California Trippin
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From the Bottom Up

In May and June of 2007, Suzy and I started off on a four week trip to visit friends and relatives scattered throughout California. We estimated the total distance would be at least 4,000 miles; however, as we went over the maps, Suzy started seeing the opportunity for some pretty cool side trips along the way. The actual milage driven turned out to be closer to 5,000. Anyway, this page highlights those side trips.

The plan was to head down to southern California, and then work our way north. So, with a pre-dawn start, we drove as far as Moab, Utah, for our first stop. Having packed a trunk load of rock climbing gear, by the time we hit the road the next day, we had two good climbs in at Arches National Park.

Balanced Rock, in Arches National Park, north of Moab, Utah Balanced Rock, in Arches National Park, north of Moab, Utah Three Penguins, in Arches National Park, north of Moab, Utah The Three Penguins formation, in Arches National Park, north of Moab, Utah

The next stop was Zion National Park, in Utah, where during our trip research we had found an awesome hike to the top of a formation called Angels Landing. While this is only a class 1 hike, not technically hard, the exposure catches a lot of people by surprise, and we found a few hikers sliding along on their butts in a couple spots near the summit.

Angels Landing, as seen from the approach trail, early in the morning Angels Landing, as seen from the approach trail, early in the morning Looking out from inside a small cave at Suzy climbing up, along the Angels Landing Trail Looking out from inside a small cave at Suzy climbing up, along the Angels Landing Trail View of Angels Landing summit approach, where the fun begins View of Angels Landing summit approach, where the fun begins View looking north from the summit of Angels Landing View looking north from the summit of Angels Landing View looking south from the summit of Angels Landing View looking south from the summit of Angels Landing Looking down at Suzy descending from the summit of Angels Landing Looking down at Suzy descending from the summit of Angels Landing Descending down the switchbacks, after summitting Angels Landing Descending down the switchbacks, after summitting Angels Landing View of a sleepy Twin Falls from the Lower Emerald Pools trail View of a sleepy Twin Falls from the Lower Emerald Pools trail Looking up at the awesome sandstone cliffs at the Upper Emerald Pool Looking up at the awesome sandstone cliffs at the Upper Emerald Pool

Day four of the trip finally brought us into southern California, and for roughly the next week, we would bounce back and forth between San Diego, the Palm Springs area, and Joshua Tree National Park for some quality rock climbing. The summer temps in the desert were already pushing up into the 90's(F) by mid-morning though, and we were having trouble adjusting to it. With a tight schedule, we tended to climb whatever was close instead of searching out the shade, and minor symptoms of dehydration came on surprisingly fast.

View of a Joshua Tree at our campsite in the Hidden Valley Campgrounds, Joshua Tree National Park View of a Joshua Tree at our campsite in the Hidden Valley Campgrounds, Joshua Tree National Park Unknown climber working up Double Cross, on the west face of The Old Woman formation Climber on Double Cross, The Old Woman formation Suzy, rappeling off north side of Intersection Rock, Joshua Tree National Park Suzy, rappeling off Intersection Rock Chipmunk on the rocks at Intersection Rock in Joshua Tree National Park Chipmunk on the rocks at Intersection Rock in Joshua Tree National Park The Bath House in back of the Coyote Corner Store, outside the Joshua Tree West Entrance The Bath House in back of the Coyote Corner Store, outside the Joshua Tree West Entrance Leaving southern California, heading north, we stopped to get this telephoto shot of Mt Whitney, to the west Leaving southern California, heading north, we stopped to get this telephoto shot of Mt Whitney, to the west

After leaving southern California, we entered Yosemite National Park towards the end of the day, where we planned to spend the weekend. Climbers from all over the world come to Yosemite for its bigwall challenges; although, there's a variety of less committing climbs to choose from too. We badly wanted to climb something while we were there, seemed like some kind of crime to leave without, but we really wanted to see the park even more, not just rock close-ups. Since we only had two days, we did the tourist thing instead.

