Lake Dorthy Campout

I needed some fresh air and solitude and decided to drive up to the Mammoth/Yosmite area for some hiking/camping.

After leaving LA my first stop was Palmdale for breakfast.  I normally stop in Mohave but Chelly’s was worth the trip.

Below is my machaca breakfast.

Back on the road I noticed pretty quickly that there seemed to be a lot of snow on the Sierras.  Normally I see some during the summer/fall but I could tell there was more and it was also a lot farther than south than normal.  The pics here are outside of Lone Pine.

Arriving at Rock Creek Lake.  There was snow at the lake (~10K feet) so I knew my plans of making it up Mt. Morgan were in serious jeopardy.  It was also about 20-30 degrees colder up here than back in town. I set out anyways.

This is how the trail looked right out of the parking lot.

Not impassable… but I knew it was only going to get worse.

Some places didn’t have much snow…

This picture explains why I didn’t make it up to Mt. Morgan.  The snow was pretty uniform and deep through this pine forest which was exactly where I needed to go… I had no idea what the conditions were like higher up on the Mtn but I would’ve had to camp somewhere in there first… no thanks.

Decided to head over to Lake Dorthy.  The last time I was here 2 years ago it was filled with water.  Looks like the drought is taking a toll.

I set up camp and enjoyed my afternoon tea.  That is Mt. Morgan in the distance.  Tons and tons of snow.  I would’ve come up from the slope on the right.  The view would’ve been a lot nicer up there but this wasn’t too bad.  Beats the LA urban jungle for sure… and not people to boot.

I did have a good dinner out here.  I tried freeze dried food for the first time ever and it wasn’t half bad considering I was all the way up in the back country.    Add some boiling water and wallah… instant fajitas.

Here is my bivy sack set up.  I had never used it before and it turned out to be a disaster once the temp fell below freezing.  After I fell asleep I awoke later on to find condensation all over the inside.  Since it was so cold I thought water was my enemy and slept outside.

In the morning there was frost over everything. 

The frosty way back to the truck.

Few hours later I had breakfast back in Bishop.  I stop at this restaurant pretty much every time I’m up here.   Note how green everything is here.   Pretty amazing how different it was up in the Mtns where I camped up.

My western frittata.  It was alright.

 

Epsom Salt Mine/Crystal Hills/Radio Tower

I’ve wanted to check out the Epsom Salt mines for sometime… but given its remote location never got the courage to drive all the way out there.  How far?  Well, as the crow flies it is about 60km (37 miles) from route 127 over dirt roads to the trailhead.  Yes… 37 miles!  As it turns out, most of the time the road was not too terrible but it was pretty darn bumpy. There were a few stretches where 4wd was very helpful if not required.

The below map gives you a good idea of the off-road drive I had I took this weekend and where the salt mine is.  It took me about 2 hours from when I turned off the paved road to to the trail head.  I was slightly faster on the way back.

The beginning of the drive along Satatoga Springs Rd.  The condition of this part was the best and almost good enough for a normal car.

The wildflowers were up in force everywhere I went.  The colors were spectacular.

Owl Hole Spring is basically the 1/2 way point.  This old spring was used as rest stop for caravans going from Death Valley to LA.   These days it looked a bit unclean likely due to all the wild donkeys crapping in the water.   The fence looks to be some type of trap/guard (i can’t tell which) to either keep the donkeys out or in.

Old mining relics at the spring.

Back on the road this is the descent into a small valley (about 25 miles from route 127)… actually you can’t even tell this the road here.

Eventually I made it the 37 miles and parked where I knew the hike started.  The hike starts by following an old road.  The well used trail u see here is NOT from humans but burros (wild donkeys).

The trail dead ends at the Davis Gate.  This is the edge of the China Lakes Navel Weapons area.   I saw no sign of any activity and have no clue what they use this land for.  I made a right turn here and followed the fence.

The fence then ends?  How odd.   Anyways from this point I could see the Crystal Hills in the background and headed off in that direction.

