First Time For Everything

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT

This weekend, my son had a baseball tournament in Twin Peaks, near Lake Arrowhead. We had to drive up to the mountains and then depending on if the team won the game, he'd have a game later in the day or on Sunday. Our team lost so the next game will be Sunday. Now I've got to figure out what to do with the family and where I can go to hike.

I did a quick Google search and found Lake Gregory near here has a place for kids to play and a trail that circles the lake. I'd never been there so I figured, why not?

The only hikes I've done in the San Bernardino Mountains have been in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. I figured if you're going to make the drive you may as well make it worthwhile so I've done San Gorgonio several times from several different directions but nothing else. OK, I've gone skiing at Big Bear but that doesn't count. This hike will be a first for me.

The trail goes around the entire lake and since dogs are allowed I wish I'd have brought Kahlua. She'd love it up here. I don't think there will be anyone backpacking around the lake, though. It's not that long.

There are exercise stations along the trail and it makes me wish I'd brought my running gear. Although on second thought if I tried to do any exercises I might lose my lunch of pizza and Pepsi. It's good that I'll be sticking with hiking. But this is the first trail I've ever done that has exercise equipment other than rocks and logs.

There is a restroom on the trail! If I'd known this I may have been able to persuade my wife to come along. Next time. This is the first time I've ever encountered a restroom on a trail that wasn't either an outhouse or a tree.

The view here is pretty, especially since it's about 110º down in the desert today.

There is a ball field right next to the lake. It's not the ball field Harrison is playing on but it is the first ball field that I have ever hiked past.

Not only are dogs allowed on this trail, there is even a dog park. Near where I live dogs aren't allowed on many trails at all and they have a dog park up here. Incredible.

To enter the part of the lake that has a swimming area there is a $3.00 fee. Since the family is in here I guess I'll pay it even though I will not be doing any swimming today.

There's the wife and Nikolas on an Aqua Trike having a blast while I'm hiking. Family fun for everyone.

This trail also has a water slide and some water jets plus a lot of people who should never go out in public in a swimsuit. I'm sure a lot of people do a lot of hiking around lakes but living in the desert it is not something I get to do often, if ever. I kinda like it even if the hike is not particularly challenging.

Nikolas also likes it. If it were up to him I'd hike here every day.

Down By The River

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE

I used to think of Riverside as the armpit of California. However, my geoanatomy was a bit off. Modesto is the armpit of California. Riverside is the back of the knee or the kneepit. It is also where I had to go today for my son's baseball tournament.

Incredibly, there is hiking in Riverside. Actually, I was surprised to see a number of hills that look like possible hiking spots. No one is going to make Riverside a hiking destination but if you have to be there at least you have some choices.

I headed over to Mount Rudidoux, which is more of a hill if you ask me.

There are several trails that climb Mount Rubidoux although no official trail to the top. After this initial section with steps, the "trail" gets pretty steep.

There's no official trail because the official trail is a paved road. No vehicles are allowed and it is a very popular walk. I've made it clear that I don't like walking on roads so I bypass this route.

There are a lot of rules but none of them pertain to me.

My trail crosses over the road and heads steeply up to the top of the hill.

From there, you do have a nice view. Here's something that's amazing to me. There actually is a river in Riverside. While the Santa Ana River isn't the Mississippi, it does have a nice little area of foliage and some parks along its banks.

At the top of Mount Rubidoux is the Serra Cross.

It is named for Father Serra, the famous monk who established the missions in California.

From the top, you can look over and see the Peace Tower and a large American flag.

There are a lot of plaques on this mountain. In fact, I have never seen so many plaques on any hike I have ever done. I can only imagine how many more I would have seen if I walked up the road. I don't plan on doing it but there must be a plaque maker nearby.

Here's a closer view of the Peace Tower.

A close-up look at the tower shows the names of several countries that don't really live in peace with one another too well.

Well, no wonder. The Peace Tower is locked shut. How are countries supposed to live in peace when they can't get into the Peace Tower?

