Category Archives: Hiking – General

Hiking - General, National Forests

Update on the fundraiser to save Sturtevant Camp

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Last weekend was a great fundraiser to help save the historic Sturtevant Camp.  KCET did a follow up, titled “Friends of the San Gabriels Mount Fundraising Efforts to Save Historic Sturtevant Camp”

From the article:

Sturtevant Camp — which contains the country’s oldest surviving USFS Ranger Station in its original location and a historic main lodge built as the open-air Swiss Dining Pavilion in 1897 with all original wood — is the last of five resorts that once flourished in Big Santa Anita Canyon but has since been lost to floods and fire (including Hoegee’s Camp, Robert’s Camp, and Fern Lodge). There was at one point over 200 cabins just like the ones at Sturtevant. But despite its historic significance, Sturtevant has never received landmark status. Although Angeles National Forest is protected from being developed, there’s nothing preventing Sturtevant’s structures from being demolished or languishing in disuse.

You can read the entire article HERE.

Conservation, Hiking - General

Support the PCTA

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Pacific Crest Trail Association is the only organization dedicated to preserving the entire Pacific Crest Trail and the experiences it provides so that you and others have a wild place for personal reflection.  Ensure a place for journeys big and small, and help protect and maintain the Pacific Crest Trail by donating to the Pacific Crest Trail Association.

You can donate to the PCTA HERE.

You can find out more about the PCT HERE.

…and go see the movie Wild with Reese Witherspoon; it’s a good flick!

Here’s Cheryl Strayed’s call for support, asking you to help the Pacific Crest Trail:

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Adventures, Hiking - General, Interesting Places

The Hike: John Muir in a week

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Michael Lanza posted a great article back in 2007 on the Backpacker Magazine website about hiking the John Muir Trail.  I’m thinking about doing this same thing; Hiking the JMT in a week.  How hard could it be?  I’ve always wanted to see how many blisters I can get on my feet…

From the article:

Got a few days off, a pair of healthy feet, and a pain threshold higher than Dean Karnazes? You can (possibly) blaze the length of America’s Most Beautiful Trail.

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Adventures, Hiking - General

Thru-hike the roadless Sierra

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Backpacker Magazine put up an EXCELLENT appetite whetting hiking guide to one of the most scenic parts of the Pacific Crest Trail.

For those who don’t know, the Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail that follows some of the highest pats of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges from Mexico to Canada, crossing Califoria, Oregon and Washington.  It is 2,663 miles long, passes through 25 national forest and 7 national parks.  The trail became a National Scenic Trail in 1968.

From Backpacker Magazine:

The Hike
The best section of the most scenic long trail in the country is the 203.7-mile stretch in the central Sierra from Kennedy Meadows Campground to Red’s Meadow Campground. In that span, the PCT crosses Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and the John Muir Wilderness–and never meets a single road. It’s the longest roadless span on any National Scenic Trail in the country. On the way, you’ll have a chance to summit Mt. Whitney (the Lower 48’s highest point at 14,497 feet) and experience the legendarily gentle weather of California’s central Sierra. Plan for 10 to 15 days to cross this roller coaster of subalpine and glaciated terrain.

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Adventures, Day Hikes, Hiking - General, National Parks

YExplore to Offer Discounted and Complimentary Guided Hikes in Yosemite to Veterans November 9-10

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Leading Adventure Company in Yosemite National Park honors veterans by sharing outdoor adventures during holiday weekend.

To honor veterans of the United States Armed Forces, YExplore Yosemite Adventures will offer special incentives to active and retired military members and their families to enjoy guided hiking tours in Yosemite National Park on November 9th and 10th. “In the spirit of the national parks waiving entrance fees for veterans this weekend, we would like to offer special discounts for service members who plan to visit Yosemite,” announced YExplore Founder John P. DeGrazio.

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