Morning view of Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park Morning view of Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park Upper Yosemite fall, as seen from the approach trail at around mid morning Upper Yosemite fall, as seen from the approach trail at around mid morning Yosemite Falls through the trees near the lower falls trailhead Yosemite Falls through the trees near the lower falls trailhead Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park View of Half Dome, as seen from the Yosemite Valley road View of Half Dome, as seen from the Yosemite Valley road Late day view of Bridalveil Falls from the Valley Road Late day view of Bridalveil Falls from the Valley Road Looking up at Bridalveil Falls with small rainbow near bottom Looking up at Bridalveil Falls with small rainbow near bottom Suzy & Giant Sequoias, Clothes Pin Tree, Mariposa Grove Suzy & Giant Sequoias, Clothes Pin Tree, Mariposa Grove Moss covered tree in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Moss covered tree in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Giant Sequoias & cabin at Mariposa Grove, in Yosemite National Park Giant Sequoias & cabin at Mariposa Grove, in Yosemite National Park View of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome, from the Glacier Point Lookout View of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome, from the Glacier Point Lookout Late afternoon / early evening shot of El Capitan, Yosemite National Park Late afternoon / early evening shot of El Capitan, Yosemite National Park

After leaving Yosemite, we headed north, again, to visit more family in the Lake Tahoe area for a few days. This gave us the chance to do some climbing at an area called Lovers Leap, about 30 minutes from Tahoe. Unfortunately, as shown in the 1st shot below, it wasn't climbing weather. After hiking around in the rain for an hour or so, scouting out the climbs we would have done, we drove up to Lake Tahoe for lunch and tasters at the Lake Tahoe Brewing Company.

A rainy day shot of the cliffs at Lovers Leap, near Lake Tahoe, California A rainy day shot of the cliffs at Lovers Leap, near Lake Tahoe, California Chubby ground squirrels sitting on fence posts, begging for hand-out, Lake Tahoe Chubby ground squirrels sitting on fence posts, begging for hand-out, Lake Tahoe Boat house along the north shore of Lake Tahoe Boat house along the north shore of Lake Tahoe

Heading still further north, we now had our backs practically up against the Oregon border, with a beautiful view of Mount Shasta's north side. Our visit here reminded me of the old Northern Exposure T.V. series. This is some of the most beautiful and undisturbed forest area I have seen. It makes me wonder what Oregon and Washington are like.

One of Suzy’s shots from the road, roughly 30 minutes from the town of Mt. Shasta One of Suzy’s shots from the road, roughly 30 minutes from the town of Mt. Shasta Old cabin next to a beautiful small mountain lake in northern California Old cabin next to a beautiful small mountain lake in northern California View of Mount Shasta, from mountain ridge roughly one hour to the north View of Mount Shasta, from mountain ridge roughly one hour to the north Cool Lenticular Cloud forming above Mount Shasta, in northern California Cool Lenticular Cloud forming above Mount Shasta, in northern California

Over three weeks had now flashed by like a long holiday weekend, and I was starting to whine at the thought of going back to work. The trip had been great so far, but now it was time to start heading in the general direction of home. With only two days of driving ahead of us though, and five days still to do it in, we cheered up at the thought of spending three of those days at City of Rocks, in Idaho. We hooked up with some friends, who had already been there a week, and we climbed as hard as we could - I was not ready for the real world yet. While I always had my camera near by, I felt like there was no time to waist taking pictures; however, sitting around the fire drinking beer one evening, someone noticed the sunset, and we all ran for our cameras. With the moment fading, shots were taken fast, and mine at least, were less than impressive. Still, it just seemed wrong not to end this trip report with one of those shots.

Cool purple sunset, behind the Upper and Lower Breadloaves, City of Rocks, Idaho Cool purple sunset, behind the Upper and Lower Breadloaves, City of Rocks, Idaho
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