Half-Dome Danger Zone

Four deaths have occurred in Yosemite since 2006, all climbing up to the very same spot: Half Dome.

Visitors must venture up a very steep trail and take a cable the cliffside.  The rock can be wet slippery and extremely dangerous.

So why are there so few restrictions? So few rules when visitors attempt this fatal hike?

The trail up Half Dome is a steep one, but also one that requires no permits and is very accessible to all visitors to the park.

Even extremely unprepared, inexperienced hikers.

But no one stops them.  I mean come on – the park should at least require proper footwear before allowing these “hikers” to venture up the cliffside.

Rick Deutsch, author of One Best Hike: Yosmite’s Half Dome who calls himself as "Mr. Half Dome," even reported that many hikers wear flip-flops when attempted the half-dome hike.

While unprepared visitors is a big part of the problem, another huge issue is Yosemite’s refusal to limit the number of visitors allowed on the hike which is Yosemite’s most popular.  It gets extremely crowded on this trail which makes for an even more dangerous climb. When fatalities happen, it is very tragic, but unfortunately, not that surprising.

People should have permits requiring them to have the proper climbing gear, (a harness, leather gloves, and a helmet at the least)

They should limit the amount of people allowed to hike.  This might illustrate how difficult this hike actually is.

While there is a “Climb At Your Own Risk” sign but this is enough. Half Dome has a million visitors a year, this creates a false idea that since the park allows it for everyone,it must be safe for everyone to climb.

Untrue-not parents and children wearing jeans and flip-flops.

A comment on an LA Times Blog article about the park reads,

The National Park Service needs to take responsibility for what happens on Half Dome. When a climber falls and dies on one of the Yosemite walls - it is truly his or her responsibility. When a tourist slips and falls off the cables - it is the negligence and responsibility of the Park Service.

If the Cables were not available, climbers would not do this route without ropes and protection. Both the granite and the cables are slick and polished, the route is at the limit of friction for climbing shoes. This is not a novice route.

 It's not about restricting freedoms here, it's about avoiding deaths.

George Grinnell Probably Died From Guilt

1. ultra – light sleeping bag: check

2. ultra – light tent: check

3. camping stove: check

4 – 25. All the materials I would need for 10 days in the wilderness packed into one 50- liter backpack: check.

I take that back—All the materials I would need for 10 days in the wilderness IN THE SUNSHINE packed into one 50 liter backpack: check.

Who new on our first day in Glacier National Park, water wouldn’t just be rushing from the melting glaciers, rain would pour down all day and all night.

Apparently weather in Montana really is unpredictable.

But that’s not the point of this post, it is just an introduction to point of my blog post.

I’ll continue with my story:

My traveling companion and I were fresh off of Going-to-the-Sun-Road shuttle bus, the public transportation line in Glacier National Park (a ride absolutely worth taking, especially if you only have a couple hours in the park).  We were very unfamiliar with the park and its backcountry but after speaking with the Tourist Office we had a very vague idea of how we wanted to spend our five days in Glacier.

We would begin at Rising Sun Campsite, then make our way through the trail of the Falls, hit St. Mary’s and Florence Falls then trek into Jackson Glacier for a total of about 50 miles in 5 days.

We did do all this, but I will save that five-day epic adventure for another post.

Back to Rising Sun Campsite.

Arriving in the early evening at the campsite we decided to put down our bags at the site (backpackers are pretty trustworthy) and venture around the grounds for a bit, checking out the store, the restaurant, and finally decided on doing a little fishing in the creek before setting up camp.

Not a success.

So venture back to the campsite and hear a man singing and playing guitar – we stroll over to the communal campsite and find a crowd gathered for this performer-

Jack Gladstone, a Blackfeet Indian, singing about the park while educating the campers on his tribe and family history.

This wasn’t the first I heard of Blackfeet Indian presence – I noticed the turquoise earrings and beaded necklaces had a Blackfeet label while books about the park lined the walls: history books, photo books, tour books then these two, sitting next to each other:

Last Stand: George Bird Grinnell, the Battle to Save the Buffalo, and the Birth of the New West

And

The Blackfeet Indians of Glacier National Park

I wouldn’t think anything of these until I saw them the next day as we gathered our final supplies for the backcountry.

