Follow the blog below to see some the great places we have been. Click on any picture to enlarge it.
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
Joshua Tree National Park in California is an amazing and intimidating place. It's unwelcoming and stark environment is contrasted by the beauty of the desert sky and rocky landscapes to the desert beetle seeking shade from the summer sun. Once you begin to appreciate Joshua Tree for it's geologic and historic features you'll never want to leave.
To see more photos from this trip check out this link: Joshua Tree National Park
TO OAKWILDE WE GO
Backpacking is a blast in the San Gabriels. A short 20 minute drive from downtown Los Angeles brings you to the beauty seen below. We took a one nighter from Switzer's to Oakwilde Camp. From awesome mountain trail views to beautiful tree covered creek canyons, the winding trails never disapoint. Just watch out for the Poison Oak!
MT. PACIFICO, SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS, CA
Welcome to our favorite camping spot, Mt. Pacifico. On it's granite boulder covered summit is a nice small campground on one of the most prominent peaks in the northwestern San Gabriel Mountains in California, with extensive views of the San Gabriels, Mojave and the western Transverse Ranges. Once you get to Mill Creek Summit you must take a dirt road a few miles to the top. You can pick up the Pacific Crest Trail near this campsite as well. Due to the fires 2009 fires, the campground is closed again but I have heard that it burned around Mt. Pacifico.
Thornhill Broome State Beach Campground, CA
For great camping on the beach, Thornhill Broome State Beach Campground, south of Pt. Mugu on Hwy 1, is our number one spot. No showers and only porta-potties means it's cheaper than the nearby Leo Carillo and Sycamore Cove. Hang out yards from the ocean or hike into the Santa Monica Mountains via such spots as the Sycamore Cove Campground Fire Road just a mile down Hwy 1.
MUIR WOODS, CA
"This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world," declared conservationist John Muir when describing the majestic coast redwoods of Muir Woods. We definitely didn't have enough time in this magical place and will have to return. We all owe a lot to Mr. John Muir. Muir Woods is in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, CA.
Solano County Wilderness Hiking, CA
While visiting family in Northern California we found the back hills of Solano County Wilderness to be a lot of fun with natural pools and swimming holes and also some cows. It was definitely a hot day and the hills were dry.
THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE SCENIC AREA, WA and OR
The Columbia River runs the border between Washington and Oregon, in the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area also known as The Gorge. The Gorge is an 80-mile scenic wonder formed by glacial floods thousands of years ago carving out this 1,200-mile-long river, which is the only sea-level passage to cross the Cascade Mountains. With cliffs rising as high as 4,000 feet, the Gorge acts as a funnel for North America's fourth largest river, whose tributaries include the mighty Snake River. There is much sightseeing to do in this area on either side of the border. We camped at a nice campground on the Washington side, Beacon Rock State Park Campground and were able to hike around the area to two small falls, The Pool of Winds and more great views of The Gorge. Beacon Rock towers 848 feet up, and we climbed a three quarter mile trek up 52 switchbacks and 22 wooden bridges. From the top you can see Mt Hood in OR and Mt Adams in WA. We drove down the Oregon side as well and checked out some of the different notable falls such as Horsetail Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. It was a busy day for tourists so we steered clear of hanging out at Multonomah Falls, the most well known. We also walked along parts of the the Columbia River Scenic Highway, a technical and aesthetic achievement built between 1913 and 1922.
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK COASTAL WILDERNESS, WA
Olympic National Park Coastal Wilderness. The complete coastline area is 73-miles of pure wilderness when much of our country's coasts are lined with real-estate. In 1988, Congress added much of the narrow coastal strip of the park (and much of the rest of the park) to a national system of designated wilderness. Our most beautiful trip and exciting trip yet consisted of 18 miles from Third Beach southward to Oil City Trailhead. We had 3 spectacular days of weather and hiked out on the 4th day after being beached for 5 hours in Jeffereson Cove and the weather turning dreary. We stayed at Scott's Bluff, Toleak Point, and Mosquito Creek. Hiking along gorgeous breathtaking beaches, past tantalizing tidepools, through magical forests, up and down steep ladders to beaches or overland trails, and getting drenched in the muddy Hoh Rainforest legs of the hike. Beautiful sunsets, lots of assorted wildlife, great challenges and surprises akin to gifts on Christmas morning. With 40 lbs on our backs including camera and tripod! This is our office! Welcome to work! Why not? It's the journey that counts.
Remember to click on any picture here to enlarge.
For a more captioned log of our trip in clickable slideshow style you can check out this Link:
Olympic National Park Coastal Wilderness
Remember to click on any picture here to enlarge.
For a more captioned log of our trip in clickable slideshow style you can check out this Link:
Olympic National Park Coastal Wilderness
North Silver Star Mountain Loop, WA
North Silver Star Mountain Loop is just north of Battle Ground and Yaccolt, WA. We found a great hike that could be done in 2-3 hours or a full day depending on how you hoof it and which option you choose. There are different hikes you can take around this area that intersect in different places. The early fog cleared to a beautiful afternoon. We had lunch up at the summit where I found a spot nestled in a rock outside of the wind but with a great comfortable lunch view. Then we hiked a side trail down threw yummy huckleberry bushes to the sacred rocks that young Indian Boys are known to have done their Vision Quest rituals.
