During a slight cool-down in the late summer heat wave, we headed into the Angeles National Forest for a new adventure. Rabbit Peak from Monte Cristo Campground is a 6.5-mile hike that is considered hard for steep trails and loose rock. For those adventuring in this part of the Angeles, this hike offers up great views of the San Gabriel Mountains backcountry.
On our first of what will hopefully be many hikes with Benedict Willem Alexander, we headed up to Rosenita Saddle along Angeles Crest and hiked along forest service roads and a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. Benny loved a short visit to the creek as well as exercise and free pets from fellow hikers along this quiet portion of the Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness.
After re-opening following the Bridge Fire in 2024, we return to Shoemaker Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains to explore the spooky Cold War-era escape tunnels. The project was abandoned, but the tunnels remain a testament to a time gone by marked by fear and hysteria. In this post, we also cover trail conditions at time of writing along with some safety considerations.
Under a cover of clouds and precipitation, the 137th Tournament of Roses Parade kicked off 2026 in Pasadena, California. Celebrating 'The Magic in Teamwork,' floats pay tribute to themes of community, friendship, collaboration, and resilience. We wish you a hopeful and blessed new year.
There are many options for international travel across Europe. Eurostar provides high-speed rail service from London to major cities such as Paris, Brussels, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam, with connections to cities in Germany. All aboard!
The Cranky Camper 