Jack Gladstone brought told the tale of George Grinnel and his relationship to the Blackfeet Indians. It was a bit censored however, and I’m sure holding his tongue wasn’t the easiest thing to do.   (I’ll give you more on this later).

So now that my professor asked us to write an orgumentative paper, presenting two sides and then further entering into the argument, I found this Blackfeet Indian vs. Georgae Grinnell/NPS to be the perfect topic. Here is a piece of my intro thus far:

            Glacier park, termed by the Blackfeet population as the “backbone of the continent,” and white explorers as “the crown of the continent” due it’s landscape—towering, stark mountains speckled with glowing glaciers and turquoise waterfalls—make it a land worthy of territorial war. George Grinnell, the white explorer who helped found the national park proclaimed, “we have this great system of national parks, monuments and other areas not as a result of public demand but a few farsighted, unselfish and idealistic men and women who foresaw the national need” (Turek and Keller).  These unselfish men though, stole this “crown” and committed irreversible acts of displacement and dispossession of Blackfeet Indians already occupying this territory.

I’ll continue to do research on the subject Jack Gladstone so respectfully discussed in between in songs of his tribes and the old Montana. Believe me, there is much more to come. 

Meet My Friend Auntie Lolo

I found my soulmate.  No, not Mother Nature.  Actually quite the opposite.  I don’t know what he/she looks like, or what his/her name is, or even if he/she is a real person. But he/she is my bookmarking soulmate, so I thought I’de tell you a bit about him/her.

We first met at delicious.com. She was introduced to me as Auntie Lolo and we’ve been internet friends ever since.

Oh, she also doesn’t know who I am.

But I’ll tell you about her anyways.

Oh, and I swear I’m not a stalker, though I know this whole thing sounds creepy.

Now that I’ve offered a couple disclaimers, I’ll actually tell you about her, or rather how much we have in common.

In glancing at her first page of bookmarks we became friends instantly:

• Tocqueville’s America – Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville,  A French writer living in the USA in the 1930s writes about his experiences which are transformed into a virtual tour of what America was like in the 1830’s

• San Francisco CityPass – tour around my hometown of San Fran with this pass (5 SF attractions and a cable car ride at one low price)
• Love of Life by Jack London – similar to my favorite “To Build a Fire” but with different endings

            This out of all will remain -

            They have lived and have tossed:

            So much of the game will be gain,

            Though the gold of the dice has been lost

• Yosemite sites for John Muir Experience – an article from sfgate about the places in and around Yosemite where you can beat the crowds. Here are a few:

• Tenaya Creek Trail: The far eastern end of the valley, directly beneath the watchful face of Half Dome
• Cathedral Beach: Entering the valley along Southside Drive, there's a spot,             just beyond the turnoff to Bridalveil Falls, where El Capitan first rears into view and everyone pulls over to gawk in wonder
• Pohono Trail: At Glacier Point, leave the teeming crowds behind as youfollow the Pohono Trail along the south rim of Yosemite Valley, with a series             of overlooks revealing startlingly fresh perspectives on El Capitan

• Scenic Trail camps abound near urban core – an article about the wilderness around around the city of San Francisco. Here are a couple places:
• Sunset Camp at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Wildcat at Point Reyes National Seashore and the hike-in camps at Angel Island, and all require reservations far in advance for any weekend, spring through fall

So here is a taste of my bookmarking soulmate, Auntie Lolo.

Proposition Green, No, Not That One

Will I be able to smoke a joint in public, is the thought on many of my college classmates’ minds as voting day rapidly approaches.  Most of these students though, are very intelligent, driven individuals who attend a respected university; they just like the occasional herbal escape.  And while this may be their most important proposition on the ballot, even before whom to vote for governor, at least they are getting out to vote.
    And while marijuana legalization isn’t on the top of my proposition priority list, I can’t lie, it’s definitely up there as one of the most interesting.  #1 for me however, still pertains to greenery and plant life: Proposition 21.
    Here is what the California Voter Guide states:

Prop 21 Summary:

    “Exempts commercial vehicles, trailers and trailer coaches from the surcharge. Fiscal Impact: Annual increase to state revenues of $500 million from surcharge on vehicle registrations. After offsetting some existing funding sources, these revenues would provide at least $250 million more annually for state parks and wildlife conservation.”
    What Your Vote Means:

YES: “A YES vote on this measure means: An $18 annual surcharge would be added to the amount paid when a person registers a motor vehicle. The surcharge revenues would be used to provide funding for state park and wildlife conservation programs. Vehicles subject to the surcharge would have free admission and parking at all state parks.”

