Early plannings of a trip to the wilderness

I have technically graduated from college already. Only one class stands between me and freedom. I intend to take hold of that freedom and hold it in a suffocating embrace this summer and enjoy some care-free travel in the American west. People tell me to go to Europe, but that’s not for me. I want some clean mountain air and the wilderness. In the words of John Muir, “The mountains are calling and I must go.”

But go where? There are so many options. Road trip through the “golden circle” of national parks that are strung together like jewels on a necklace left strewn on a table. Spend the summer in Yellowstone seeing our nations first and likely greatest national park. Or, do I backpack the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevadas?

I love the Sierras. I love Utah too and would probably be quite fond of Wyoming, but I still really love the Sierras. This mountain range helped inspire Teddy Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot to start the Forest Service and the National Parks service. Yosemite it one of my favorite places on earth, but I hate bustling with fat tourists to see the valley floor.

I’ve been wanting to start backpacking for a while, but haven’t gotten around to doing it. Then, a few weeks ago I was in the local book store when a book just jumped out at me. It was “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson. Instinctively I picked it up, almost buying it without even reading the back. Thus I dove into the story of a middle aged man living in Massachussets who one day decides to hike the Appalachian Trails… all 2,100 some-odd miles of it. With practically no backpacking experience he and a long-lost, out of shape friend embark on the lengthy trek from Georgia to Maine. It didn’t take more than one chapter for me to declare “if they can do it– I can do it!”.

I instantly thought of John Muir, 211 miles of trail meandering through Yosemite National Park, Ansel Adams Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Kings Canyon National Park and finally it wanders into Sequoia National Park. It takes three weeks to do, but you see a part of California that for many people is turned into a waddle out of the car for a snap shot before getting a burger at the Ahwahnee hotel.

No matter where my summer ends up taking me, backpacking will likely be a part of it. I’m in the process now of researching. In March I plan on taking my first trip with REI to Joshua Tree. A roommate is planning a trip up Half Dome in spring as well (16 miles, two days) that I am eager to embark on. If not this summer, I hope that one summer I make the John Muir Trail.

I will update this from time to time as a sort of diary on my path to freedom.

Day Two: Point Reyes State Park to Gualala

In the morning we left SF to continue our trek up north. We would visit Point Reyes, Fort Ross, and Gualala.

Day one: Northern California Coast trip

One day over iced green tea at our favorite Japanese restaurant, my dad and I hatched a plan for a nice little road trip through Northern California. I had mentioned how my little sister Brookie expressed interest in going up to Monterey this summer like her and I did the summer before. I suggested that the family go up there all together. My dad said that he would be interested in going further north to Point Reyes instead. I thought heck, while up there, why not go up to Redwood National Park and make it a road trip.

So we did.

Favorite quotes from the earthquake

If you were living in a really deep hole this morning, you may have missed that earthquake we had. That’s a big may as it was one of the biggest ones we’ve had in a lllooonnnggg time at a 5.4. Even though it was a big quake nothing really happened. In all reality, it was a non-disaster. However, like most everything else, local news COMPLETELY over reacted.

Point and case, the home page for the OC Register…

The times they are a changin’

I saw a rare sight on my way to work today. Pulling out of the gas station was a bright yellow International CXT. For those of you unfamiliar with this seldom purchased, and even less seldomly seen SUV, it is officially now an image of yester years.

[International CXT] The international CXT is the largest SUV every made. It was created a few years back for those who felt that a Hummer H2 just wasn’t what they wanted to be seen in at soccer practice any more. The CXT, or Commercial Extreme Truck, is based off of a Semi-truck. It is 21 ft long, 9 ft high, and weighs over 14,000 pounds, or twice that of a Hummer H1. It was born in 2004, on the heals of Hummers success, when gas was um cheap, and bigger was better.

Oh how quickly they fall.

Tap water is the new bottled water

I saw a headline today that I have been waiting for for a long time: Economy Makes Bottled Water Out, Tap Water In. Okay, so I wasn’t waiting for the part about the bad economy. I’ve just been waiting for people to get over this bottled water craze. Best idea since the plastic flamingo.

Planes, Trains, Automobiles and $5 gas

I’ve been listening to people complain about how high gas prices are since I got my license, back before gas was $2 a gallon. I’m sure I just dated myself there. In any case, as the cost-per-barrel and the average price for a gallon of gas continuously shatter every previously set record, some times when they have only been a record for a day, it is difficult to ignore the topic. I really do feel bad for the poorer people who live in areas without public transportation and are now seeing 15-20% of their income going to gas. No one should have to decide between buying food or buying gas in order to get to work in the morning. But I don’t feel that gas is going to get cheaper in the long run, so the only real solution for people like these is for them to find some way to change their ways… and I’m not saying that as if it is an easy thing to do.

Doomsday Parenting

Every morning, as I drive my carbon dioxide emitting vehicle into work, I spend my time listening to Adam Corolla. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Corolla’s morning show, he’s Stern’s replacement on Free FM, and is most well known for the 10 or so years he did on Love Line with Dr. Drew.

What bothered me about him on Love Line I love about him on his morning shows. Quite often when someone else is talking he’ll pick up a word or a phrase that reminds him of something he hates and launch into a fifteen minute rant about that topic. His rants are glorious in how he phrases his complaints, andgenious in the points he makes. Most times I’m in my car nodding my head with everything he says. You can listen to his top rants this week at the “This Week in Rage” section of his website:http://adam.freefm .com/ (warning: some strong language). I think the nurse one is the best myself, and I’m a little surprised that my favorite rant of the week didn’t make the top 5: his rant about how his childhood was ruined by his mother’s doomsday apocalypic fears.

BMW cloth car

Forget expensive body kits, the future of vehicle body modification is here… and it is made of cloth. Kudos to BMW for thinking out of the box!

Minimalism

As many of you know (and I use the word many lightly, as I do not know how many people will even read this) as of July 1st it’ll be illegal to drive while talking on the cell phone that isn’t hands free in California. I’ve had a Bluetooth ear piece now for over a year, but I haven’t used it. It’s not because it isn’t yet the law, it’s because… well, it’s just too damn slick.