As I got closer to the hills I saw the old monorail!  This monorail was state of the art back in the early 1900’s.  It connected the Epsom salt mine with the main rail road in Trona 28 miles away.  It was completed in 1924 and was in operation for a few years. Read more about the monorail here.

Back on an old road I was approaching the main camp.

Various structures lie in ruin at the mine site.

It seems many mines in Death Valley have an old oven/furnace rusting out front.

One of the actual salt mines.  It is all collapsed in. No free epsom salt for me.

Maybe even more interesting than the salt mine is the spectacular geology of this region.   Mixed in with some surface salt the area is littered with crystals.. hints the name: Crystal Hills.

This is a closeup i took of the ground.  Everywhere you step looks like this.

Many of the crystals are pretty big.  I’m guessing this is quartz  (sorry.. im terrible at chemistry and geology but this stuff sure was neat).

The next few pics come from my vantage point atop a small hill.  I climbed up there to get a better view of the area.  You can see the mine ruins as well as the amazing colors of the hills.

Around 4pm I headed back to where I had parked the truck to setup camp.  I had some afternoon tea to cap off a long long day.

It got dark around 630.  ZzZ

First light on Sunday morning.  Sunrise in the desert is always special.

Time to saddle up and throw in one more little adventure before I head home.

From where I had parked the road continues up another 4 miles or so to an old radio tower.

Here it is.  It is not in operation anymore… but I am happy it is here.  The view from the top was great and because of the tower.. the road build up here was in pretty good shape compared to some of the old mining routes I’ve found myself on before.  By pretty good don’t think you will be getting your BMW or even rear wheel drive SUV up here.  4wd was defiantly needed on this last stretch.  There are no guardrails up here either so a skid will leave you pretty much dead at the bottom of ravine.

While the radio tower is dead I think this GPS beacon is still working.

A few more looks around at the top.  43 total driving miles off road to get here 🙂  Then I had to go all the way back.  Oh.. and after you get back to route 127 it is another 222 back to Marina del Rey.   Oh potato… good thing I only commute 2.5 miles to work each day.

Trip to the Confidence Wash & the Ibex Hills

Somehow the settings in my camera got screwed up and my pictures from this weekend’s hike into the Confidence Wash and up to the America mine are horrible.  Here a few pics that actually look ok.  Guess I have an excuse to go back now.

 

Here a few additional pictures of really cool stuff have horrible resolution.  So sad 😦

Hike/Camp in Mojave

I haven’t been able to get out of LA (or any city for that matter) for several months so this weekend I decided to go camping/hiking in the desert.  As the roads in Death Valley are still out, I headed to Mojave.

My first task (after driving 3.5 hours) was to find and drive down the 2 mile dirt road leading to the Silver Peak parking area.   This particular dirt road was pretty tame compared to the ones I normally find myself on in Death Valley.  I didn’t even need 4wD.

After starting the hike one of the first things I came across was this rusted axle.  Maybe an old mining car?  Who knows.

The trail up is pretty easy to follow.  Eventually it turns right and heads up the ridge.

Gaining some elevation now.

Then at the top:  Silver Peak.  It is about 2Km high (~6000 ft).

 

The register was inside this can.

I was the first one to climb up here since May 26th.  Just about 1/2 a year.

Some other pics on the way down:

This old corral is near the base of the hike.  I guess there was some ranching that took place a long, long time ago here.

The 9.6 mile hike took me about 6 hours.  I was pretty beat when I got back but wasted no time in setting up my camp.  For the first time I broke out my tent.

I used this hated Lakers jersey to start my fire.

As night fell I put on my soup.

It was fully dark by about 530pm.

trying to keep warm

Eventually, the coyote howls subsided and I fell asleep.  Dawn then came around 530am… the best part of camping in the desert.

I tried to do one more hike in the morning but after 2 miles I was pretty dead from the long hike up to Silver peak the day before and no breakfast…

Took this last pic of the Comanche Trail as I turned around and headed home.

Zion & Hike Down the Narrows.

Darian and I setting off on our trip down the Narrows.

Starting to get a little deeper.

This is the upper Narrows.

