In response to high temperatures, drying vegetation, and increased visitation, the rangers in the Angeles National Forest have raised the official Fire Danger level from “high” to “very high” today. Fire restrictions remain the same — campfires in developed sites only, propane and gas stoves allowed with Fire Permit only.
Also, reader D.W. Davidson wrote in a few days ago to alert me to a change in operational hours at the gate to Chantry Flats. The Gate — which gets you into the beautiful Santa Anita Canyon area of the Angeles National Forest — will now be open from 6AM to 8PM until further notice. The reason? “Increasing fire danger and a history of human-caused fires in the area.”
… and that should get a few more interesting hits from Google.
But it’s true, according to a recent CNN story about “natural highs.” Hiking and mountain climbing rank among such other risky and rewarding activities as going to the gym, public speaking, skydiving and … um … shoe shopping.
If you’re looking for motivation to hit that next peak on your list, listen to Ramani Durvasula, a professor at CSULA, describe her hiking experiences:
When you pull yourself up onto a summit — and climax, so to speak, particularly as a woman — the sheer physicality, beauty and endurance are like no other feeling on earth … My favorite ‘lover’ was Half Dome … I fell to my knees. It was one of the best moments of my life.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to make plans to visit Yosemite.
I wonder what Durvasula would have to say about the rock formations in Cappadodcia …
A 10 mile trek down the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, following the path of an attempted highway. This hike features multiple river crossings, plenty of opportunities to swim, historic sections of visible roads and tunnels, and the Bridge to Nowhere — a 120 foot high concrete bridge in the middle of the canyon. The bridge is an odd and beautiful sight that is unparalleled in the San Gabriels — and it’s also the only place in California were bungee jumping is allowed (on weekends).
I am resisting the “Fallen Arch” title that everyone else seems to be in love with, but must still sadly report that there will be one less arch greeting visitors to the National Park named after them — as Wall Arch crumbled and fell recently.
According to the National Park Service, the center of the arch fell sometime during the night of August 4th, and as of August 7th, the rest of the arch was still crumbling and falling off. Or, as Chief Ranger Denny Ziemann told the Salt Lake Tribune, “it just went kaboom.”
Apparently, no one injured by the fall - which is good - or witnessed the rare geologic event - which is too bad, as it would have made a kick-ass Visitors’ Log entry at the Park HQ.
For those thinking about changing their vacation plans, worry not — Arches has more then 2,000 of the sandstone formations within its boundaries.
The 2009 Outdoor Retailer show is officially underway — which means all the outdoorsy gadget blogs are going to have tons of great post ideas in the next few days, as manufacturers stumble over each other to show us newer and more expensive ways to do the things we can already do for free with knives, logs, and bits of twine.
Backpacker.com set up shop on the show floor and quickly discovered a new Platypus bladder designed specifically for carrying wine, which I guess could come in handy if you were throwing yourself a little wilderness bacchanalia and didn’t want to lug those glass bottles in and out.
The Gear Junkie got his first round of reviews in, which include toed-socks, a blindingly bright LED lamp, and an in-camp coffee maker that’s about as close to a plug-in kitchen top model as you’ll ever see in the woods.
Be sure to stay tuned — they’ll be plenty more new shiny things to lust after in the next few days.
I’ve driven by these signs throughout L.A. a few times before, but I just noticed this new one posted on my walk to work, on Wilshire and Curson.
Since this group had finally gotten all up in my face, I went to their web site and discovered the Islands of L.A. National Park — a group of civic activists / conceptual artists who are working to appreciate and protect our beloved traffic islands.
Their methods vary from doing cleanup and maintenance, to planting trees, painting murals, and providing social assistance — all under the guise of reclaiming public space in a city that’s not really known for having any of it in the first place.
Not really great for hiking, and certainly not as remote as the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (which is pretty dang close to a National Park, even if just semantically), but it sure is nice to see people trying to make the city they live in a better place.
B-Real from Hiker Hell wants you to make sure to take time out of your busy Wednesday to remember these things:
1. Mountain lion cubs are cute.
2. Mountain lion cubs are so cute, you may want to stop to pet them.
3. You should not pet mountain lion cubs, because it’s highly likely their parents are nearby.
4. Mountain lions will attack things that look like they’re attacking their cubs, even if they’re cooing and speaking in baby talk about how cute their cubs are.
Channel Islands National Park has been on my to-do list for a little while now, but I still haven’t been able to find the time to make the trek out there myself. Luckily, someone else just did.
The GeekHiker — that other geeky hiker-photographer who blogs in Southern California, the one whose excellent site evaded me until recently — just went on a writing and uploading spree from his recent trip to the islands.
Your one-stop shop for hiking in Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California. Find a trail. Download a Google Earth file. Charge your GPS' batteries, then get outside and charge yours.
In response to high temperatures, drying vegetation, and increased visitation, the rangers in the Angeles National Forest have raised the official Fire Danger level from “high” to “very high” today. Fire restrictions remain the same — campfires in developed sites only, propane and gas stoves allowed with Fire Permit only.
A 10 mile trek down the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, following the path of an attempted highway. This hike features multiple river crossings, plenty of opportunities to swim, historic sections of visible roads and tunnels, and the Bridge to Nowhere — a 120 foot high concrete bridge in the middle of the canyon. The bridge is an odd and beautiful sight that is unparalleled in the San Gabriels — and it’s also the only place in California were bungee jumping is allowed (on weekends).
I am resisting the “Fallen Arch” title that everyone else seems to be in love with, but must still sadly report that there will be one less arch greeting visitors to the National Park named after them — as Wall Arch 
I’ve driven by these signs throughout L.A. a few times before, but I just noticed this new one posted on my walk to work, on Wilshire and Curson.
Channel Islands National Park has been on my to-do list for a little while now, but I still haven’t been able to find the time to make the trek out there myself. Luckily, someone else just did.
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