NO: “A NO vote on this measure means: State park and wildlife conservation programs would continue to be funded through existing state and local funding sources. Admission and parking fees could continue to be charged for vehicles entering state parks.

   For most, it seems like a given – a small vehicle registration charge will provide millions to wildlife reservation, an area of our state that is often neglected by the government budget yet faces constant damage (especially state beaches).

But there is a counterargument: the potential for wasted funds. And also, in her LA Times op-ed, Karin Klein writes,

“Why no vehicle registration fee for them? Or for the state's children who need medical care but whose parents can't afford or get health insurance?”

Further she asks, “Would this added fee be worthwhile to you?”

The answer to this question for most comments to this article was a resounding YES.

State parks are constantly under the threat of closure as last year, Schwarzenegger proposed to close 220 state parks in order to cut the deficit. But with 80 million visitors to state parks each year, shouldn’t these parks receive more funding rather than suffer constant cuts?

Here are some state parks currently threatening closure:

Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay, Will Rogers' Southern California ranch and 

Humboldt Redwoods State Park (pictured), which boasts the world's tallest tree, a giant that tops 370 ft.  

Fort Ross State Historic Park, the southernmost Russian settlement in North America; Bodie State Historic Park, one of the best-preserved Old West ghost towns; 

                                       Big Basin Redwoods (pictured), the oldest state park.

This $18 vehicle fee evens out to be merely $1.50/month and you get free access to all state parks.

Multiply that monthly fee by 100 and you get the amount I paid for my annual park pass.

-Yep, it’s currently 150 bucks and with all the cuts to state park funding, I can’t blame them.

Further, $18 dollars is the average amount for a one-time entrance fee to state parks-so if you plan on visiting one state park in the next year, this fee is absolutely worthwhile, everyone saves.

And in response to Klein’s point about alternate funding, a commenter on her article responded,

“As for asking if the vehicle registration tax should be utilized for state parks, instead of colleges or medical care for state children, it is a moot point as neither of those initiatives exist today and therefore not in contention.”

California state parks are natural treasures essential to California’s identity as both beautifully diverse and uniquely historic—a history that, for children, is a tangible education tool, not limited to pictures in textbooks.

   My most memorable elementary school educational experience was when my class took a trip to Lands End in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco—it was a field trip that combined various sciences, political/environmental issues, and essential stewardship lessons which gave my classmates a hands-on learning opportunity while building community outside school. 

   And these opportunities are not limited to school trips—parents enjoy the parks as much as children, so why not substitute expensive summer camps for a trip to a state park?

Proposition 21 is a win-win-win for voters, families, and Californians alike as I propose to my fellow classmates and voters: this $18 (the cost of a 12-pack of Stella or two meals at Chipotle or a piece-of-cloth tank top from American Apparel) will keep state parks from closing—ideal locations to celebrate the (potential) passing of Proposition 19. 

What not to do if you're looking for a good time

So I kinda like school, but I think I found the least fun school activity, ever

-Writing bibliographies.

Wait no, it gets worse.

-Writing annotated bibliographies.

As a college student with a major in liberal arts, one would think I had written a number of these annotated biblos. Nope, thankfully my professors have been too kind. Until now.

But I have to say, I understand the idea of spreading the word about helpful texts, giving props to people who do good work. 

I mean Cara Bocchino sure worked on this text (the one which I will annotate below) for awhile, and I thank her for it. Sure helped me out big time in writing my paper on Peace Parks in South Africa.

Now, I won't call my current professor unkind, for its only a 3-4 page paper with 3-4 annotated biblos... but still, this has to rank in the top of my least favorite academic activities. 

