Monthly Archive for April, 2008

Which Socks to Wear?

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 18, 2008
in clothes, hiking and product reviews
. 2 Comments

nullOne of the great secrets about hiking is that really - at least at the beginners’ level - anyone can do it. If you can walk down to the vending machine to buy a Twix, you can hike. And even if you can’t, you can still scale yourself a fourteener if you’ve got the right mindset.

Lots of people I know are reluctant to hit the trails because they think they’re going to have to buy a ton of new, sport-specific gear in order to have a good time — but most of the time you can get away with whatever athletic or active wear you’ve already got.

One place you absolutely 100% CANNOT skimp, however, is your sock choice. Outside Magazine’s question of the day tackles this issue with several recommendations, including the nearly ubiquitous SmartWool.

I couldn’t agree more.

When I first started hiking, I used regular cotton athletic socks. Big mistake, and a direct route into Blister City. Some light wool socks were better, but SmartWool are my feet’s best friends. In the summer or on quick trips, I go with the medium. For backpacking, the heavy models provide extra cushioning … and even though it’s hot out and you’re wearing wool, your feet will rarely get sweaty.

If you’re looking for a new pair, hit up your local outdoor retailer or say hi to
my friends at Moosejaw. They’ll send you a snarky, well-written email confirmation and put you on their list for a catalog with scantily clad ladies.

… if you’re into that sort of thing.

Oldest Living Tree Found

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 16, 2008
in Environmentalism
. 0 Comments

National Geographic is reporting researchers have found and located the world’s oldest living tree — a 13 foot tall Norway Spruce.

The actual trunk of the tree has a life span of about 600 years, but because the tree’s roots remain alive even after the trunk has died and sprouted a replacement, this particular tree is estimated to be 9,550 years old.

No word yet from California’s Methuselah tree … or this guy, for that matter:

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Image by Elfinke

Destructive Hiking

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 11, 2008
in City Life, Environmentalism, Griffith Park and hiking
. 8 Comments

nullLA.com’s Daily News is reporting hikers are damaging the re-opened trails of recently burned areas of Griffith Park by straying off trail and trampling over recovering chaparral. And who, you might ask, is doing all of this irresponsible hiking? According to the News, “elite hikers of the Sierra Club.”

Up to 500 Sierrans hike Griffith Park three nights a week, and apparently their reckless off-trail stomping isn’t news either to park rangers or Sierra Club hike leaders. Endangered Species Task Force hike leader Rosemarie White recalled running into another group of Sierra Club hikers while leading a moderate on-trail hike: “They were coming straight up where there was no trail, grabbing branches like it was the cat’s meow.”

Large-scale off-trail hiking can increase erosion and destroy plant habitat anywhere, but in this area of fire recovery, stomping boots can crush new seedlings, kick up roots, and displace planted mulch and seeds.

But that doesn’t matter to hikers like Andy Serrano, who

said a trail is a trail, with many undesignated paths leading to stairways, bridges and other man-made features.

In some areas, he said, the unofficial trails are the only way to get from place to place, as from Lake Hollywood to Mount Cahuenga.

“I’m a fast hiker, but I don’t blaze new trails,” Serrano said. He added that, without the sporting element, many hikers would rather stay home. “They won’t come. I wouldn’t come.

“I’d go to the gym, where there are pretty girls in leotards,” he said. “The smaller trails … are very steep. You do some technical climbing. There are rocks. They’re more challenging.

“The fire trails are like a sidewalk. There’s absolutely nothing interesting there.”

Hey, Andy, you know what? I don’t like fire roads, either. But when I want a challenging trail, I find a challenging trail. I don’t make my own.

Also, you’re in the Sierra Club. Act like you at least have an ounce of respect for the natural features that others protected so you could enjoy them.


Via CurbedLA.
Photo by Al.Hermmann.

Now With Countours

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 8, 2008
in Web Sites and Apps and maps
. 1 Comment

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A few days ago, Google quietly added some fancy new contour lines to its “Terrain Mode” on Google Maps.

As noted before, most of the prominent peaks are labeled, as well as other geographic features. In National Parks, campgrounds, ranger stations, and a few trails show up, too — but our local National Forests are still missing this information … although honestly, I’m sure it’s just a matter of time.

Now, when are we going to get to print these things out instead of having to buy topographical maps?

Via GOBlog, courtesy Team Geared Up.

Breaking News: Plight of Missing Hikers Will Make Great Movie

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 8, 2008
in Video and Web Sites and Apps
. 0 Comments


Breaking News: Plight Of Missing Hikers Will Make Great Movie

Courtesy my fine friends at The Onion.

Concert for Trash Prevention

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 7, 2008
in Environmentalism and Joshua Tree National Park
. 0 Comments

Remember that proposed trash dump right outside of Joshua Tree National Park? If you were around during the prehistoric early days of this site, you would — it’s one of the very first things I posted.

The on-again, off-again legal relationship still hasn’t made any progress since the last appeal, but the coalition of groups fighting to stop a giant pile of L.A.’s finest garbage from getting piled up on the doorstep of SoCal’s most accessible National Park is holding a benefit concert in Pioneertown on April 18th and 19th.

According to the Press Release:
“If you like good ole rock n’ roll or are concerned about our desert environment, join us for a fun weekend and support a good cause in Rockin’ For Joshua Tree. For more information call Donna Charpied (760) 574-1887 or email donna.c@ccaej.org. Donations to support the legal battle can also be made. Checks should be made payable to CCAEJ, earmarked for Stop The Eagle Mountain Dump, mailed to Donna Charpied/CCAEJ PO Box 397, Desert Center, Ca. 92239. CCAEJ is a non-profit organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3). All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.”

Via National Parks Traveler, who also have some good info on the history of the legal battle to prevent this dump.

Bloom Alert!

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 4, 2008
in Santa Monica Mountains
. 1 Comment

nullMy Havasu backpacking buddy (and great photographer) Andrew just dropped me a line to let me know the Santa Monica Mountains are smack dab in the middle of a great wildflower bloom right now. With the recent rainstorm and some partly sunny forecasts — for the weekend afternoons, at least — this would be a good time to head out to Malibu and do a little hiking before the summer sun makes the trails too hot.

He recommends the La Jolla Valley Loop for good peeping, and I agree. I did the trail a few years ago – before I started GPS tracking — and was really impressed with the variety of landscapes on this route. You get some great coastal bluffs, a hidden lake, a (very small) waterfall, and one of Southern California’s last-remaining native grasslands.

The Park Service has a page of bloom reports, and it looks like Triufno Canyon and Point Mugu have some nice flower cover right now, too. For added fun, identify all the flowers when you get home. Your botanist friends will be impressed.

My doctor told me not to engage in “strenuous activities” for a few weeks … but a walk through the flowers can’t be that bad, right?

Image by njhdiver

Lack of Posts

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on April 1, 2008
in site news
. 0 Comments

… just wanted to let everyone know that I am recovering from some sinus surgery last week, which is why the posts have been few and far between since then.

In case anyone’s wondering, the surgery went really well — but I’m not allowed to engage in “strenuous activities” for two and a half weeks — which means no biking to work and no hardcore hiking. But maybe some easier trails. This could be a good excuse to go check out Griffith Park.