In this episode I talk about poisonous and potentially dangerous plants you’ll most likely meet along the trail, how to identify them, how to avoid them and what to do if you’re accidently exposed to them.

LINKS:

• 
  
• Poison-Ivy.org - One of the best web sites for tons of information
• Skin Rash Hall of Fame - Great gruesome photos, not for the squeamish
• Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac Information Center - More great info
• Beware the dangers of poison oak - ABC 7 Los Angeles Video\
• Treating Poison Oak video Tecnu - Poison Ivy and Oak Block Lotion

 

Palomar Observatory is located in San Diego County, California, in the Palomar Mountain Range. At approximately 5,570 feet elevation, it is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology. . The telescopes of the Palomar Observatory are involved in a wide variety of astronomical research programs. The studies conducted here range from the hunt for near-Earth asteroids, to probing distant galaxies and quasars at the farthest reaches of the universe.

The Observatory Trail is a 5 mile round trip hike from the Observatory Campground up to the Hale Telescope and back that takes you through a canopy of oaks and shady pines.  This podcast is about my solo adventure up the Observatory Trail to visit the telescope.

In this episode I share a little bit of history about the construction and operation of the magnificent 200 inch Hale Telescope and throw in some music from the era to give it a vintage feel.

Links:

Trip Photos

Trail Video on Youtube (Watch in HD)

Take a ride on South Grade Road via Youtube

Mt. Palomar Observatory

South Grade Road High Speed Motorcycle Cam Video

 

In this episode John, Gerry and I tag along with the Orange County Communications crew as they attempt their annual hike from the Palm Springs Tram up to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto.

 

Mt San Jacinto is located just outside of Palm Springs California. At an elevation of 10, 804 feet, Mt. San Jacinto is the crown jewel of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains division of the San Bernardino National Forest.  It features a steep north face that drops over 8,000 vertical feet in just over three linear miles, making it one of the most dramatic views in the west.  The trail from the lower parking area to the summit climbs over eight thousand feet and according to Backpacker Magazine, is one of the toughest day hikes in the United States.  Our adventure today is a little tamer but challenging just the same.

LINKS:

• Trip Photos
• Video of our adventure in HD
• Cactus to Clouds Trail
• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

 

In this final episode about our Dinkey Lakes adventure we continue our day hike down Dinkey Creek and visit scenic Mystery Lake, Swede Lake and South lake as the threatening clouds thicken and swirl around the basin.  We also find ourselves off trail and meet up with some interesting fisherman and have a wildlife encounter.  Toward the end of the episode we pack up our camp and head out.  Along the way we finally meet the llamas and have an interesting conversation with the Llama Lady.

 

LINKS:

• Llama Packing
• Fly Fishing Dinkey Creek
• Clyde Pack Outfit

 

In this episode, Dave, Gerry, Mike and I hike up from Cliff Lake to spectacular views along a ridge then drop into the Dinkey Lakes Basin.  We hike past Rock Lake, Dinkey Lake #2 and eventually up to Island Lake.  Here we are treated to a scenic lake and chilly winds.  We make a group decision on which lake to set up our base camp and enjoy the Dinkey Lakes WIlderness.

 

LINKS:

• Foster's Beer Can Pot - Youtube Video
• DIY Wood Gas Burning Stove - Youtube Video
• Ultralight Cookset using Heineken Can - Youtube Video

In this podcast Dave, Gerry, Mike and I embark on a 5 day adventure into the Dinkey Lakes basin on a four day backpack trip. We meet up at the High Sierra Ranger Station before spending the first night out at Trapper Springs Campground to acclimate near Courtright Reservoir.  The next morning we head up into the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness along the Cliff Lake Trail to our camp at a fabulous campsite at Cliff Lake.

In this episode I give an overview of the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, talk about our gear and our first experiences along the Cliff Lake Trail.

 

Trip Photos

Video of our adventure

LINKS:

• Dinkey Lakes PDF
• Packing with Llamas
• Hennessy Hammocks
• Hammock Gear - Crowsnest Underquilts
• Clyde Pack Outfitters

 

In this episode I talk about haunted hikes, some unique places where you'll most likely encounter a ghost and I tell a true story of my unique encounter with the paranormal and a possible homicidal maniac.

Villisca is a small town in Iowa and the scene of one of America's most grizzly murders.  I relay facts about the case and feature some audio clips about the murder weapon.  

Also featured is a story about an insane asyllum  in Upstate New York where over 400 abandoned suitcases were found, belonging to former patients that were kept at the institution before it closed in 1995.

LINKS:

Willard - From PRX.Org. Fascinating story - must sign up for free account to hear entire story.

