Trailspotting’s Google Maps style is similar to what I envisioned working on MH, but since WordPress broke my geo-mashup plugin back at the last upgrade, I haven’t been able to get it to work. Although it’s much more work and potentially less streamlined on my end, I’m considering ‘downgrading’ to a static Google Map to take its place, just to make it easier for users to visualize where these trails are in relation to them.
I’m going to try to do some site clean-up this weekend, but I was wondering — is there anything in particular you want out of Modern Hiker that you’re not getting yet? Different ways to find things? Different organization? Different layout?
Are you getting enough information from the write-ups? Is there anything you want more or less of?
Leave a comment or drop me an email. I can’t make any immediate promises, but I’m listening!
A nasty strain of the flu wiped out half the floor in my office building this week, myself included, so I haven’t been up to date on the latest developments of our little hiking blogosphere.
Rick at BestHike dug up a site called Trailspotting, which has one of the best implementations of in-line Google Maps on a hiking site that I’ve seen.
Its “Just the facts, Ma’am” approach, clean design, an excellent organization make this a highly-recommended site for checking out trails in Northern California. I’ll be checking back on this one often.
A short and well-trodden nature trail in the center of the park. An easy way to get a glimpse at one of the most accessible areas of the Wonderland of Rocks, as well as seeing evidence of Native American petroglyphs. There is also a small, man-made reservoir here that will provide the rare chance to see water in the desert.
Continue reading ‘Hiking Barker Dam Loop’
I’m proud to say the fine folks at SNEWS - the leading outdoor and fitness industry news source - interviewed me last week about Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed closing of 48 California State Parks to help the looming budget crisis.
The podcast has been posted, and it’s a great listen. If you’ve been looking for the issue encapsulated in a neat little package, or wanted to hear what other organizations are doing about it … or just wanted to hear what I sound like, go check it out.
What better way to pass the time waiting for the Colorado to hit store shelves so you can drool over it in person than viewing a virtual Garmin Colorado on your computer monitor and drooling over your keyboard?
Then behold, fellow future poor-folks — the Garmin Colorado minisite, lovingly rendered in Flash and chock full of information on all the bells and whistles you’ll soon be using to justify your $640 purchase.
Go check it out. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
You think I’m exaggerating when I say that people go nuts here when it snows.
Today is the first sunny day we’ve had for almost a week, and before it starts raining / snowing again, Angelenos are proving that yes — Los Angeles DOES have snow and mountains.
A quick search on Flickr has a ton of pictures of our beloved San Gabriels, blanketed in a healthy coat of the white stuff. Here’s hoping for a good snowpack this year … and maybe a reason to finally invest in some snowshoes.
“L.A. or Denver” by Jslander.
“Mountains Outside of Los Angeles” by Tarzana4ever.
From somewhere that looks near Red Box by LAPhoto1.
A straightforward, relatively easy hike up one of the most prominent, centrally-located peaks in Joshua Tree National Park. From this popular trail, hikers can get nearly 360 degree views of the entire park. This is a wonderful way to get a feel for the scope of the landscape, and a highly-recommended stop for first-timers.
Continue reading ‘Hiking Ryan Mountain’
The venerable photography-blog All Day I Dream About Photography has awarded it’s “Photographer of the Week” to the incredible nature photographer Daniel Ewert.
The man knows how to capture a landscape:
Of particular interest to us Westerners are his collections of Pacific Northwest photos and pages of Zion shots, but they’re all worth looking through … especially if you’re stuck inside because of the rain this weekend.
Some much-needed rain has been falling on southern California all week, and should continue through the weekend.
Despite the odd local effect of drivers’ brains flying out of their heads whenever precipitation is in the air, rain is very nice in L.A. I actually took off my hat and jacket while walking in to work today to soak in a little bit of moisture.
But besides reminding us transplanted East Coasters that yes, weather does exist, the rain will also make hiking visibility outstanding once it clears and - more importantly - give us a nice layer of snow above 5000 feet.
If the weather is nice (and you’ve got some chains or good snow tires), the Sunset Peak trail I just wrote up will be a great place to get some snow and views of Baldy, without having to deal with the inevitable logjam of cars on the way to the chairlifts at Mount Baldy Village.
A winding fire-road hike to one of the front peaks near the Mt. Baldy Area. This is the longer but less strenuous of two routes, and offers outstanding, panoramic views of the Baldy Bowl and - on clear days - the seemingly never-ending sprawl of Rancho Cucamonga. At the peak itself are the remains of an old fire tower that burned down years ago.
Continue reading ‘Hiking Sunset Peak’
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