Death Chat!!

Hey guys...feels like it's been a long time since checking out the zombie death chat, so just wanted to stop in and say hello. Hope you all are doing well today!

I'm just getting back from spending a few days on a friend's property in Mendocino county and am feeling that magickal mix of being invigorated but also (the best kind of) drained from a few days of hard work in the wilderness. Escaping the grid is always a pleasure and in the process, I got to give a couple knives some good work outs, chopped clear some way overgrown trails (and wore a hole through the cheap gloves I was using...and also through my hand a little bit :D ), and even managed to catch a couple snakes that crossed my path...overall a great few days!

My two main regrets are that I didn't already have a Ban edge on my main chopper for the trip (fix that after Blade hopefully?) and that my POS phone died before even getting up to the property as I wasn't able to snap any pics! I'll be up there again soon and will hopefully have those two issues adressed by then ;)


Ban- I hope your pre-Blade work-rush is going smoothly (and that those t-shirts come in)! Wishing you a successful mission out to Atlanta :thumbup:


Hope we can all get together again soon :)
 
Sounded like fun! I really need to get out and enjoy the outdoors more...

We gotta set up a hiking trip or even night trip soon.
 
I'm into that idea! Or even just another get together if Ban feels up to it yet...do you Ban?

Looks like I'm leaving the country for a couple weeks around July 8 or 9, but ill be around up until then and am game for anything up until then...
 
Sounds cool, maybe we can get together at ban's one of these nights, if he's up for it.

I'll be hiking every saturday to train for a couple backpacking trips in July, but if you guys hike or something on sunday, maybe I can meet up with you folks. We still gotta check out Mike's new pad too :D
 
Saw the trailer for the new Abraham Lincoln vampire slayer movie, hahah. Reminded me that I need to finish my hawks still.

Their current state.

2011-08-04192917.jpg


Don't know what to do with them yet aside from a nice polished full convex. I think the trailhawk (the hammer end one) will stay relatively stock, maybe blued satin finish with the screw hole filled in. As for the spike hawk, I might shorten and polish the spike and do a high polish on the cutting side.

Hawkhead did a great job on some of his mods: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/941759-Returning-with-new-hawks
 
Thanks for the link to Hawkheads mods, that's some nice work! I like my trail hawk, boy does that thing bite deep. Especially with the little touch up I got from Nate a while back.

The Abe Lincoln movie does look entertaining :D
 
i think this is a repost, but great video of the trailhawk.

[video=youtube;6pvv97vPLHk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pvv97vPLHk&feature=BFa&list=FLaj8R9Foe9MIEhqRhXdJqgw[/video]
 
Sweet hawks!

I'm down for a Sunday hike, maybe a mellowish half day mission somewhere of skyline blvd or in the Santa Cruz mountains? Also I haven't really explored more than the awesome road that leads up to it, but do you guys know if there are any decent trails near the Glick(???) observatory in the mountains east of San Jose?

Game for pretty much any options here..
 
Oh yeah, there's a good bit of stuff to do there :) Off the top of my head (and under the assumption that you'll be car camping):

1) If you're going to Big Sur for the first time, McWay Falls is a must. Iconic Big Sur scene, super easy walk out from parking lot. You can't actually get down to the cove and the falls (at least, you're not allowed), but you get a good view from up high along the hill. McWay Falls is across the parking lot at Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP. Parking is limited, so go early or it might take a bit of patience.

