Fortunately tropical storm Debby dropped a bucket or two of rain that recharged the springs in Shenandoah National Park. Former ridgerunner Wendy Willis volunteered for a day of trail work that included repairing the piped spring on my AT section. The cats are aging. Sophie has arthritic hips a...
The Ledges are located in the woods northeast beyond Ledge Rd, but trail access was cut off by development long ago. It is well off the power line trails from the substation at the end of Power St. (road gated) where these transmission towers head off in multiple directions to bring elec...
First: pack plenty of quality snacks to keep you fueled during long hikes or drives. This will reduce your need to grab treats at the park’s many snack bars, concession stands, or vending machines. Trail mix is always a winner, as are apples, dried fruit, and some granola or energy ...
the Giant Forest, and is reached with just a half-mile walk down a paved trail. On your way to the Giant Forest, drive up Crescent Meadow Road and you will pass through
Is Road to Idyllwild open? As of now,all roads to Idyllwild are openand this is expected to spell relief for the mountain community after its tourism took a hit due to all the closures. How cold does it get in Idyllwild? In Idyllwild-Pine Cove, the summers are warm, arid, and mostly...
They were cut off from the wind by the ridge behind, and the air was still and stuffy. When they forced their way at last into more open ground, they were hot and tired and very scratched, and they were also no longer certain of the direction in which they were going. The banks of...
Last night, after jamming my jeans over my jammies and hustling my butt over to Cougar Ridge, I was comforted by fellow revellers toasting in the New Year, splendid fireworks down on the valley floor and the pinot noir I'd brought with me. Had I stayed in the lounge chair watching the...
Arriving at a ridge, I began to trot. Cooler late-day temperatures. The idyllic scent of pines. This was what it was all about. I coasted around curves and soaked it in. And then I almost tripped on him.Sitting on a random patch of moss by the trail was a man in head-to-toe ...
trail was a pleasant one with only a few spots of tricky rocks, root or mud. The day was shaping up. Peaks were hit or miss, some just a pile of rocks in a clearing. It was a foggy day anyway that wasn’t going to offer stunning views. Carter Ridge ticked away with an easy ...
trail is tough enough for the vast majority of hikers seeking a challenge, but the South Ridge proves to be a much tougher ascent that will test your scrambling and route finding skills. It took me 3 separate attempts to reach the top of the ridge, and I was successful on January 24, ...