Episode 64 When Lightning Strikes
September 2, 2010
Lightning Reminder
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
- Lightning kills man in tent details (With Photos)
- Lightning Safety Handbook PDF
- Discovery Channel Wonders of Weather – Lightning Phenomena
- Backpacker Magazine – 16 Climbers rescues due to lightning
Episode 63 Mt. Whitney Revisited
August 20, 2010
Mt. Whitney
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:
Episode 62 The Mt. Baldy Ski Hut Trail
August 11, 2010
Eric's Five Finger Shoes at the summit of Mt. Baldy
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
LINKS:
Episode 61 The Name Game
July 19, 2010
The Name Game
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 ?
LINKS
Episode 60 The Bridge to Nowhere
June 14, 2010
Bridge to Nowhere
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.
Some interesting links:
The Victorinox 4.8 Watt LED flashlight fits easily in a jacket or pack pocket and provides effective illumination to 225 feet.
If it’s got a Cree Bulb Get it
Gift: No
Pros: Long battery life, Bright, Durable
Cons: Heavy, No Beam Adjustment
Best Uses: Hiking, Day trip, Backpacking, Car Camping
Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational
I picked up one that looks just like it but its got CREE technology (Cree L.E.D.) bulb. It is easily 3-4 times brighter than the normal mini mag flashlight. It is similar in weight but is way way brighter. I end up throwing it into my pack as a backup to my Petzl Tikka and find myself using it more. It’s great for peaking into rock crevices and caves and I take it every morning and night on walks with the dogs. It’s a cool little light and I’m sure it will be around for many years.
(legalese)
Episode 59 Cahuilla Mountain Day Hike
May 22, 2010
John looking southwest from the trail
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.
I shot some High Definition video along the way, click on the link below to watch it
Here are some good links to more information I talked about in the podcast
- Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail
- Ramona Pageant History
- The Killing of Juan Diego
- California Conservation Corps
- Californiaherp.com – Online guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of California
BONUS AUDIO – The Killing of Juan Diego – Coming Soon.
Episode 58 Los Pinos Peak Day Hike
May 4, 2010
Along the Los Pinos Peak Trail
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. I also shot a video of our adventure, check it out.
Links:
Episode 57 The Old L.A. Zoo and the Bat Cave
April 16, 2010
Lindsey inside the abandoned L.A. Zoo
In this two part episode my daughter Lindsey and I continue our adventure into Griffith Park in Los Angeles California. The first part is about our quest to find the site of the abandoned Griffith Park Zoo, Los Angeles’s first zoo. The zoo was built near the turn of last century and was abandoned in 1965. Lindsey and I get the creeps crawling in and around the abandoned zoo enclosures.
Part two is about our hunt to find one of the most used wilderness filming locations near Los Angeles. We locate the secret filming location of the Bat Cave, made famous in the 1960’s television show, Batman and interrupt a film crew.
I shot a video of our adventure and posted it on Youtube. It will give you an idea of what it was like crawling around in the abandoned zoo enclosures. Check it out
Here are some great links to check out to learn more about the zoo and the Bat Cave
- Bat Tours – Great Bat Cave Video
- Bat Cave – Bronson Canyon Video
- L.A. Zoo – Official site of the Los Angeles Zoo
- The Bronson Caves– trail photos
Episode 56 Mt. Hollywood Day Hike
March 27, 2010
Griffith Park and L.A. Basin
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.
If you are interested in hiking to Mt. Hollywood or anywhere in Griffith Park, click on the link below
Anthony's Audio Journal 