2) Pfeiffer Big Sur SP. There are a couple of cool things to do in Pfeiffer Big Sur SP (not to be confused with Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP). The first thing I would suggest is doing the Pfeiffer Falls loop trail, with the Valley View out&back extension. They're not utterly amazing hikes, but they give you a good feel of the redwoods and lush Big Sur-ness. It's an easy hike, and can get crowded because all the folks camping there do it. I wasn't that impressed with the Valley View Trail, but I was there in the afternoon, and I suspect if you planned it out such that you arrived around sunset it would be nicer.
Now, what I find more fun in Pfeiffer Big Sur, especially on hot days, is to scramble up the Big Sur River (short trail to river starts at end of the farthest campground loop). The river is clean and cool, the rocks are fun to clamber over, and a relatively short but fun scramble brings you to an awesome little swimming pool complete with a good rock from which to jump into the pool. Hopefully it's hasn't been too dry of a year, it's a lot more fun when the water's higher and the pool deeper. Although, the last time I was there, the water was low enough that it was possible to swim to and climb up the little river inlet and continue upriver. I'm sure there are other pools beyond that you could claim for yourself or only share with a few others (the big pool can get a little crowded for my tastes sometimes). We didn't get to try it that time, but next time we will.

3) Pfeiffer Beach. You can find this beach by turning off from CA1 onto Sycamore Canyon Rd, south 1mi from the entrance to Pfeiffer Big Sur SP. The narrow road is unmarked, so watch out for it. Follow the road to the end and you'll come to a parking lot, they do charge for parking there. The beach is beautiful. Not huge, but a nice little cove. I'd go earlier morning to have a beach a little more to yourselves and to maybe avoid the wind.

4) Esalen Hot Springs. The Esalen Institute is quit an interesting place. You can read up on the history, but the most pertinent thing for us, is that they open their hot springs to public use between 1-3am. :D You have make reservations in advance ($20 per person - good deal), and I think you're limited to a group of 4 or something like that. They only make 20 reservations a night, so be sure to call as soon as you know your plans. There's nothing more relaxing after a nice day of hiking, beaching, exploring, and camping than to sit and nap in dimly lit hot tubs on a bluff/cliff above the ocean. If you get the hot tubs outside, they have views of the shore below as well. It is late at night, so don't get wasted by the campfire :) I think you have to show up at the gate at like 12 or 12:30, then they check everyone in and walk them down to the hot tubs. Bring a flashlight if it's a moonless night. It's swimwear optional in the hot tubs, and most folks went nude whenever I've gone, so be warned :D The late night crowd tends to be on the younger side, so often there's nice scenery to respectfully appreciate....

5) Vicente Flat Trail. This trail starts across the road from Kirk Creek Campground (great campground!) and takes you up into Ventana Wilderness and Los Padres NF. The views, especially on a clear day, are pretty great. The first half a mile or so are pretty overgrown, and with a good bit of poison oak overhanging the trail too (I brought my machete when we went), but I like to think it keeps the riff raff away :D Once you get past the overgrown section and start climbing, it opens up. Bring lots of water, it'll be dry and hot. Nice day hike with classic Big Sur coast views :thumbup:

6) Partington Cove Trail. This trail/road starts across the street from the Tan Bark Trail, look for a pull out at the start of a valley about 2mi north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP. The road down to the cove starts at a locked gate. Walk down the road and explore. There's a trail leading to the opposite side of where you come down, through a little tunnel. It takes you Partington Cove, which is a pretty little cove. They used to ship out Tanbark Oak from that cove, and you can find pieces of rusted metal from docking stuff (is my guess, I think the cove was used later too, during the construction of CA1) embedded in the rocks still. The trail following the creek up is short but nice for lunch in the shade or something. Partington is nice because you can usually get the place to yourself. It's small, but chill.

7) All kinds of beaches. Sand Dollar Beach is a nice big one, it's a nice beach to hang out on, swim, people watch. There are a few coves you can check out. At Jade Cove, you're allowed to harvest Jade (only below water line though, so you'd need to dive) and it gets much hype...but I wasn't that impressed by it. Lot of poison oak to get down to that cove. There are a whole bunch of bluff walks through Big Sur, just watch the ocean-side of the road as you're driving. I can't remember the names off the top of my head.

8) If you feel like driving or riding your bike, taking the 1 down south past Lucia, Gorda, and Ragged Point is a nice and enjoyable drive. If you go far enough, you can check out the Elephant Seals at the Piedras Blancas Colony and check out Hearst Castle (tours will cost you).