Willard article about the suitcases

Photos - Photographs from Willard - eerie shots of empty buildings, creepy rooms.

More Willard Photos

Iron Goat Trail - Photos, trail info, history of the disaster.

Rolling Mill Mine Disaster Article

James Wolfe Sculpture Trail - Ghosts at the Incline ?

 

Have you ever lost something on the trail before, later to find it? How about things you've lost never to get back, or things you might not know you've lost yet.  This podcast is about all things lost and found and frozen.  In this episode I relate some stories about things I've lost and found over the years.  I also talk about hikers that have become lost, and then found.  Some of them by accident when they thawed out.

I tell the tales of famous folk found frozen the likes of Steve Fossett, John Donovan, a WWII airman, a guy trapped inside a waterfall and many more.  I'll also talk about a zany account of six people all getting lost and found on the same trail on the same day.

In this episode I’ll talk about when, where and how lightning strikes and give you some facts about lightning that you just might not know.  I’ll also talk about some real life encounters with  natures fury and shed some details on what to do if you’re caught in the outdoors with a storm approaching, what to do and what not to do and maybe even take a lighting quiz to test your knowledge. I’ll also discuss briefly what to do in the unfortunate occurrence that someone in you hiking party is the victim of a lightning strike.

Here are some interesting links to check out

• Lightning Strikes Airliner (MUST SEE VIDEO)
• National Weather Service - What You Need To Know PDF
• NOAA Lightning Strike Survivor PSA
• Lightning Stike Photos

In this episode I take a look back at my trip to Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states.  This podcast was lost when my podcast host server crashed and took all my earlier episodes with it.  Alas, I saved this one and thought I'd share it with my new listeners.

 

Also, I mention some interesting things in the news today and talk a bit about another past episode 53 Trouble at the Trailhead.

 

LINKS:

• Inyo National Forest Mt. Whitney Permit information
• Mt. Whitney Message Board
• Mt. Whitney Day Hike web page
• Best of My Whitney Trail on You Tube

This episode is about a day hike up to the summit of Mt. Baldy, the highest point in Los Angeles County California. We hike up the Sierra Club Ski Hut Trail, an intense 4,000 foot gain over four miles.  Along the way we pass the beautiful San Antonio Falls and work our way up to the Ski Hut built in the 1930's by early ski mountaineers and maintained by volunteers today.

We also pass the crash site of two World War II fighter planes and a spiritual location on the way to the narrow section of trail know as the Devil's Backbone.

Come along with Katie, Eric, John, Gerry and I as we experience, The Sierra  Club Ski Hut Trail to the top of Mt. Baldy

See the Photos

Watch the Video in HD

Mt. Baldy Ski Hut

WWII Hellcat Crash Photos

Mt. Baldy - The Sacred Site

World Peach Pilgrimage 2010

 

 

 

This podcast is about some of the unusual names we see on our topographic maps while we are looking for interesting places to go hiking.  I found this great article that describes just how places get their names and who decides what gets approved and what doesn't.  I was always curious who did it, arn't you ?

U.S. Board of Geographic Names

This podcast is about our adventure up the East Fork of the San Gabriel River to visit the Bridge to Nowhere and hopefully watch some bungee jumping.  A lot of people have seen bungee jumping on television, but don’t get the real perspective or the adrenaline rush from experiencing it first hand.

I had been up the East Fork a few years ago, and even did a podcast about the trip  but that trip was in mid August, when the water level was much lower and flowed with much less intensity that what we’d experience today.  This was mid spring; and the snowmelt and winter runoff was in full force.  This was going to be a much different hike than last time.

 

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS

WATCH THE VIDEO

This episode is about a day hike to the summit of Cahuilla Mountain in inland Riverside County California.  John and I check out the land of Ramona and Allessandro made famous in Helen Hunt Jackson's western novel and source of the famous Ramona Pageant.  We also overlook the historic Juan Bautista De Anza Trail.

Along the way we meet Jose Murillo's California Conservation Corp work crew and talk to Jose about the trail work he's been doing over the past year.  This hike was a nice surprise as we hike up to two summits and discover a picturesque valley in mid spring.

