My Review of SmartWool Arm Warmers
June 10, 2011
SmartWool arm warmers let you keep an extra layer of warmth at the ready. They’re great for cool morning rides.
We should all have a pair
Sizing: Feels true to size
Pros: Breathable, Warm comfy, Lightweight
Best Uses: Road Biking, Backpacking, Cold Weather, Mountain Biking, Hiking
Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational
Was this a gift?: No
I always get hot when I start up the trail, especially when carrying a pack. I start off with a windshell and within a short time I’m sweating and have to take the jacket off and lash it to my pack the rest of the day. These arm warmers are the perfect answer to our problems. They provide just enough warmth at the start of the hike to leave the jacket home. If you take them backpacking they weigh almost nothing and feel great in the early mornings or after you’ve got camp set up and the temps start to drop. Because they’re only sleeves they allow you to vent properly. The smartwool breathes really well and work fantastic with the warmth they provide. Taking them off is as simple as a tug on each wrist and rolling them into a ball to tuck into a side pocket of your shorts. These things will go on every hike with me from now on, part of my 11 essentials.
Episode 78 Greatest Adventure Novels
May 27, 2011
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:
- National Geographic’s 100 Greatest Adventure Novels
- Worst Journey in the World
- Adrift – 76 Days adrift at sea
- Into This Air
Episode 77 Goat Canyon Trestle
April 24, 2011
Looking across Goat Canyon Trestle
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.
LINKS:
- “Impossible Railroad” by Richard Dodge
- Carrizo Gorge Railway
- Stowell.Org - Maps, photos, trail notes
- Miles Todd Crash Video - Excellent video of a mountain bike crash near the trestle
- More Miles Todd information – check out the photos
Episode 76 Santa Rosa Plateau
March 25, 2011
Poppies near the Vernal Pools
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.
Links:
Episode 75 Echo Mountain and the Mt. Lowe Railway
February 24, 2011
Inspiration Point near Mt Lowe
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.
Links:
Mt. Lowe Preservation Society - History, timeline, photos
Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Newsreel - Classis B&W short film
Episode 74 Tenaja Falls and Fisherman’s Camp
January 22, 2011
Tenaja Falls
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.
LINKS:
- Cleveland National Forest – Official Site
- Tenaja Falls Trail – Brian & Ashley’s Hiking Blog
- Los Angeles Swimming – Diving off the falls Video on youtube
Videos:
- Video of our hike – On Youtube
- Maxpedition Malaga at Tenaja Falls – My new pack review on Youtube
Episode 73 Every Day Carry and the Bug Out Bag
January 7, 2011
My Every Day Carry Kit
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.
You’re driving home from work in a pouring rain and suddenly you windshield wipers snap off while you’re traveling down the freeway. What do you do? Find out what happened in this episode.
Links:
- Bug Out Bag Survival Kit – Youtube
- County Comm – EDC Gear
- Two Wolves Outdoors – EDC Gear and Equipment
- Zebra F-701 – Stainless Steel Pen Review
- 4 Sevens Flashlights – High power quality flashlights
- Maxpedition – Tactical Bags and Organizers
- Major Storm Video from Youtube
Episode 72 Poison Plant Podcast
December 18, 2010
Poisonous Plants
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.
Be sure to click on the photo to take you to the Poison-Ivy.org Skin Rash Hall of Fame for some ugly photographs of unlucky people that were exposed to poison ivy, poison oak or sumac.
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
Poison Oak and Ivy Training Videos
My Review of REI Trail Running Gaiters
December 7, 2010
Cut low, these REI Trail Running gaiters are great for keeping debris and snow out of your footwear during trail runs and light-and-fast hikes.
Not quite up to par
Pros: Breathable, Easy To Use, Good Fit, Lightweight
Cons: Does Not Stay In Place, Poor Performance
Best Uses: Backcountry
Describe Yourself: Casual/Recreational
Was this a gift?: No
Needed gaiters to go with my Saloman XA Pros for day hiking and trail running. They are easy enough to put on and seemed to work great for the first hike until I took them off back at the car. The shoelace strap under my shoe had broken, or wore out on only a 10 mile hike over slightly moderate, rocky terrain. On the second hike, the metal hook at the toe, ripped completely off along the trail. They tended to work their way up over the back of your heels and on two ocassions, I had to stop to pull the gaiter back down over my shoe. I certainly expected more from an REI product. I’ve got an old pair of gaiters I’ve had for 10 years that are going strong and thought these would be an upgrade, I guess not.
(legalese)
Episode 71 Mt. Palomar and the Observatory Trail
December 3, 2010
Hale Telescope on top Mt. Palomar
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:
Trail Video on Youtube (Watch in HD)
Take a ride on South Grade Road via Youtube
South Grade Road High Speed Motorcycle Cam Video