Wearing a trash bag to keep dry from the rain.

Waterfall @ the upper portion of the Narrows.

Darian wasn’t exactly thrilled with our camp site.

 

One of the more amazing portions of the hike.

Next day we headed to a more well traveled part of Zion. This is where most people go….

A wonderful yet challenging trip to Zion.

Saddlerock Mine

Sunday’s short hike was up to Saddlerock Mine.    This particular mine was one of the discoveries that led to the boom of Skiddo.

The bottom of the old road heading up.

As the road climbed views got better and better.

Eventually you arrive at this old house.  Not much left.

One of the mine openings.

From the inside.

Lemogne Canyon & Mining Camp

Lemogne Canyon is named after a famous French miner who use to work a mine west of Stovepipe Wells.   This is the turn off from the main highway.

The road up is pretty rough. Actually.. it is one of the worst I’ve seen in Death Valley.

Judging by these rusty remains…more than a few folks didn’t make it up.

 

 

 

 

 

Eventually the road ends.

As I started hiking… I took one last look back at the truck.

Various pictures of the route up

Arriving at the old mining camp you are greeted by this sign.

 

This is Lemoigne’s old cabin.  It doesn’t look like much now but it  was said that Mr. Lemoigne kept this cabin clean, cozy, and stocked with books when he lived here back in the late 1800’s.

There isn’t much left now.

The next few pictures are of another cabin in the area that was built sometime in the 1950s.  This cabin use to be visited regularly by off road drivers back in the 70s and 80s before the road closed for good.

Many early visitors signed their names on the walls.

Looking out an old window. 

 

 

 

Few old relics around the camp….

Last view before heading down.

Back on the rough road out…

Took this picture on my way to Beatty right at sunset.  Funeral Mtns in distance.

Feb Kyoto Trip Pics #3

Off the bus from Shiragawago… we arrived in Kanazawa to a freezing and snowy day.  Our first stop was a local food market for lunch.  We spent some time walking around….

My favorite stand… fried goods.

We ate lunch at this local seafood restaurant.

Most of the locals and Darian got this sushi bowl.

I opted for this fried monstrosity.

We then headed over the a pretty famous garden.  Did I mention how cold and snowy it was?

Me destroying a Japanese snowman.

Back at the train station. Bye Bye….

Feb Kyoto Trip Pics #2

The trip to Shiragawako starts with a train ride.  Some of us got a little sleep.

Darian did a good job preparing sweets.

It was snowing when we arrived.  Actually.. it never really stopped snowing the whole time we were there.

Taking the bag to our hotel.

Me checking out the gateway near a small temple.

 

The snow was up to our waists.

Darian always seemed happier in the cold then I was.

The entire village is visible from this small hill.

We stopped in this restaurant for lunch.

Food was pretty good.

Outside a small cafe that we decided to try.

Big communal table with a pot of red bean soup on the fire.

The owner.

Some pictures from inside our hotel.

The sweet lady who ran the hotel.

Bye Bye Shirakawago….

Feb Kyoto Trip Pics #1

Back to Kyoto to visit Darian 🙂

Saw this interesting statue on the way to a temple.  Being a gaijin… I of course had to climb up for a closer look.

Tada!

An old couple watching a fountain.

In front of the temple.

Can’t get much more Japanese than this.

Someone in Kyoto had this beautiful El Camino.  First time I’ve ever seen a classic American car in Japan. Wow.

Local bakery

Selling these cut chocolate hearts for vday.

Eating mine…

Yummy Korean bbq in Kyoto.

Kanazawago Pics to come.

Death Valley Trip With Robbie: Racetrack valley, Thimble Peak and around

Robbie finally came to visit so I took my old side kick out to Death Valley.  We started out early Saturday morning from Ridgecrest.  As you can see… it actually rained overnight and the morning fog burning off created an amazing picture against the Sierras.

Turning East to Death Valley.

The beginning of Saline Valley Road.

Adding gas for the long drive.

Saline Valley Road slowly climbs up to South Pass.  Lots of Joshua trees.

At the top of South Pass.  This is Mill Canyon below.

