california, health, Hiking, Kids, outdoors, safety, Travel, Uncategorized

The Mountains Are Opening, So I Must Go

While the stay-at-home orders haven't exactly ended, the trails in Los Angeles County are finally starting to open up after over a month-long closure. So with the mountains calling, we must go... along with the rest of Southern California.

california, emergency preparedness, Family, health, Hobbies, Kids, parenting, safety, School, Uncategorized

Life in the Time of Coronavirus

With equal parts optimism and doom, the Cranky Camper addresses feelings of stress, fear, and opportunity as a result of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.

california, Camping, Dog, dogs, Family, Hiking, Kids, outdoors, Pets, photography, Travel, Uncategorized

Henninger Flats

A nice hike at dusk, the Mt. Wilson Fire Road from the Pinecrest Gate takes us up a moderately strenuous hike to the Henninger Flats Campground, a nice spot for a snack and views of the San Gabriel Vallley below.

american west, Family, Hiking, Kids, Museums, national parks, outdoors, photography, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona was another amazing park on our Spring Break Southwest Roadtrip. The landscape born of volcanic activity, sediment deposits, and geologic uplift looked as if it truly were a desert scene of vibrant color painted on canvas. The national park preserves petrified logs, as well as ancient petroglyphs and desert formations.

american west, Camping, Family, Hiking, Kids, Museums, national parks, outdoors, photography, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation

El Malpais National Monument

After four full days of visiting Ruidoso, New Mexico, we headed to Flagstaff, Arizona for the next leg of our Spring Break Southwest Roadtrip, stopping along the way in the scenic and geologically interesting El Malpais National Monument.