I get down to the start and find this map that I missed on my way up. It wouldn't have helped me much because the trail I took is not on the map. In fact, I really can't figure out what the map is trying to tell you. I guess, follow the road?

On this one last plague is a quote from John Muir. I wonder what John Muir would've thought of Mount Rubidoux. He climbed some real mountains and probably would've consider Mount Rubidoux a pimple in the kneepit of California. That's pretty much how I feel about it.

Family Values

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY ONE

With my wife still not feeling 100%, I took the day off work and took care of her. I also had to do the things she usually does like picking up the kids at school and taking one of them to the orthodontist. After that, I had to help at the snack bar at the baseball field. That didn't leave me much time to hike so I figured I'd make it a good one.

Not too far from my house is this gully that goes almost straight up. It gains about 900 feet in no time and climbs over boulders and loose rocks. I've done it in years past but haven't done it this year because it's hard and I'm old. I figured today would be the day to reach into the past. Besides at the time of day I had to go it was the only thing that had any shade on it whatsoever.

This shot gives you an idea of the terrible quality of the rock I get to climb. In my younger years I've made it up to the top in about 20 minutes. Of course, I was in better shape and a tad thinner then. I will be ecstatic if I can make it in under 30 minutes.

Hiking every day has done me well and I'm making pretty good time. Of course, the hard part is at the top.

Looking north, I can see the alluvial fan that leads to the golf course where I've hiked a few times this year. From here it almost looks smooth but in reality it is ever more rocky than this gully.

The gully starts getting steep as it nears the top.

Real steep. It's still only class three but compared to most of my hikes this is a real climb.

I come to the top of the gully and work my way up to the top point.

Not my best time ever but I'm happy with it.

The view is worth the effort and shows how steep this thing really is.

I only enjoy the view for a few seconds because the top is still exposed to the sun and it's hot.

I'd do anything for my family, even bleed. Now my wife will know for sure that I had an enjoyable hike.

I am being especially cautious about the heat and being shaded was one reason I chose this hike. Last Sunday, a 28 year old man died from heat stroke on the Skyline Trail in Palm Springs. He made some terrible mistakes that led to his death but it is very important not to take the heat too lightly. Being from the desert and hiking every day I am pretty well acclimated to the heat but even still it is important to take precautions. Having ample fluids, covering my skin and hiking in the shade whenever possible make it feasible for me to hike in the desert heat. But I know what I'm doing, it is not something just anyone could or should do.

Dehydration and electrolyte deficiency put my poor wife in hospital yesterday and she was inside. She just never took time to eat or drink anything and it caught up to her. With a holiday weekend coming up be careful about your outdoor activities whether at the beach, in the mountains or the desert.

Enjoy your families and take care of them. Nothing else is more important.

Just Chillin'

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE

Today was one of those days--and there are many--when I just went out for a little hike near home. I had to work this morning and tonight my son had a baseball game so my choices were limited.

I started up the trail and saw that some sunlight was still covering the trail up ahead. I decide to take it slow so I'll stay in the shade the whole time.

I come with my most faithful hiking companion, Kahlua, as I often do on these hikes near home. I wish the wife and kids would come with me more often but they always try to bite me whenever I attempt to put the leash on them.

We are now fully ensconced in the shade of the mountains and the temperature is delightful. Kahlua is so comfortable that she even refuses water when I offer it to her.

The only sunlight near our hiking area is on the top of this little hill. We won't be going there today so no worries.

This is what happens if you spend too much time in the direct sunlight.

I follow the trail along and knock down all the unnecessary cairns. I have been bringing a hiking stick in case I meet a snake along the way but it works very well as a cairn dismantler. I may start carrying one all the time.

I thought we were alone but I notice this guy up on the hillside reading a magazine. He has his shoes off and is really making himself comfortable. I thought I was just chillin' today but I've got a way to go before I get to be as cool as this guy.

I get to the baseball game but, sadly, it doesn't turn out well for my son's team. They lose their second playoff game and are eliminated. Maybe now he'll go hiking with me more often. Or not, he tells me.

I guess I'll need to get a bigger leash.