Monthly Archive for August, 2008

Hiking Mount Wilson - Devore Trail Camp Loop

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 31, 2008
in Angeles National Forest, Trail Write-Ups, camping and hiking
. 3 Comments

nullA 10.5 mile loop from the top of Mount Wilson to two trail camps along the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, then back up to the top of the mountain. This trail is entirely along the mountain’s cooler, more forested north face, and the route follows seasonal streams and rivers that can provide nice swimming holes. A few dangerous stretches of track and the down-then-up route make this a strenuous day hike, or a more moderate overnighter.

Continue reading ‘Hiking Mount Wilson - Devore Trail Camp Loop’

Havasupai Closed for the Year

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 31, 2008
in Grand Canyon National Park
. 0 Comments

nullIn “Good Thing I Went There A Few Months Ago” news, the Havasupai Tribe announced this week that the trails and camps near Havasu Falls will be closed for repairs until 2009.

The announcement on their web site reads:

SUPAI IS CLOSED TO VISITORS UNTIL SPRING 2009 DUE TO FLOODING SUNDAY 8-17-08. IF YOU HAVE A RESERVATION IN THIS TIMEFRAME, PLEASE CALL THE TOURISM OFFICE - 1-928-448-2121 or 2141 FOR CAMPING OR THE LODGE - 1-928-448-2111 or 2201 FOR RESERVATIONS YOU MAY HAVE MADE.

Again, I wish the best for a speedy recovery for the residents and environment in the area. It really is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

R0012642

Lock image by MikeBaird

Hike Hacker

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 25, 2008
in Web Sites and Apps
. 2 Comments

nullTwo-Heel Drive’s Tom Mangan — the godfather of this little hiking-blogging corner of the interwebs, has gone all open-source on us and launched a new how-to site called Hike Hacker.

It’s already amassing quite an archive of tips and tricks from other hikers, ranging from how to properly hold trekking poles to getting those waterfall snapshots looking great. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a how-to refresher course, or just want to get a few ideas to try something new on the trail.

Summit Stones in the San Gabriels

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 22, 2008
in motivations
. 2 Comments

I am very excited to announce that I just received a small package filled to the brim with Summit Stones.

Early on in this small world of hike-blogging, one of the first and most dependably great sites I stumbled upon was DSD’s Summit Stones & Adventure Musings. The closest thing our little online group has to a wandering sage, DSD painstakingly handpaints outdoor scenes on stones, then leaves them at summits for other hikers to discover and interpret.

It’s a project I have always loved, but never thought I’d be a part of — as DSD’s haunts are more up in the Pacific Northwest. But now I am excited and very proud to be the SoCal Operative in this ongoing project of his. I’ll now be spreading some Summit Stones along my various routes and tracks, and hopefully inspiring other hikers to stop and enjoy their surroundings in a new way.

Keep your eye open on those San Gabriel summits. You might stumble across one of these little beauties.

Summit Stone!

Many, many thanks to DSD for looping me in on this!

Funny Because It’s True

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 21, 2008
in Video, fires and in the media
. 0 Comments


Californians Gather To Celebrate Annual Wildfire Tradition

I look forward to the upcoming transition into Mudslide Season, marked by the annual Festival of the Sliding Mansions.

Hometown Mountain in the News

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 20, 2008
in GPS, hiking and in the media
. 1 Comment

nullWhen I saw the phrase “Connecticut Hikers” on my Hiker Hell feed this morning, I absolutely had to click-through. Even though I’ve been in California for over 5 years, now, I still like to keep tabs on my old Nutmeg State stomping grounds.

When I read that the lost hikers were on Ragged Mountain, I realized this story was not only in my old state, but actually in my hometown! Score one for Berlin, Connecticut — Home of the Yankee Peddler.

Ragged Mountain isn’t big by any standards, but it is a bit isolated from the rest of civilization in the area. It’s no Denali, but I could see how someone might get lost up there if they were unprepared. Thankfully, the two lost hikers were rescued without any problem, and everyone probably learned a valuable lesson.

Now I wonder if they were anyone I know …

Havasu Canyon Flood

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 18, 2008
in Grand Canyon National Park and in the media
. 1 Comment

The story of the recent flooding in Havasu Canyon continues to unfold.

Over 8 inches of rain fell in the area since Friday, turning the usually calm and turquoise Havasu Creek into a raging, muddy torrent. For a visual, here is video of Havasu Falls under normal conditions:

… and here it is with the water levels raised 2 feet — 6 feet lower than what’s flowing in the canyon right now:

Two things make this an especially nasty area for flash floods — one, the walls of this canyon are very steep, which means limited opportunities to get to higher ground; and two, the primary campground for the canyon is on fairly low land just a few hundred yards downstream from this waterfall.

The news from the area hasn’t been nearly as bad as it could have been, thanks to the efforts of the numerous groups helping with rescue operations. 400 people were successfully evacuated, and crews have started a search-and-rescue mission for the 11 hikers and campers still missing.

Arizona Central has more information on the events surrounding the flooding, as well as some harrowing first-person accounts of campers forced to climb trees and hope for the best.

I was in this canyon earlier this year, and it is impossible not to be awestruck by its natural beauty. I hope for the best for everyone still stuck in the canyon, as well as the Havasupai Tribe who live there.

Via Hiker Hell.

Fire Near Lancaster

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 18, 2008
in Angeles National Forest and fires
. 0 Comments

A brushfire burning in the Angeles National Forest near Lancaster is only 15% contained, but firefighters are optimistic the fire will be under control by tomorrow.

The fire has burned 250 acres northeast of Castaic Lake, threatened a hundred homes, and closed San Francisquito Canyon Road from Santa Clarita to Green Valley, but the fire has essentially stalled.

If you’re headed to the area, be aware of potential road closings for the next few days.

Via Los Angeles Times.

Runners Live Longer, Better

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 15, 2008
in motivations
. 2 Comments

nullA new study by the Archive of Internal Medicine has found something we all could have probably pieced together on our own — runners live longer and healthier lives than their lazy counterparts.

The study concluded that runners have a significantly lower mortality rate (15% vs. 34% over a 21 year period), don’t experience any more knee or joint problems, continue to have beneficial results - even from modest exercise - into their 80s, and start having age-related disabilities a full 16 years later than non-runners.

Wow.

If that doesn’t get you on the treadmill, I don’t know what will.

Via Backpacker.

Image by ghecko13.

Hiking Author at Adventure 16

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on August 15, 2008
in City Life, The Great Outdoors, camping and hiking
. 0 Comments

nullOver the next few weeks, SoCal outdoor outfitters Adventure 16 will host Allan Riedel — author of the guidebook 100 Classic Hikes in Southern California. Riedel will offer tips on his favorite local trails, hidden camping spots, and good family trips at all seven Southern California branches of A16:

- Tarzana Store: Thurs., Sept. 4, 7 p.m.
- West Los Angeles Store: Thurs., Sept. 11, 7 p.m.
- Torrance Store: Thurs., Sept. 18, 7 p.m.
- Costa Mesa Store: Thurs., Sept. 25, 7 p.m.
- Oceanside Store: Thurs., Oct. 2, 7 p.m.
- Solana Beach Store: Thurs., Oct. 9, 7 p.m.
- San Diego Store: Thurs., Oct. 16, 7 p.m.

No word on whether or not punch and pie will be served, but we can assume CLIF bars and iced tea are likely.