American West, California, Hiking, Historic Sites, History, Opinion, Outdoors, Safety, Travel, Uncategorized, Writing

Shoemaker Canyon: Tunnels to Nowhere

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.

Europe and the United Kingdom, Historic Sites, History, Kids, Museums, Opinion, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, Writing

The Berlin Wall

The Cranky Camper family visits the Berlin Wall and the place that once divided East and Western Europe. The remnants of the wall stand as a monument to a divided history that will hopefully never be repeated. We also reflect on what Berlin may have looked like when my dad was stationed in the American sector many years ago.