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Arizona Adventures: Pinetop-Lakeside Trails

Nestled in Arizona's White Mountains, Pinetop-Lakeside offers many opportunities for adventures. With miles of hiking trails, lakes, and scenic vistas, there is much to explore in these great outdoors.

american west, california, Camping, Hiking, outdoors, safety, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Hiking the Angeles: Mt. Hillyer

On a clear October morning, we continued our trek through the Angeles National Forest, this time taking a quiet route to Mt. Hillyer. This picturesque trail takes hikers through pine forests and boulder field. At the summit, there are gorgeous panoramic views of the San Gabriel Mountains.

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Hiking the Angeles: Vetter Mountain Lookout

Vetter Mountain is home to one of the last fire lookout towers in the Angeles National Forest. Today, the Vetter Mountain Lookout Interpretive Site provides shelter for the fire lookout, volunteers who keep watch over the forest to spot signs of fire early to alert first responders. Starting at the Charlton Flat Picnic Area, we hiked up Vetter Mountain for beautiful 360 views of the San Gabriel Mountains. On weekends, the lookout is open to visitors.

american west, california, Hiking, Historical sites, history, outdoors, safety, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Hiking the Angeles: Mt. Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak

With hundreds of miles to explore, the San Gabriel Mountains offer ample opportunities for fun and adventure. One an early fall Saturday, we returned to Eaton Saddle to explore two new peaks: Mt. Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak.

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LA Weekends: Hey Hollywood!

The Cranky Campers celebrate the start of the summer solstice in true LA style. We attended the second night of Noah Kahan's "We'll All Be Here Forever" set at the Hollywood Bowl, then returned to Griffith Park to hike up to the famed Hollywood sign and visit the Batcave.