Here's a taste:

Bocchino, Clara. "Landmines and Conservation in Southern Africa: Peace Parks in the Aftermath of 

Armed Conflict" African Security Review 16.2 (2007). 11 Nov. 2010

< http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/10246029.2007.9627419 >

          

 Clara Bocchinos article first outlines the history of the national parks in Southern Africa and the movement towards and establishment of Transfrontier Conservation Areas or peace parks. In using this historical context, she stresses issue of landmines and their negative affects in the parks, more specifically, in the Great Limpopo Peace Park located along the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border and created in 2000.  She provides a legal framework, explaining various national and international organizations associated with these landmines, while addressing several areas of concern: the domestic conflicts in the surrounding communities, the attainment and distribution of landmine resources, and the environmental impact of the mines.

           She organizes her argument clearly by providing the chronology of peace park establishment in conjunction with relevant international agencies and organizations associated with their creation. She provides sufficient information, maps and graphs related to the conflicts in Mozambique and Zimbabwe surrounding the Great Limpopo Peace Park and how these conflicts have shaped her argument landmine reform. Thus, those familiar or unfamiliar with this region can use this article as a research tool for southern African political, ecological, and socio-economic development. 

GeekHiker's Got it Right

Geekhiker-

Nice “about me” Batman, I appreciate your introduction as a “full-on
geek” who happens to be an engaging writer (especially with your
cultural references and strong voice) and one who discusses one of the
activities I love-hiking.  I have to admit, I just recently found your
blog so I have only briefly perused your posts…I look forward to
following your story though as you definitely got me hooked with what
I have seen so far.

I’m a student in LA and unfortunately rarely find the time to hike, or
more importantly to write about my experiences outdoors, indoors or
behind-closed doors that you do so frequently and intriguingly-and my
major is Creative Writing!  AND I have had some awesome
hiking/backpacking and just plain entertaining experiences I wish I
had the drive to share. So props to you geekhiker.
So your wilderness and personal posts are much appreciated and quite enjoyable.

A little about your blog-
First-great quote by Garland.
Secondly-I like the organization.  You have “Hikes” and “Travels” as
links if we want to get straight to the point (those people should
reconsider skipping the other stuff) and as one who needs to get back
out into the wilderness myself I find these quite helpful and
informative-pics are great too.  I wish though that the “Categories”
box was a little more accessible because I found that a great starting
point when I first visited your blog and clicked on
“Backpacking”…after reading more posts though I couldn’t remember how
to find it.
Third-awesome titles, always appreciate a good hook.
Fourth-any recommendations on getting roommates to stray from the
couch, beer pong table and ridiculously crowded college bar to start
hiking in LA?

Super Helpful Hiking Blog for SoCal

Brian and Ashley-

I recently found your blog in my “hiking Los Angeles area” google
search and I wanted to say – awesome work.   As a fairly recent
resident of Los Angeles (3 years) I often find myself kicking (myself)
for failing to venture out—saving my outdoor experiences for long
summer backpacking trips or short hikes back in my hometown-San
Francisco.  Your blog is clear and well organized with great pictures
showing the views on your adventures without taking up huge chunks of
the page.  Your categories (Directions, Description, Further Thoughts)
make your blog easy to navigate and hard to resist exploring the site
myself- so thanks for the push! I especially like the maps detailed
with the hikers/picnic area/bathrooms.

Not only are your links plentiful and helpful, but I also appreciate
how your posts are not confined to hikes you have taken. As you
include information about fee free days, special events, and contests
involving wilderness and national parks.
Further, I a lit lover (especially travel books) I enjoy the “good
books” section as well as your links to hiking information (i.e.
snakes and survival necessities) and the list of other helpful
websites and blogs. You inclusion of science/wildlife is great too-I
wish I had time to do all of these hikes!

I really miss getting outdoors – life can get pretty demanding as a
college student (especially as that social-I mean academic- calendar
fills up) and motivating roommates to get outdoors is nearly
impossible (somehow Fraternity Row tends to take precedent) but I
think I have finally convinced my friends to get outdoors so I will
definitely be frequenting your helpful blog.

Solstice Canyon: A Substitute for Fall Foliage

Aren’t leaves supposed to change color in the fall? Where are those burnt reds, those deep oranges and golden yellows? You’re right, we exempt ourselves from the changing of the seasons here in LA, and though it would be nice to see some fall foliage, I’ll gladly take a lack of seasons over those nasty east coast winters.

But then again, I’m from San Francisco so I’m pretty biased.

