Southern CA hiking- Casper’s Wilderness Park/Cleveland National Forest 4 Corners

[bearthedog]

This weekend I got out to play with some new gear in Southern California. Yes, we have woods out here in CA. The coolest thing about the hike was getting together with some good people I met in Alabama during the Randall’s Adventure and Training class last April. Ali, Kyle, and Reza, all from California. This past May I had the pleasure of meeting JD in Lima Peru as we were about to fly to Iquitos to join the rest of the group. We spent a week “in the shit” and I have to say JD probably had more fun than anyone out there. Hiking again with these people was a lot of fun and there is just something to be said about the time you spend with people on extended trips in the bush (in the shit). It is a bond you share and it can be months, or even years later and whenever you see these people, it all comes back, only this time, its funny. Today was like that except there were no dead chickens to eat, planes to catch, Isula ants to look out for, no river crossings, no snakes to catch, no waist deep swamps, no shelter’s to build, but worse of all, NO MOOSE (single tear drop)!

Here are some pictures of a hike in Casper’s Wilderness Park I did with Gina, and the next days’ hike with JD, Ali, Reza, and Kyle. Good people and good scenery, good weather---it doesn’t get much better than that!


Casper’s Wilderness Park
The loop route is: Nature Trail > Loskorn Trail > West Ridge Trail > Starr Rise Trail > Oak Trail

Anyone who has been around me knows that my favorite subjects are flowers.

New Pack-Gossamer Gear RikSak

New Knife for her

Cleveland National Park, CA

Kyle had the Benchmade Snody

 

[BRL]

Amazing shots; love the framing and what a HUGE diversity of stuff you got to experience. Good times, good times. Favorite photo is #6 from the top; those long views really get to a fella. Great post.

 

[Junglas]

Love the pics Bear, keep em coming!

 

[the rat]

Love the pics. Quick question if I may, How did the Benchmade snody perform?

 

[tknife]

Really great pics :thumbup: It was really a beautiful weekend for a hike but I couldn't get out unfortunately :grumpy:

 

[bearthedog]

Thanks all. Sadly this may be the last post with this camera. My Canon G10 has served me well all over the world and it recently took a full dunk in the swamps of Peru a couple of weeks ago. It died and then miraculously came back to life. It has issues of turning on and shutting off. Looks like it will be back to the behemoth, my Canon 7D again. A great camera, but shitty for long hikes. Farwell to the G10.

-RB

 

[kgd]

Cool pictures Reuben. Sucks about the camera. The digital SLR's just don't have the cahonas like the old 35 mm ones did. My Nikon FE-2 went through hell and back, got wet as hell under Niagara falls, dropped off of mountain sides, was even kicked by a horse once. It always took it in stride. My Nikon D50 took so okay beatings but then got flaky. I bought a cheap D60 and that thing would go beserk from the slightest misting. I had two VR lens repaired from slight drops and one of them, an $800 lens (after forking out $350 to repair it) just bit the dust losing its internal focus element even though it suffered no damage. Anyhow, the camera's and glass of today are not like the old war hero's from the 80's. Wish it were. I'd lug the weight and suffer 2 slower stops for a bit of robustness.....

 

[DamnU]

Thanks for the tip on the hiking trail. I live in Los Angeles and it is hard finding good places to hike on a quick day trip.

 

[bearthedog]

Thanks for the tip on the hiking trail. I live in Los Angeles and it is hard finding good places to hike on a quick day trip.

You have a lot if you are in LA. Check out Chantry Flats (Santa Anita Loop) and Sturtevant Falls . They have a waterfall and a side trip up to Mt Wilson too.

Also, down the 2 fwy there is a Switzer Falls - Bear Canyon Trail.

Do a search on these and you will see some beautiful places that are close by.

-RB

 

[imaginefj]

The sunglasses reflection shot is cool! I hopefully will be having LASIC surgery in a few weeks and will kiss my glasses good by. I will be wearing sunglasses though! Have to protect your vision.