Monthly Archive for January, 2008

Video Trial

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 22, 2008
in Web Sites and Apps, hiking and site news
. 7 Comments

I got back in from an excellent stay in Joshua Tree, and will be trying to catch up with some of my write ups for the site over the next few days. I just got slammed at work, so it may be a bit, but I’ve got three varied J-Tree hikes to add to the list, as well as a pre-tree journey to Sunset Peak by Mt. Baldy.

So I’m gonna be busy. Also, I’m still in the process of cleaning out all my equipment.

In the meantime, however, I thought I’d do a little experiment with some video. Now that ReadySetConnect is very kindly hosting the Modern Hiker, I’d like to abandon the Google Video for some higher-resolution QuickTime videos stored locally, instead.

This is NOT a replacement for all of the information and commentary offered in my usual write-ups, but if people dig these and think they add some value, I’ll work to incorporate them more prominently in the future.

Keep in mind, this particular video from Sunset Peak is rough … and there wasn’t a whole lot of finesse put into it, but it’s a start. Let me know what you think / if you’d like to see better ones on hikes in the future. I’ll try to put my camera’s video function to better use.
Continue reading ‘Video Trial’

Enjoy the Weekend

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 18, 2008
in site news
. 0 Comments

I’m off to Joshua Tree for a few days, and will return with several new hike write-ups, if all goes well.

Enjoy your long weekend and get outside!

Update on the California Park Closings

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 14, 2008
in Politics and State and Local Parks
. 0 Comments

For those fellow Californians who are tracking Gov. Schwarzenegger’s threatened closing of 48 state parks, the San Jose Mercury News has some updates and analysis of the issue.

The good news: If enacted, the parks likely wouldn’t close until 2009, and groups across the state are preparing counter-assaults on the proposal, pointing out it would only eliminate one tenth of one percent of California’s deficit, and that Arnold would become the first California Governor ever to close State Parks to balance a State Budget.

The bad news: Nobody thought the National Park Service would close the Grand Canyon and Washington Monuments during a 1995 budget crisis, but they did.

Either way, this is a very interesting political situation that I’ll be following closely. And, if it comes down to it, maybe some of us can spend some time volunteering in Topanga State Park to keep it open?

Via Two-Heel Drive.

Hiking Eagle Rock and Temescal Peak

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 13, 2008
in Santa Monica Mountains, Topanga State Park, Trail Write-Ups and hiking
. 3 Comments

A 7+ mile semi-loop in one of the Los Angeles area’s most accessible parks. Some classic, Sycamore-covered SoCal geography, with meadows, boulder formations and outcroppings, and rolling chaparral ridges. Excellent views of the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica Mountains and — if you’re lucky — the far reaching sprawl of the Los Angeles megalopolis.

 

Continue reading ‘Hiking Eagle Rock and Temescal Peak’

More L.A. Maps

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 12, 2008
in Web Sites and Apps and maps
. 0 Comments

After poking around Nikolas Schiller’s page from the last post, I stumbled upon an online collection of maps of Los Angeles from the turn of the century.

The Library of Congress Exhibition, called “Los Angeles Mapped,” documents the history of how people viewed L.A. — from its late 1600s existence as a theoretical island to its orchard & oil existence to the early freeways, it’s a fascinating little collection of images.

Even though they’re not exactly the easiest things to navigate around, they are still great to look at. Of particular interest is the full map of L.A. County’s rail system from 1912, when the SouthLand was covered in over 1000 miles of track.

I just got an email from someone asking how to get to some good long distance trails in L.A. without a car. Sadly, the easiest answer is “go back to 1912 and take the rail to Echo Mountain or Chantry Flats.”

But hey, in November we might be able to vote for an additional tax to fund that Subway to the Sea we’ve heard so much about …

Oil in L.A.

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 12, 2008
in City Life, Geek Stuff, Web Sites and Apps and maps
. 0 Comments

I remember one of the first (of many) things that freaked me out about L.A. when I first moved here was the post apocalyptic wasteland of oil derricks you see when you’re driving north out of LAX on La Cienega. Coming from New England, I always assumed that sort of thing was reserved for the more rural, wide-open west — not urban, world-class-city Los Angeles.

It was the first of many of my assumptions about L.A. that turned out to be very, very wrong. The city, as it turns out, used to be mostly farmland, orchards, and oil fields — fairly recently in its history, too.