8) On the way down to Big Sur or back, I'd stop and check out Carmel-by-the-Sea (kinda cool just to walk around in), Point Lobos SR (sea lions and pretty coves), and Monterey Aquarium if you haven't been before.


If you want the mileage and climbing on the trails I mentioned above, let me know :thumbup:



There are things I haven't been able to do yet but am planning to do on future trips (just to present you with more options):

1) Ewoldsen Trail. The Ewoldsen Trail begins in Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP and is renowned as the nicest Big Sur trail. Unfortunately, it's been closed the past few years due to damage from the big wildfires in 2008. I think they were either making repairs to make the trail safe for people, or just letting the area recover without people tramping through. The trail starts right across street from McWay Falls, so, if it opens by the time you go there, it would make for a good day to hit both McWay falls and the Ewoldsen Trail. It should be open by late this summer or fall, according to the last estimates. I don't know if the scenery will be what it was since the fire ravaged the area, but perhaps nice meadows and stuff sprung up.

2) Tons of trails in Ventana Wilderness and Los Padres NF. There are trails that run through Ventana Wilderness and Los Padres NF that take you to backcountry camps for backpackers. I'd like to backpack that area sometime, but you could still dayhike a few of the places. I think many are accessible form the west/coast side of Ventana/LosPadres (via CA1) as well as the east (via Carmel Valley Rd or Arroyo Seco Rd). In particular, I'm looking to check out Stone Ridge Trail (you can get there by taking Vicente Flat Trail farther), Buckeye Trail and Salmon Creek Trails (in Silver Peak Wilderness, down past Gorda), and Pine Ridge Trail (start from ranger station at Pfeiffer Big Sur SP, you can take this trail out to Sykes Hot Springs). I'd also like to get to the top of Ventana Double Cone one of these days.

3) Andrew Molera coast loop. My gf camped there with some friends and said there's a nice bluff trail in Andrew Molera. It's nice 8 mi or so loop that was pretty chill and had nice coastal views.


Anyway, hopes this helps, let me know if I can help with anything else! :thumbup:
 
Haha, that's me, ever the laconic one.... :o :D

Habib, sorry, I don't know much about the Mt. Hamilton area. Maybe one of the other guys know. The hills have been looking really beautiful lately, with all the wind and consequent air clarity we've been having.
 
hookahhabib said:
Sweet hawks! I'm down for a Sunday hike, maybe a mellowish half day mission somewhere of skyline blvd or in the Santa Cruz mountains? Also I haven't really explored more than the awesome road that leads up to it, but do you guys know if there are any decent trails near the Glick(???) observatory in the mountains east of San Jose?
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Thanks! It's the James Lick Observatory. I ride my motorcycle up there a lot but never hiked. About 1/3 of the way up Mt. Hamilton, there's a park and some trails but it's pretty barren and dry compared to Santa Cruz mountains.

gimmejr said:
Russ, dont be so brief in your replies. :p
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Lol

HikingMano said:
Haha, that's me, ever the laconic one.... :o :D
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm definitely going to check out McWay Falls and Pfeiffer Big Sur SP. Also, Esalen Hot Springs sounds very very interesting for a few reasons, definitely going to try and make reservations if it isn't already full.

My friend made the reservation for the camp site so I dont know the details, but do you know how many cars we could park. I'm leaving a little after my friends so driving separately and not sure how the parking works. i.e. does each campsite allow two cars or is there a parking lot area?
 
It depends on where you're staying. Typically with state park campgrounds, the first vehicle is included in reservation fee and they charge per night for any additional vehicles. The campsites usually fit 2 cars, and any more have to park in some overflow parking lot, often the day use lots. Some places only have room for one car though at the site.
 
finally got around to finish making a couple knives. pics came out terrible so i'll take some and post them in the custom and handmade section tomorrow.

photo4-2.jpg
 
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