Eventually we turned up Lippincotte Road.  This is an old mining road.  The pictures really don’t convey how steep and rough this road was.

Near the top.  If you closely you can see the road below.

Eventually we made it Racetrack valley and out hike of the day.

This is the racetrack below.

We found some old copper mines to explore.

This is Saline Valley.

For dinner we headed to Nevada and a local bar.

Robbie gave it thumbs up.

They had this out door stove which I enjoyed.

Breakfast the next morning at the Diner with the locals.

Next it was time to gas up with some of that cheap Nevada petrol.

Around 9am we set off for our hike up Thimble Peak.   We started from Red Pass off Titus Canyon Road.

Even from the trailhead things were beautiful.

Getting higher.  The car got smaller and smaller.  You can barely see it now…

Robbie forging ahead.

Here I am in front of Thimble Peak (distance).

Close up view of it.

Robbie heading up the steep part. This is about as steep as I like to get without a rope.

Me heading up

This was the drop off to the North slide.  Yikes….

Robbie looking down the South slope. 

At the top… breathtaking.

 

On the way home there two notable events:

One: The drive through Tutus Canyon.

Two: Getting caught in my first sandstorm.

The experience was just surreal.  Oppressive yet beautiful at the same time.  What a weekend.

Workout of the day

Workout of the day

12 burpee pullups
50 jumping lunges
30 wall balls
9 burpee pullups
40 jumping lunges
20 wall balls
6 burpee balls
30 jumping lunges
10 wall balls

Time: 11:15

Workout of the day

4 rope climbs
7 95lb push presses
3 rope climbs
7 push presses
2 rope climbs
7 push presses
Row 100 calories

Time: 17:37

Sedonda Trip Pics II

I started my morning at a local joint called the Coffee Pot.

They had one of the largest menus I’ve ever seen… and yes.. complete with 101 different Omelets.  I opted for the ham steak breakfast.  Yum.

After not finishing that gigantic breakfast I headed over to my second hike at Bear Mtn. It happens to be one of the highest mtns around Sedona at about 2100m (6500 feet) in case you were wondering.

Trail head.

The next several pictures are of the lower 1/2 of the trail.

Arriving at the middle sections.

It started snowing at around the 1/2 way point.

The snow made for some interesting pictures

Pictures from the top.

Few more pics on the way down.

After my long climb I headed into town for some coffee.  Stumbled on this little cafe which seemed pretty interesting.

Since they had spiced cider on the menu I opted for that. What treat.

Next stop was Cafe Jose’s for dinner.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect here because the menu was 1/2 Mexican (tacos, burritos, etc) and 1/2 American classics (meatloaf, fried chicken).  I opted for the Chicken dumpling special.

This is what arrived.  Wow.  Just what I needed after a long day of hiking.  It was really good and cheap too.  The whole meal set me back $11.

Since it was Xmas Eve I decided to go back to cafe and catch up on my reading.   No cider this time… The Economist, beer and a cookie… classic.

Dinner at Jose’s was so good I went back for breakfast.  The best machaca con huevos I’ve ever eaten hands down.  Just what needed before my long 8 hour drive home.

Next I hit the road.  This is somewhere between Sedona and Phoenix.

Finally home.  I put 1083 miles on the Xterra in 4 days all by myself.  To all the people in Southern California who sell their cars on craigslist:  This is what mostly “highway miles” means.

Sedona Trip Pics I

Since we got 2 days off for Xmas an I’ve been to Death Valley so often I decided to venture a little farther away from home this year.   I’d head good things about Sedona and figured that was a worthy choice.

Here is a screen shoot of my iphone with the map track.  This was actually for the trip home but you can clearly see how long a drive this was!  502 miles or 900+km is no cake walk solo.   I took the 10 to the 17 since I had already been traveled I40 on a trip back from Mojave and wanted to see something new.

Since I was by myself, I decided to stay at a little hotel/motel off the main road.   It had good reviews on Yelp and cost $140/night.

The room was pretty nice.  I even had my own fireplace.