While searching for an unrelated map, fellow map nerd Nikolas Schiller came upon an old map of downtown and West L.A. from 1905, showing the locations of all the oil wells and derricks that used to dot the landscape. He used the map to create a Google Earth Overlay, which is pretty fascinating.

Click through to see if you’re sitting on an old filled-in well. Then worry.

Then be sure to check out the rest of Nikolas’ site. Especially if you like maps, fractals, computer art, and small doses of radical progressive political thought.

Via Curbed L.A.

Gnome Tent Pegs on Clearance!

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 11, 2008
in Gadgets and Gear, Geek Stuff and camping
. 1 Comment

REI started up one of its semi-regular clearance sales today, but aside from a few decent looking deals on winter boots, it doesn’t look like there’s all that much to get psyched about. Unless you want a pair of poorly-reviewed snowshoes or an in-tent electric fan (WTF?).

I’m still kicking myself for missing a great deal on a one-person ultralight tent on their last clearance, so now I check the web site IMMEDIATELY when I get REI’s email notice. I’m such a good little consumer, I am. But, after a few minutes of obsessive clicking, I stumbled upon what might be the single greatest outdoor item ever unleashed on an unwitting public: Gnome Tent Pegs.

Yes, they are exactly what they sound like — tent pegs made to look like David the Gnome after taking too much colloidal silver.

And yes, the gnomes ARE inflatable — so you can also use them as pillows or, as the web site recommends, companions on your next solo trip.

Of course, using these may be the reason why you’re taking so many solo trips in the first place.

48 State Parks to Close?

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 10, 2008
in Politics and State and Local Parks
. 4 Comments

Today, Gov. Schwarzenegger released a list of the 48 State Parks, Recreation Areas, Reserves, and Beaches that he wants to close to help get California’s budget back in the black.

The list reaches across the entire state, and would close many well-trafficked areas — including our very own Will Rogers, Topanga Canyon, and (slightly non-local) San Jacinto State Parks. It’s not clear whether the trailheads themselves will be off-limits, or if it just means closing down the services and rangers, but either way — when the parks are on the chopping block, it’s time to make some noise.

Bob Coomber left a comment on Two-Heel Drive that rightly recommends raising a political ruckus by calling or emailing your state and federal representatives to let them know you want to keep California’s park system up and running. The Drive also has a link to a more in-depth story in the Mercury Press, which shows Arnold also wants to slash education budgets and release 22,000 prisoners.

Actually, now that I think about it, this has GOT to be a way to help pass Props 94 through 97 (warning! PDF!).

Schwarzenegger’s been all over my TV talking about all the extra money California would get from expanding Indian Casinos in Southern California — and now he proposes shutting down beloved parks, cutting school budgets, and letting prisoners return to the streets? Was there any political boogeyman he DIDN’T drudge up? Maybe he could cut funding to police and fire departments … or just close all the hospitals.

Man that makes me angry. Angry enough to write some letters.

Find out your representative and get their address, phone numbers, and emails here.

How Green Is Your Candidate?

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 8, 2008
in Environmentalism and Politics
. 0 Comments

I just got my California Permanent Absentee Ballot in the mail yesterday, spiking my previous Election Fascination to full-blown Election Fever.

Since the best kind of voter is an educated one, I’ve added a Grist Election widget to the sidebar to the right, which will let you browse their comprehensive coverage of each candidate’s positions on various environmental-type issues. Or, if you want something a little more at-a-glance, they’ve also got a condensed chart of all the info.

Obviously, there are a lot of issues to consider when you’re voting for a potential President, but the environment should definitely be on your list.

Oh, and if you’re in California, there’s still time to register to vote. You’ve got until January 21st to get your application postmarked. Get on it!

Park Service Old-Timers Tell It Like It Is

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on January 8, 2008
in National Parks and Monuments and Politics
. 0 Comments

It often seems like National Park Service employees aren’t really allowed to speak their mind until well AFTER they’ve left the Service — even when it’s their job to specifically do so.

So while we watch President Bush make web videos about how much he loves the Park Service, we can later read a comprehensive Wish List from the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, calling for such things as “principled decision making,” the restoration of science and research to the NPS philosophy, ‘greener’ park buildings and services, halting fee-increases, and returning the NPS to “its former status as a leader in the world conservation movement.”

Wish list, huh? It feels like this should be a “Why The Hell Aren’t Things Already Like This?” list to me.

Via National Parks Traveler.