So in discussing this sentiment as I always do with my east coast friends—they really fight hard for their love of the snow “but we get to sit on our cafeteria trays and sled down the hills!” Yeah, but you also have to bundle up for a five minute walk to class and you are sweating by the time you get there.

I decided to interview an east-coaster about what a real autumn is like and any actions he has taken recently to fulfill this lack of sun-colored leaves.  Coincidentally, my interviewee is currently applying to med school so I asked his opinion on the nature-deficit disorder I discussed in earlier blogs.

So KP, what is a real fall like?

Starting at the end of September, so right now, and through October, October is the main thrust, the leaves start changing.  You never notice the first ten leaves that change on the tree, but all of a sudden you look up to an orange tree that just yesterday was green.

It’s comforting when they start to change, things are moving, life is going.

In LA, there’s no kind of change, everything stays the same…this signals progression like you are moving toward something. I miss that.

So since you couldn’t get that authentic taste of fall you decided to venture out in the LA area?

Yeah we went to Solstice Canyon in the Malibu, it isn’t too far from my house (downtown), maybe a twenty minute drive without traffic.  It’s right next to the Getty.

How did you choose this particular hike?

My friend and I chose it because it’s an off-leash park and we wanted somewhere to bring our dog Jack. There aren’t many places where dogs can roam free—he was so excite dthe second we got there.  We took him off the leash and he darted off the second we got there, into the bushes then would end up back on the trail with us.

Did you enjoy the hike?

Of course. Any activity outdoors and with friends is a great experience.  This particular hike was beautiful-really nice reveals at the top of the mountain-lined with wild flowers and huge oak trees.

So you would definitely recommend the hike?

Absolutely. But there is a bit of a degree of difficulty. There were quite a few forks where you can choose to go up the hill or you can just go around it. If you are looking for a more strenuous hike you can just go straight up the mountain.   We did more of a round-a-bout and it only took a couple hours.

There weren’t that many people on the trail either. That is another thing I love about hikes—the people you do meet on the trail are so friendly and looking to explore just like you are.  We met some great people from London..our dogs started smelling each other.

(For amore detailed description and some wonderful photos check out Nancy Orozco’s blog or  Nobody Hikes in LA website which links to other helpful hiking blogs.)

As a pre-med student, what do you think of Richard Louv’s new phenomenon, nature deficit disorder?

I think it is important, really important, though a bit of a vague idea. I think kids’ lack of nature is a big problem in our societ—people are not getting out into nature anymore, me included. I think most would agree, there are a number of ways and health benefits from getting into the wilderness-It gets kids to be active in an arena other than their living room or even the soccer field.

One problem is that people don’t even think to hike as an activity.  An activity for me is going to lunch somewhere, or lying on the beach, but a hike is such a good way to get out.  I do though think it depends on where you live.  For people in norcal, or in Boulder for instance, they have many opportunities to hike as opposed to kids in Los Angeles.

Hikes too are also hard to publicize, I don’t think its in our thought process. Our culture now is going to the gym and running on treadmills, that’s a sad thing.

Do you think your move to Los Angeles was affected by this gym-mentality?

Yes, though I do come from a place with harsh winters so treadmills are big during those months.  But further, I think the idea of nature in shifting in our society. There is now more ubran “artificial nature” if you will. People are fascinated by buildings, structures, concrete-not losing their appreciation of the outdoors necessarily but more losing the old idea of what “Nature” or natural is.

And in this shift, without realizing it, people are literally forgetting that wilderness exists.

Begging question now, what is natural. How do you define natural, what if I make a park, a man made park, is that natural, is that nature?

(Tangent- The idea of Urban Wilderness though is gaining popularity.

A blurb about it: "wilderness" is not a concept that is exclusive to remote, pristine protected areas…recognizing wilderness value in the urban, human-dominated landscape can help make our cities more livable and its citizens healthier…”-I will discuss this in my next blog)

Any last thoughts on your hike or nature deficit disorder?

I HIGHLY recommend the Solstice Canyon hike. I mean after I hike, I get pumped up, excited…to complete something is always a good feeling.  I had no idea they were doing research on these affects of wilderness too, I think that is great. 