Trail Photos

Trail Video

Head over to my web page for additional links and bonus audio on the Murder of Juan Diego

www.anthonysaudiojournal.com

 

In this episode Dave and I take a short day hike to the summit of Los  Pinos  Peak, the fourth highest summit in the Santa Ana Mountain range of Southern California  

At a modest elevation of 4610 feet, it features a magnificent view over the southland. Eastward, views range out to the11500 foot Mt. San Gorgonio and toward  San Jacinto's 10,804 foot summit. To the South, Mt Palomar’s High Point can be seen as well as the lesser known peaks in Southeastern Riverside, inland San Diego and Anza Borrego.  To the north; Mt. Baldy, Cucamonga Peak, Ontario Peak and Baden Powell’s summit from the San Gabriel Mountain Range stretch northward and finally, to the west, all of Orange County’s urban sprawl spreads out toward the Pacific Ocean. All of this visible from this short day hike to Los Pinos Peak in the Cleveland National Forest.

Along the way Dave and I meet two energetic trail runners and an avid mountain biker while on our adventure and take a quick tour of the Blue Jay Campground.

Be sure to check out the photos and our video we shot along the way.

HIKE PHOTOS

WATCH THE VIDEO

 

In this two part episode my daughter Lindsey and I continue our adventure to Griffith Park in Los Angeles California.

Part one is our short hike to find the remains of the L.A’s first and original zoo, The Griffith Park Zoo.  This zoo was abandoned in 1965 and most of it was later destroyed by fire; but what remains, is a fascinating look at a historic piece of Los Angeles history.

Part two of our adventure is about our hunt to find the secret location of one of the most used filming location in Hollywood, The Bat Cave.  Used in many motion pictures and television scenes the cave is most remember from the 1960’s television show, “BATMAN” starring Adam West and Burt Ward. 

This podcast is about a short day hike I took with my daughter Lindsey  from the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles to the nearby summit of Mt. Hollywood. Few places in the Los Angeles metropolitan area afford such a tremendous view with such little effort. With over 4,102 acres of both natural chaparral-covered terrain and landscaped parkland, Griffith Park is the largest municipal park with urban wilderness area in the United States. It's only a little over 3 miles round trip but its got about 650 feet of elevation gain making it a good early morning workout hike.

Our trip begins at the Griffith Observatory parking lot and we take the Charlie Turner Trail up to the summit.  Along with way we take in spectacular view from high above the observatory with all of the L.A. Basin and downtown below us.  A special treat is a magnificent view of the famous Hollywood Sign across the hills on Mt. Lee.  We've got lots of company on this hike.  Folks of all ages and physical conditions take this hike that seems just about right for everyone.

Check out the short video I took of our hike along the way at Youtube.  Just search for Mt. Hollywood Day Hike.

After watching this years Academy Awards I started thinking about how much enjoyment I’ve had over the years watching films set in the great outdoors.  Some of my favorite scenes have been shot in fabulous locations throughout the world and on days when I just can’t get outside; I head to the DVD cabinet to fulfill my desire to get out and smell the pines or feel the frosty chill of a mountain breeze. I compiled a list of my top adventure films from my DVD collection. I know you’ve probably got your own list of favorite adventure films like I do.  

Hollywood’s been great at entertaining us over the years and the stories they’ve told satisfy an inner desire to get out into the wild and experience nature in all its fury; epic stories of pursuit, survival, tragedy, greed, revenge and adventure. 

 In this episode I talk about my favorite outdoor adventure films and feature some movie trailers and music.

This podcast is about how I prepare for a day hike, how I come up with the spectacular locations and destinations and what I bring with me on my hikes and why. Follow along with me as I describe my gear that I brought with me on my latest hike to visit the Devil's Chair.  Don't forget to head over to my web page at www.anthonysaudiojournal.com to visit the links and get more information about Andrew Skurka's Gear List or what the 10 essentials really are.

This podcast is about a winter day hike to visit the Devil's Punchbowl and the scenic sights from the Devil's Chair, a peninsula of rock overlooking the Devil's Punchbowl, a mass of twisted rocks near the San Andreas Fault Zone.  In this edition I led a group of 8 energetic hikers from the visitor's center over the Burkhart Trail to the Devil's Punchbowl Trail.  We crossed over a couple of sparkling icy creeks and met a friendly hiker who took time to chat with us on the trail.

Also in this episode I talk about the history of the Devil's Punchbowl County Park, the San Andreas Fault and throw in a little bit of music, movie clips and informational audio about the region.

 

For additional information check out my web blog at www.anthonysaudiojournal.com.  Here you can click on photos from the trip and follow links to a short You Tube Video of our hike.

CAUTION – This episode’s about how to be safe along the trail and how to safeguard your valuables at the trailhead. True stories of horrible violent crimes committed where the killers dumped their victims along the roads of the Angeles and Cleveland National Forests of Southern California. Be sure to head over to www.anthonysaudiojournal.com for additonal links to photos of the killers, video footage from the Rodney Alcala Murder Trail and some great tips on how to keep yourself safe while off enjoying a day in the wilderness.