then goes on to suggest that interpretive rangers are encouraged to offer a creationist / religious theory for the Canyon’s creation along with a geologic one.

I didn’t remember anything like that from my trip to the Canyon a few years ago, and a quick search of the Park Service’s Grand Canyon page clearly says the oldest exposed rocks are “2000 million years old,” so initially I was a bit confused. Further on down in the release, though, it becomes apparent the ruckus is about the book “Grand Canyon: A Different View,” a book of essays that suggests the Canyon was formed by a single catastrophic flood instead of millions of years of erosion.

The obviously controversial book was the only one of twenty-three potential books that was approved for sale in the Park’s bookstore in 2003. Despite protests from the rangers at the Canyon, NPS Headquarters overruled and allowed the book’s sale. PEER is pushing back again, hoping new director Mary Bomar is more receptive, and will actually complete the policy review her predecessor promised in 2003 but never delivered.

While I agree the book probably doesn’t have any place in the Park’s bookstore, I’m not sure if I buy PEER’s domino theory that it’s the first step in the Administration’s Master Plan to make Creationism the Official Position of the Park Service. Has anyone out there ever had a ranger give them a religious answer to a scientific question?

Warm Waters, Wild Fires

Published on December 27, 2006 in Environmentalism and fires. 0 Comments

A new study by the University of Arizona found a direct correlation between historical periods of warmer waters in the Atlantic and more destructive Western wildfires.

And wouldn’t you know it? Current East Coast water temps suggest more multiple fires for us Westerners, on the scale of those in 2002 and 2006.

Besides the tremendous property damage, air pollution, and loss of life, there’s the whole trail-closings aspect to deal with. There’s a huge chunk in the middle of the Angeles National Forest still closed from the 2002 Curve Fire and subsequent rainstorms, and this year’s Day Fire had its way with the Sespe Wilderness.

Of course, these fires are necessary for the ecosystems, but with all the year-end well-wishing going on, it might not hurt to sneak in a toast to a non-disastrous 2007 fire season, too.

Hey, it couldn’t hurt…

‘Lectric Backpacks

Published on December 26, 2006 in Gadgets and Gear, Technology and hiking. 0 Comments

Treehugger has a follow-up on a story they posted last year, about a University of Pennsylvania researcher who figured out a way to harness the body’s movements while hiking to generate electricity - faster and more reliably than those solar chargers that have been on the market for a while.

New studies on the design now reveal the generating mechanism - while adding a slight amount of weight to the pack - reduce the vertical jarring force by an unbelievable 86%.

The researcher’s company wants to get commercial models available by this time next year. Here’s to hoping a). you don’t have to take out a loan to buy one and b). they find a way to reduce the size of that metal frame. Or at least add some notches so we can hang carabiners off of it.

Christmas Wish

Published on December 26, 2006 in Environmentalism and motivations. 1 Comment

Tom, of Two-Heel Drive-fame, wrote a great end-o-the-year post on his personal blog. In it, he perfectly sums up some of the best reasons for blogging about hiking:

I don’t think I’m entirely self-deluded to believe that I’ve been doing at least a little bit of good in the world by posting pictures from the outdoors and writing about walking in the woods. At the very least I’m distracting people from further degrading the earth, and at best I’m encouraging them to get out in their own woods and maybe come to realize why we need these wild places.

It’s impossible to enjoy the outdoors and not be simultaneously concerned for its well-being. Standing face-to-face with a slab of 150-million year old monzogranite or getting dwarfed by a 2000-year-old sequoia will put you into perspective. And it’ll make you want to do everything you can to make sure future generations can have the same experience.

Spend Well at Amoeba

Published on December 23, 2006 in City Life and Environmentalism. 1 Comment

Amoeba Music, the best damn music store in California, announced the beneficiaries of next year’s Saturday Auctions are the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club, Conservation International, and the Rainforest Action Network.

In addition to Saturday Auctions (where, for instance, you might find a great last minute gift), the indie chain will also have in-store donations, with the store matching personal donations up to $1,000 (in case you wanted to give away some last minute gift money).

The auctions take place every Saturday at 4PM. If you live in California and have been wandering in the dark without knowing the Beacon of Wonder that is Amoeba Music, there are store locations in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Hollywood.

Travel Time

Published on December 21, 2006 in site news. 3 Comments

As you can see, the site is now officially ’spruced up.’

And just in time for me to hop on a plane to spend a week in New England with the relatives.

While I doubt I’ll be getting any big hikes in while I’m there, I might be able to sneak a snoeshoe trip in for good measure. And I’ll work to update my blogroll, scour the web for more news, and maybe even post some of my older write-ups.

I’ll think of somethin.’ And then back with full-on updates in January …

Surfing Helmet

Published on December 19, 2006 in Gadgets and Gear and Technology. 0 Comments

I don’t surf.

Hell, I can barely even tolerate the beach. And if I am at one, it better be of the rocky, inhospitable sort, like the coasts of Maine or Big Sur.

But if I did, for some reason, perhaps in the future, decide to take up surfing, I would want to learn while wearing the $460 Headzone Helmet. It’s basically a fancy helmet with a waterproof radio, so whoever’s teaching me can do so from the comfort of his beachbound Barcalounger.

It also looks ridiculous. But to each his own, I suppose.

Via The Goat.

DIY Tripod

Published on December 18, 2006 in Gadgets and Gear. 0 Comments

How many times have you found yourself on the trail in need of a little photo-stabilization device? If you’re too cheap to buy a Gorillapod, and you’re ok with letting your camera teeter ominously on top of a water bottle, the fifty cent solution over at Instructables might be just what the doctor ordered.

You know, the shady doctor with the laser jet diploma. That guy.

Hiking Mishe Mokwa Trail to Tri-Peaks and Sandstone Peak

Published on December 18, 2006 in Santa Monica Mountains, Trail Write-Ups and hiking. 2 Comments

An easy hike for ‘intermediate beginners’ and novice hikers looking for a challenge. Great scenery, well-maintained trails, and lots of opportunities to branch out and explore. This is definitely one of my favorite trails in all of Los Angeles, and a fantastic way to introduce non-hikers to the joys of hiking.
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