I mean there is definitely something to be said about Henry David Thoreau's ideals-nature can be peaceful and calming; a place where I can reflect.  So I get both physical and mental health benefits from nature. And I feel lucky to have this appreciation.  I just hope future generations are lucky enough find this in nature too.  There is nothing else like getting “into the wild” if you will. 

Back to you Angeleans-I know the weather is heating up, but we aren't living in a New England blizzard here.  Get up, get out, get wild. 

Planet Earth on Earth

Today was a lazy Sunday—discussed the upcoming LA concerts with my roommates, scarfed down a plate of fish tacos with extra guac, and then watched four episodes of Planet Earth. 


Roommate #1: This nature stuff is CAH-RAYZEE


Roommate #2: I know. I can’t believe this actually exists.


Roommate #3: Yeah, it’s all in like ridiculous places—
—No! Wait, no you can find it…


Unfortunately I was in too much of a food coma to actually refute my roommates’ claims, so I will type it out instead. But, before writing my spiel about getting out into the wild, I did some web surfing about this issue and I found something shocking: there is now an official name for the current lack of wilderness in our lives— Nature-Deficit Disorder


Coined by Richard Louv in his bestselling novel, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder,he discusses the lack of “direct exposure to nature which is “essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional healthy of children and adults.” Is this too bold a statement?   I think not.  Nature provides a place to explore, to wander, to discover that which can’t be found within the four walls of the classroom or office building. 


In an article in Psychology Today, they discuss this issue and stress it’s importance, “A growing movement will continue to make the case that a meaningful human relationship with nature, shaped in children’s formative years, is crucial to our society’s practice of stewardship, its sense of community, and the strength of family bonds.” He goes on to further discuss the growing rate of obesity—we’ll save this fitness issue for another blog. 


Why is it that parents will readily drive their children to a soccer game, or buy the new “educational”  video game—what happened to the wild game?  And trips to amusement parks don’t count.  Yes you are getting in your daily thirty minutes of walking from one rollercoaster to the next, but Magic Mountain’s metal structures don’t exactly compare to the natural beauty of Mother Nature’s household.


In an interview with NPR host Steve Inskeep, Richard Louv discusses his novel: parents’ fear of letting their kids in nature, the benefits of getting kids into the wilderness, and a few small things parents can do to get their kids off the couch and into the wild.


So let’s take Louv’s advice and find some nature in the backyard of Los Angeles. Where else to begin but the big, blazing white Hollywood sign tacked into the side of Mount Lee? According to Guidespot's blog on Mt. Lee and Griffith Park, this is the largest publicly owned park in the United States, spanning over 4,000 acres.  There are over thirty hikes and fifty miles of trail one can take in this natural treasure but the one I recommend for LA lovers is the trek up Mt. Lee; it’s a solid workout which provides an up-close view of the Hollywood sign and a stunning panoramic view of Los Angeles county. 


So let's start slow as Angeleans...we'll take a walk to that Big White sign and start curing that Nature disease.  

TRIO: Your Voice is Your Choice

TinNiE drew me in immediately simply with the title of her blog, “Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness~” Not to mention her interesting use of small and lowercase letters in her blog name—this simple act of funky flavor follows throughout her writing. 

In the first several lines of her “About me” post, she immediately establishes a strong, spunky personality while exhibiting her ability to express her thoughts clearly.  In the writing world, if one sounds educated, people will be much more likely to respect his/her opinions and further, to read one’s blog posts.

In her introduction, she establishes her current mental state, age, and reason for traveling through her use of catchy vocabulary, parentheses, and ellipses. In the first instance, she pulls the reader in—we enjoy reading new innovative ways of using words and creating fun phrases. Dull word-choice is an instant turn off.

In her use of parentheses, she gives us a glimpse into her personal life “(and gloomy heart)” establishing trust with her readers.  This honesty, though a sad truth, is charming.  I am now a little more intimate with her as she tells her story.

Finally the ellipses-not my favorite technique in the English language, but I understand her use (though I think she overuses it a bit).  These “…’s” can be a cop out, a way to avoid having to express an entire thought clearly.  I think she uses it though, to wordlessly express her “feeling of lostness-(also a word she creates)” These ellipses show us she gets lost in thought and invites us to go along for the ride.  She offers her experience, but then calls us to complete the sentence.  And while this is a good technique, at times I think it is too fragmented, too distant.