Day 1 started out with an early start to Hike Secret Canyon.  The trail head was 3.5 miles down this dirt road.  It wasn’t too bad (see below) most of the time but a few sections had gigantic mud filled holes.  I will call it a semi-4wd road.

Here is the trail head.

Various pictures of along the trail.

Eventually the trail dropped into Secret Canyon, the temperature dropped, and snow was everywhere.

Hard to see the trail markers with all the snow.

Deep into the Canyon I noticed the walls closing in around me. But how to get up there?

Eventually the canyon opened up and I started climbing up the side.

Thing were very over grown with gigantic bushes and deep snow.  I got scratched up pretty good and lost my water bottle which must have gotten whacked out of my backpack.  

After about 20 mins I finally came out of the brush.

I then had to figure out a way up the side of this… don’t ask me how I did it.

Finally made it up.  Over to the big rock I went.

Turning around… you can see where I came from: down and to the left.

The next two pics look back up down sacred canyon.  The trail head is 5 miles in the distance.

Close up of that big rock.

One of the few pics I took of myself ala iPhone.

A few more pics in the canyon on my way back…

The Xterra got a bit muddle on the way out…

Bye bye Secret Canyon…more pics to come.

Homemade Lara Bars

 

My coworker Elise suggested I try to make Lara bars and I finally decided to give it a try.  After all, what better way to get rid of leftover almonds and raisins?

Dump everything into ye olde food processor.

Grind away and the result looks something like this.

Next I dumped out the contents onto some parchment paper and started pressing away.

I then folded everything up and put into the fridge for an hour or so.

Came out looking pretty snappy.

Tada.. healthy goodness.

They taste pretty good… but I’m thinking marble cheese cake is still a bit better.

Kyoto Trip Pics: Okonomiyaki , 金閣寺, and the best prize of all.

Finally got some Okonomiyaki!

The staff pretty much make the entire thing in front of you.

Mayonnaise and Okonomiyaki sauce goodness

Next stop was Kinkaku Ji.

 

Look… I picked a 大吉!!  Could this mean good luck on the way?

Next we walked back before going to a cafe to warm up.  I arrived freezing…

Although I was cold and sad… something made me really happy…. not the coffee.

Not the ice cream….

But the little Omamori on Darian’s backpack.

It was now in my hands for safekeeping… and I will never take that for granted.  Ever.

Kyoto Trip Pics Day 2

The Fushimi Inari Shrine was one of my favorite places in Kyoto.  It consists of hundreds of gate ways like the ones below blessed for business/career success.  Each entry is built after a monetary contribution.. we’re talking millions of Yen here.   The shrine is built on the side of a mtn and was very peaceful on the afternoon Darian and I visited.

Don’t ask why Darian put that leaf behind my ear.

I could resist trying to bang out some pullups.

Colors got very interesting as the sun went down

Katsu lunch! YAY.  I ate 3 bowls of rice.

Workout of the day

Yikes… Hadn’t done rope climbs in a long time.

5 rope climbs
10 wall balls
4 rope climbs
10 wall balls
3 rope climbs
10 wall balls
2 rope climbs
10 wall balls
1 rope climbs
10 wall balls

Time 18:00

Kyoto Trip Pictures Day 1

Day one in Kyoto began at the Gion Nishiki Market.  Lots of traditional Japanese food and vegetables were sold here.

Here some yummy grilled squid that Darian & I tried.

Next stop was Darian’s favorite soy doughnut shop. It is hard to see.. but the donuts are pushed through a vat of oil by a little conveyer belt.

Yummy fried goodness.

In addition to the pretty lady sitting next to me… Taiwanese folks are everywhere in Kyoto.  We met this lady and her boyfriend at the doughnut shop.

How could I resist the giant Pocky sticks!  Score!

Next stop was the monkey temple.

Lots of colorful monkeys.

Onto the clear water temple… a very famous temple in Kyoto.

Hello Kitty is everywhere.

Stopped for a cup of coffee along the way

Lots of gardens and walkways

This is part of the temple

 

Wide angle shot at sunset to end the day.