Anthony's Audio Journal
Episode 85 Backcountry Bargains

Every year millions of people throughout the United States eagerly await the day after Thanksgiving, the official start of the Christmas shopping season. On this special day merchants offer their deepest discounts to entice shoppers into their stores, some items advertised for even less than they cost, called, "Loss Leaders".

According to the latest figures as many as 152 million people plan on shopping during the Black Friday weekend and spend a whopping 9.7 billion dollars. In this episode I tell you my secrets for finding great deals on clothing and gear to add to your gear closet without breaking your budget.

Direct download: Episode_85.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:27pm PDT

Episode 84 Yosemite Adventure Part Two The Mist Trail

In this episode,the day of our hike up to Half Dome had finally arrived and we put on our rain gear and headed up the Mist Trail toward lovely Vernal and Nevada Falls

Trip Photos

Video in High Definition

LINKS:

Music Links:

Direct download: Episode_84_Yosemite_Adventure_Part_Two.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:43am PDT

Episode 83 Yosemite Adventure Part One

In this episode Dave, Gerry, Mike and I head up to Yosemite National Park and explore the magnificent valley before setting up camp at the Upper Pines Campground. Along the way we check out Bridleveil and Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Village.  Rain pounds our camp but doesn't damper our enthuiasm while we prepare for our hike up Half Dome.

Trip Photos

Video in High Definition

LINKS:


Direct download: Episode_83_Half_Dome_Adventure_Part_One.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:02am PDT

Episode 82 Elfin Forest Recreational Preserve Podcast

 II wanted to get in one last tough trail to better prepare myself for Half Dome and in this episode I decided to head off to the Elfin Forest Recreational Preserve's Way Up and Lake Hodges Overlook Trails. 

One of San Diego Countys most precious natural resources, the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve offers approximately 11 miles of hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, as well as primitive picnic areas and scenic mountain viewing points. In addition, the natural beauty of the Reserve includes such native plant communities as oak riparian, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub and chaparral. 

In this episode I hike up to the Lake Hodges Overlook and check out the sights along the way. I experiment with my new Canon Camera and GoPro HD Helmet rigged up with a Chesty harness.

TRAIL PHOTOS

TRAIL VIDEO - shot in High Definition

LINKS:

 


Direct download: Elfin_Forest_Podcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:07pm PDT

Episode 81 Cucamonga Peak Day Hike

  In this episode, Gerry, Dave and I take a hike up Icehouse Canyon to visit the summit of Cucamonga Peak, one of the tallest and most prominent Peaks in the Los Angeles Basin.  At an elevation of 8859 feet, it sets itself apart from nearby Ontario Peak and others overlooking the southland, and its sheer drop to the west affords a magnificent view over southern California.

Hike Photos

Video on the hike in High Definition

LINKS:

Direct download: Episode_81_Cucamonga_Peak_Day_Hike.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:17pm PDT

Episode 80 Over the Edge

In this episode I talk about the recent rash of hiking accidents and deaths in and around some of America's best loved waterfalls.

Direct download: Episode_80_Over_the_Edge.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:28pm PDT

Episode 79 Santa Margarita River Trail

In this episode I take a hike along the banks of the Santa Margarita River in Fallbrook California, one of the few remaining wild rivers left in the state.  I had been to a small section of this scenic river a few years back on a short hike with my dog and it was time I returned for more exploration.

 

I shot an HD video of my solo adventure. Be sure to check out the video on Youtube

Click here for video

I also took photos along the way

Click here for photos.

LINKS

Kayaking the Santa Margarita River

Direct download: Episode_79_Santa_Margarita_River_Podcast.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:37pm PDT

A few years ago, National Geographic Magazine printed a list of their 100 greatest adventure novels based on input from their subscribers of their “Adventure Magazine”.  I remember seeing this list and was surprised just how many of the top 100 book I had read over the years. On days when I can’t get out into the wild I find it relaxing just sitting back reading a book about some of the most famous exploits of some of the greatest explorers the world has ever known.  Some folks are just born explorers while others just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and miraculously survive their ordeal and it makes for terrific reading.  I said that I enjoy a good book now and then to relax, well, some of this stories had me so knotted up, sweat rolled off my forehead while I read the horrifying accounts of mountaineers, artic explorers, sailors or jungle travelers.  In this podcast I take you along with me while I organize my book shelf. 

Maybe you’ve got some of these terrific adventures too, let’s go check it out.

LINKS:

Direct download: Episode_78.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:45am PDT

In this episode Gerry, John, Aaron and I head out to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park in inland San Diego County to visit the historic Goat Canyon Trestle, the tallest and longest curved wooden train trestle in the world, hidden away in the desolate Carrizo Gorge section of the desert.

Trip Photos

Video of our adventure in HD

Rattlesnake Encounter Video

LINKS:


Direct download: Episode_77_Goat_Canyon_Trestle.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:03pm PDT

Episode 76 Santa Rosa Plateau

In this episode Dave and I take a scenic stroll through a magnificent 7,000 acre ecological preserve and explore its rare Vernal Pools, the Genesis of life for many endangered species.  We also check out the small Juan Moreno Adobe, the oldest building in Riverside County.  Along the way we enjoy a warm spring day and sprawling views over a grass covered mesa.  We also check out some of the last remaining Englemann Oaks in Southern California; All coming up in this episode of Anthony’s Audio Journal, The Santa Rosa Preserve.

Trip Photos

HD Video 

Trail Map

Links:

Santa Rosa Plateau

Vernal Pools

Engelmann Oaks

 

Direct download: Episode_76_Santa_Rosa_Preserve.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:29pm PDT

Episode 75 Echo Mountain and the Mt. Lowe Railway

 

This episode is about our adventure to visit the historic remains of the Echo Mountain Resort and the Mt. Lowe Railway.  We hike up the Sam Merrill Trail to Echo Mountain and explore the foundations and walls of the former Echo Mountain House and Chalet while enroute to see tremendous views over the southland.  From here we headed up toward the Mt. Lowe Trail Camp and site of the Ye Alpine Tavern.  We also check out Inspiration Point before heading down the Castle Canyon Trail back to our cars.

Trail Photos

Video of our Adventure in HD

Links:

Mt. Lowe Preservation Society - History, timeline, photos 

Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Newsreel  - Classis B&W short film



 

Direct download: Episode_75_Echo_Mountain_and_the_Mt._Lowe_Railway.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:25am PDT

Episode 74 Tenaja Falls and Fisherman's Camp

This episode is about our short day hike to visit the Tenaja Falls and Fisherman's Camp in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness of the Cleveland National Forest.  Dave and I enjoy the brilliant sunshine and unusually warm January temperatures to hike up the Tenaja Falls Trail.

With a drop of 140 feet, Tenaja Falls is one of the most scenic vistas along the Santa Ana Mountain range.  Timing is a big factor to view this waterfall at its grandeur and we made the hike just a few weeks after a large storm dumps 15 inches of rain into Southern California.

Fisherman's Camp is just a few miles off a spur trail from the Tenaja Falls Trail so Dave and I made the side trip to visit this historic fishing destination.

TRIP PHOTOS

LINKS:

Videos:

Direct download: Episode_74_Tenaja_Falls.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:47pm PDT

Episode 73 Every Day Carry and the Bug Out Bag

In this podcast I talk about my exciting adventure trying to get home in the middle of one of the decades largest storms and how the contents of my Bug Out Bag saved the day.

 

Links:

Direct download: Episode_73_Every_Day_Carry_and_the_Bug_Out_Bag.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:50pm PDT