In the end of her “About me” post, she quotes Mark Twain.  While a bit of an overused quote, I think this can be beneficial in that it gives the reader another opportunity to connect—possibly through a mutual love for Mark Twain or expressing her need for exploration by use of someone else’s words (who is conveniently a fantastic writer and phenomenal creator of voice).

In her blog post, It's okay to get lost (if you're not alone), she pulls in the reader with a quote—a thought she had while traveling.  She italicizes the quote inside quotation marks (which I’m not sure is grammatically correct?)  letting the reader know we are inside her head, once again inviting us into her experience.

She furthers this quoting by introducing a dialogue between herself and her friend while they are hiking on an unknown trail, giving us more personal insight into the adventure she is trying to convey. 

She also uses a technique in this story I have seen before, but mainly in poetry.  She repeats the three word phrase “we went on” three times before ending the story with “we were lost.”  The rhythm of this repetition establishes a distinct flow and feel to her writing.

Unfortunately, though, a few of the promising observations I made from her writing don’t necessarily continue throughout the rest of her blog post.  Though I appreciate her detailed descriptions, I get lost a little in her long sentences.  I am brought back in though, occasionally with her use of exclamation points-conveying both wilderness and excitement. However, her “about me” post, I believe, was a bit more inviting.

Likewise, she doesn’t link nor use metaphors which can seriously enrich the journaling of a travel log, bringing the reader closer to the source of adventure. When a reader can “see” and “hear” what the writer is experiencing, the blogger has mastered his/her voice.

Let's Get Physical

I currently attend one of the fittest schools in the country. If you are coming to campus you better be sportin’ a Greek T, a sports bra, or both.  This just might go for the entirety of Los Angeles as well—we like to look good. Can you blame us though? It’s a healthy (usually) lifestyle we live—gettin’ our thirty minutes of cardio daily and munchin’ on greens.  Unfortunately, though we are toning our quads, abs, and biceps, we are simultaneously polluting our lungs.

When I was a freshman someone told me, “running outside in LA is like smoking cigarettes daily.”  While this statistic may be false, there is some truth in this rumor.  So as I ask myself, is there any space in this town to exercise outside this thick blanket of smog? There is, most just don’t know about it.

This year, our gym extended its hours until midnight, the track is consistently packed until closing, and just about every one of my friends knows the exact distance of the campus circumference.  Further, the marathon and triathalon teams have a solid number of participants.

But unfortunately, the last time the “Outdoors Club” website was updated was in the Spring of 2006.

It appears that the campus community is concerned with getting in shape and looking fit solely through mile runs and regimented workouts.  But these on campus, in Los Angeles activities can be detrimental to your physical and mental health.  Running on concrete and treadmills puts tremendous strain on your ligaments, the polluted air is slowly infiltrating your lungs, and working out indoors or in circles hinders your body’s ability to wander, to relieve stress.

My campus though is not alone in these exercise constraints. In researching the Los Angeles exercise community online, my campus’ exercise routines rang even truer. Websites about gym memberships and fitness classes flood my Net searches while very few discussed exercising through hiking or non-machine and classroom activities.

What happened to “getting outdoors”?

This responsibility was taken on by only a few Los Angeles bloggers, one by the name of Hugo Martin, a former travel writer for the Los Angeles Times. Beginning his blog in 2009, Martin posts up to several times a month on a variety of activities one can partake in if seeking Mother Nature’s paradise—yes, there actually is an abundance of beautiful, idyllic escapes preserved in Los Angeles County.

How many can you name?

Don’t worry, Mr. Martin gives us the low-down, on each location. He even makes it easy for you to jot down notes for adventure proposals to your kids, dog, or in my case, gym-obsessed roommates.

He offers directions, best times to go, things to look out for, and even offers geological facts about each site.  In his outdoor adventures, there is something for everybody:

• For the more idle gazer, check out his blog, "It's not too late to see Bald Eagles," he even tells you exactly where the eagles nest.
• For the more adventurous (and a little crazy) type, his post "Mountain Biking on the Cheese!" he explains the trail and the wild life along the way.

