Guides and Trips
Trips
A fun, but technical trail that follows the stream up to a damn. The trail that continues around the damn seemed to be closed. It's nice alternative to all the other cool trails around here because it's not too steep. This is out and back so turn around anytime.
big shuttle ride
Chad, Carter and I hike the ridge of Griffith Park. I have been wanting to do this hike ever since (and before) it was legal to hike to the "Tree of Life" in H Huges' old property--the one that narrowly became a housing development but Hugh Heffner and a bunch of others raised the money to gift it to the City.Anyway, the track and all the stats are for a one way,...
Very fun and easy to access.This is a rare trail for the San Gabriel Mountains in that it is not very steep. It follows a stream, crossing it a few times. This trail was definitely more technically challenging than cardiovascularly challenging. The terrain varies from paved to dirt fire road to dirt single track to gravel and sand, to head stones and sand and beyond. I got wet crossing the stream, and...
This might be my favorite ride within an hour of me, including El Prieto. Start off with 3 miles of uphill on a fire road, climbing 1400 ft or so. I stopped a lot. Then you ride the ridge top on a fire road. It's slightly downhill, so coasting and fun. Then, at the turnout with a chair, you drop into some really fun single track. It is pretty technical with some...
This is one of my favorite close to LA hikes. I got the idea from localhikes.com and THIS person's everytrail trip. I would say this hike is a blue square in difficulty. 1500 ft assent in 2.75 straight miles, eroded single track trails, major bouldering, poison oak everywhere, and the temptation to explore a dangerous cave all add to the difficulty. The trail starts on Ridge Fire Road, where it can get hot with the asphalt reflecting the...
This was my first time backpacking in ten years. I have hiked the Eagle Falls area and when I saw this hike in the book, "Backpacking California", I knew I had to try it. The assent from Meeks Bay is much more gradual than from Eagle Falls and there are far fewer people on the Meeks Bay side of the trail. Overnight backpacking permits must be obtained ahead of time, so contact...
We hiked from Mountain Lake to the top of Mt Constitution. There were plenty of people hanging around the lake, but once we got into the woods, headed up the mountain, we didn't run into anybody else until the summit. Some of the switchbacks are steep, and I became very tired. Maybe it was the 10 mile kayaking trip I did that morning. Anyway, the views are spectacular and I'm very glad...
Rob and I go for a hike I found on ModernHiker.com (he has an everytrail trip too!) Please refer to him for the best trail info. Like the casual hikers that we are, we left LA around noon, arrived to the trailhead in 45 minutes, and was walking by 1pm. The parking lot was mostly empty (contrary to modernhiker.com) Most of the trail is following creeks and under the cover of trees, so heat was...
Berry Creek Falls, Big Basin State Park
Riverside Grove, California, United States
Hiking | 9.9 miles
Hiking | 9.9 miles
This is an absolutely gorgeous hike through huge redwoods to see some great waterfalls. There is a parking fee, and a very nominal fee to buy a map. I forgot my wallet and relied on the generosity and niceness of others to help me get a bottle of water, a map, and parking. Ooops. Although I did the hike in just over 3 hours, you should schedule 5-6 hours to do this hike plus...
This is one of my most favorite overlooks of Lake Tahoe, definitely from this side of the lake. The trip travels on fire roads, forest service roads, and improved (paved) snow mobile trails from Northstar. A 4-wheeled drive vehicle is highly recommended, but with the right attitude and a car you don't mind thrashing, any vehicle will do (respect the trails, though!!). Mountain bikers frequent these trails as do dirt bikes. So share the road and be...
This hike, I affectionately refer to as the hike of death. We missed a turnoff and found ourselves off the trail for about a third of the entire hike. We went straight up the mountain, instead of the gradual switchbacks. The real trail is 2 miles longer each way. Freel Peak is amazing. The clouds soar by, more or less the same elevation as the summit. The views in all directions are breathtaking.
Biking San Juan Island/Whale watching
Friday Harbor, Washington, United States
Road biking | 9.7 miles
Road biking | 9.7 miles
On our trip to the San Juan Islands, we ferried to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island where we rented bikes, rode across the island to the best spot to whale watch, and watched whales. We saw whales and a bonus of a bald eagle. Nice. Finished the day with a micro-brewed pint in Friday Harbor before taking the ferry home.The statistics are ONE WAY.
My father, brother and I took a 'romantic' sunset kayak tour of the west side of Orcas Island. It was moderately strenuous, only because everyone in our group wanted it to be. The only choppy water was at the very end of the point, the farthest north on the track. The company we went through was Shearwater, who had a very friendly, helpful guide who was not only knowledgeable about the sea and kayaking,...
Kayak Marina Del Rey, Mother's Beach
Marina del Rey, California, United States
Kayaking / Canoeing | 3.7 miles
Kayaking / Canoeing | 3.7 miles
This is a very basic, easy kayaking trip. Marina Del Rey is a busy harbor so you're bound to get some great people/boat watching in. On other trips, I have kayaked out of the marina, paddled North, and beached on Venice beaches. CAUTION: Open ocean is much more dangerous than the marina. Surf launching is dangerous and difficult at times. Have experience.Beach Launch is from "Mother's Beach". My tracks show me leaving...
