And Peak #1: Mt. Baden-Powell After a few years of seeing social hiking groups on the trails and on my Instagram feed, I finally caved and signed up for the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks Challenge to kick off the summer. The Six Pack of Peaks Challenge was started by Jeff Hester when he was… Continue reading A Six Pack of Peaks
Into the woods This afternoon's Sunday adventure took me back to Bailey Canyon Park in Sierra Madre. This time we took Owen, and rather than heading up the challenging Bailey Canyon Trail to Jones Peak, we explored the family-friendly nature trails in Bailey Canyon Park. We headed up on Sunday mid-afternoon, after church and a… Continue reading Bailey Canyon Nature Trails
The heart of stones at the peak. Sadly, the wooden sign was gone. This morning, a Saturday with weather typical of Southern California's 'May gray,' proved to be the perfect time to attempt a new peak. At 3375 feet in elevation, Jones Peak is not the highest mountain in the San Gabriels, but it is… Continue reading Jones Peak via Bailey Canyon
In caring for my mental health, I have learned that a pleasant hike is a way to not just get some good exercise, but that it is also a way to reset my brain. Last weekend, I decided to head out with Owen to Claremont for some of that clarity. This popular hike in the… Continue reading Claremont Wilderness Loop
There’s something magical about snow covered mountains. This is especially true in Southern California where we really don’t get snow at elevations under about 5000 feet. Last weekend, as we prepared for the advent of spring, we headed up our local mountains in search of an adventure for our pets. About an hour away from… Continue reading Snow Much Fun in the San Gabriel Mountains
The Cranky Camper 