His posts have been dwindling in past months but I hope to pick up at a similar location to where he left off. I want to visit hiking trails just as he did, but provide a more sensory description of the landscape.  And along with his geological facts, I will provide some historical background to give a better feel for the people and creatures that once populated the land.

Once in awhile, I’ll throw an interview in there to give an idea of what other visitors have to say about the site. And while these physical aspects are important, we can’t forget about the mental. So, I will continue to post about the health benefits of getting outdoors.

So check out Hugo Martin’s advice if you are looking for adventure, a wilderness marathon, or a breath of smog-free air. Let’s get those gym gurus, technology attached kids and stressed out every-bodys off the madness machines and into the wild.

Getting Into The Wild Isn't Just for Emile Hirsch

Calling all active Angelenos—

--marathon runners, power walkers, pet chasers, and even all you fist-pumpers. I think it is time to make like Princess Fiona and escape this concrete kingdom you call home (well, at least for a few hours). Take a look around the LaLa Land that surrounds you—that black asphalt tears up your knees, dogs don’t stand a chance against mobile machines, and is there really any room for fist-pumping? So I say hop on that horse with the white knight, or Shrek, if ogres are your preference, and take a ride into the natural wild side of this Megalopolis. I promise it exists and is calling your name.

I know it is tough to respond though, tough to break free of that trusty treadmill and routine walk around the block.  But believe me, exercising and exploring in a natural environment will improve your health, both in body and mind. So try. Alleviate the restriction of those four walls that surround you daily; escape the smog that blackens your lungs.  Breathe fresh, and easy.

A fairly recent resident of Los Angeles, I will be discovering with you for I came from a big city too, just one with a few more hints of grassy greens and forest groves.  I am a native of San Francisco (by native I mean born and raised);  I was spoiled there, for the first 18 years of my life and I’m not talking because I went to a private school.  This hometown of mine created spaces for shades of green, for natural lakes and wildlife, even a buffalo herd. And, venturing just outside its borders I could cross that big red bridge they call golden for a reason—it’s the pathway to the beautiful Marin Headlands and John Muir’s heavenly woods.

While it was difficult to wave goodbye to the coastline trails and goose families in the ponds of Golden Gate Park, in 2007 I made the move in down to Southern California to begin my freshman year of college.

So it has been three years now, and I still have yet to venture outside this rock-hard world of jackhammers and cement lanes. But I’m taking a stand now; no longer will I let those skyscrapers block my sunshine. So I begin my quest: to find some gems of nature in this concrete county as well as huge treasure troves just outside it. 

Want to join me?

Let’s start with a blast from the past: back in the 1900’s when the LA Baby was learning to walk, his size palm-tree feet stomped out the lush landscape and oak trees that once dominated the scene. 

Fortunately for us, he missed a few spots.

And fortunately for me, because I’m going a little stir-crazy and I think I know why—since I moved to Los Angeles, I was self-diagnosed with Nature Deficit Disorder.  My mind and body got muddled when I entered LaLa Land and I’m just now beginning my recovery phase. Watch out, you and your children may be suffering from this illness as well and I think I can help. 

Here are my credentials:

• My parents did everything in their power to get me out into the wild—going on weekend hikes and spending at least a week in a national park every summer.
• I have hiked and backpacked many parks on the west coast including Sequoia National Park in California, Olympic National Park in Washington, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Glacier National Park in northern Montana and Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
• I ventured to Europe and while I made sure to see the Hagia Sophia, I also traversed the wilderness in lands of abroad—Plitvicka National Park in Croatia, the Samaria Gorge in the Greek island of Crete, and the glacial cut fjords in the Jostedalsbreen National Park in Norway.   
• I love to breathe the fresh air of the redwood forests.
• John Muir is a friend of mine, or so I’d like to think and thus I follow his advice to keep nature close, “and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash (my) spirit clean.”   

As you know, one does not have to fly halfway across the globe to find nature’s magnificent mansions.  So, as I search for a cure to my Nature Deficit Disorder, I hope you will press the off-button on your elliptical, walk out of that stress box of a cubicle, and come with me to “explore our own backyard.”   I’ll let you bring that iPhone just in case we need a navigation tool, but know that Nature is always watching you. For as Emerson said, “Nature hates calculators,” so I’m sure it hates cell phones.