Hiking!!

[amyzzz]

Might go hiking in Payson, AZ on Sunday.

[amyzzz]

I ended up doing an 8 mile hike in Payson near Christopher Creek with Jacob, his sister Brooke, her husband Torsten, and Torsten's mom (I think her name is Edeltraut, crazy German names). The Highline (?) trail on 90+ degree day really kicked my ass, but it was beautiful: butterflies and dragonflies everywhere amid the pine trees. I will try to post some pics later.

[humanoid]

I ended up doing an 8 mile hike in Payson near Christopher Creek with Jacob, his sister Brooke, her husband Torsten, and and Torsten's mom (I think her name is Edeltraut, crazy German names). The Highline (?) trail on 90+ degree day really kicked my ass, but it was beautiful: butterflies and dragonflies everywhere amid the pine trees. I will try to post some pics later.

not hiking related, but Torsten is a fantastic name

[Sleepingrock]

One friend whos coming to Coachella next year, his brothers name is Torsten

[algunz]

I took mushrooms with a Torsten in Reno.

[humanoid]

I played soccer in high school with a German exchange student named Torsten, but that was my last personal encounter...I think I may get to go to Berlin next year, so my odds of encountering another shall likely increase

[amyzzz]

I had no idea that Torsten was such a popular German name, but then again, they only have so many to choose from.

[humanoid]

I had no idea that Torsten was such a popular German name, but then again, they only have so many to choose from.

A quick wikipedia search told me this....the name just got cooler

The name is composed by the words Thor (Scandinavian "Lord of Thunder and War") and sten (Swedish for "stone"). It can be translated to "Thor's stone," "Thor's hammer" or even "adamant as Thor."

[amyzzz]

Well, he is 6'4", so "Thor's hammer" is definitely an apt name.

[seandlr]

Anyone ever hiked Half Dome?
I'm pretty sure a buddy of mine along with myself are gonna go to the top next week

[humanoid]

Anyone ever hiked Half Dome?
I'm pretty sure a buddy of mine along with myself are gonna go to the top next week

Yes, it's awesome. Are you starting from the bottom or camping at the Little Yosemite Valley campsite and going from there?

[seandlr]

Yes, it's awesome. Are you starting from the bottom or camping at the Little Yosemite Valley campsite and going from there?

I'm so glad I now have someone to talk to about this. Were pretty sure were gonna start from the bottom only because our goal is to knock it out in one day.
Were not real avid strenuous hikers so I hope you don't mind the questions.
Are the type of shoes you wear really important?
What time of year did you go?
What trail did you take up? (There's 4 right?)
Did you camp at Little Yosemite or start from the bottom?
Did you train?
What was the hardest part and why?
How long did it take you?
Any tips/ reccomendations?
THANKS

[humanoid]

I'm so glad I now have someone to talk to about this. Were pretty sure were gonna start from the bottom only because our goal is to knock it out in one day.
Were not real avid strenuous hikers so I hope you don't mind the questions.
Are the type of shoes you wear really important?
What time of year did you go?
What trail did you take up? (There's 4 right?)
Did you camp at Little Yosemite or start from the bottom?
Did you train?
What was the hardest part and why?
How long did it take you?
Any tips/ reccomendations?
THANKS

the easiest way to do it is to camp at Little Yosemite Valley and hike from there as early as possible in the morning to beat most of the crowds. If you hike from the bottom, you have a few hours of all uphill hiking before you even get to Little Yosemite Valley, then you still have many miles and hours to reach Half Dome, then have to hike all the way back down.

You can take a small tent,and minimal supplies, hike up from the Valley floor, camp at Little Yosemite Valley, then wake up at 4 am and start heading up at first daylight...this is what I would recommend...you can leave your tent up all day at this campsite, take only a little food and plenty of water up half dome, then return to the campsite and hike down again in the morning.

I think if you head up from the main valley (the bottom) to Half Dome, it is something like a 15 mile roundtrip hike, which if you're not experienced hikers, is an extremely long day hike and some of you may regret it.

All the other trails require backcountry permits (which can be difficult to come by in the summer, as they severely limit them)and a lot more preparation.

make sure you have very comfortable shoes, or if you were hiking boots(also recommended), make sure they are well worn it ....I've had friends completely destroy their feet for weeks...I did a 40 mile backpacking trip once in boots that apparently weren't worn in well enough, and I literally thought I was going to lose a few toes afterward...your feet swell inside your boots when doing hiking and it can be excruciating if you're not comfortable....on that long trip, I literally felt that I couldn't go any further one of the days because my feet hurt so terribly....and I hike and backpack all the time.

I have been at several times of the year and they are all great. Some of the trails are totally inaccessible and highly dangerous though in cold conditions. The summer, although crowded at times, is the best, simply because of the longer sunlight hours available to you.

read this for sure

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/halfdome.htm

[seandlr]

Hiked Topanga Canyon today which is some what near Santa Monica beach and iss off the PCH and it was really nice and not crowded at all and the weather was perfect. Im thinking about hiking somewhere near Joshua Tree on friday, possibly San Jacinto Peak.

[Dr. Lufs-al-ot]

Topanga Canyon and Venice Beach are miles apart from each other...

[algunz]

We went for a hike and I think it's time for Izzy to do her own walking. I managed to carry her for about a mile, but that's as much as I could manage. I mean for god's sake she's WALKING in the thing.

[blackchango]

Wow a baby angel !

[jimmycrackcorn]

-dusting off the hiking gear-

gonna head out for a medium hike with the GF to get ready for coachella... need to get the stamina back up and acclimate to the heat (it was like 80 degrees here yesterday)... will post a pic later

[Sleepingrock]

The other day on Ometepe Island we did a 8 or 9 hours hike up Volcan Maderas into the lagoon, it was beautiful but kinda grueling haha, I will have pics when I return to canada
Here is a stock photo for now

[jimmycrackcorn]

start of hike

[jimmycrackcorn]

peak of lykken trail south

[jimmycrackcorn]

desert is in full bloom with wildflowers after recent storms... nice cactus flower here

[jimmycrackcorn]

nice spot if you can find it:

there are 5 or 6 benches
a bonfire pit
and a nice view in the night

it's only a few hundred feet after the end of a private road...
a VERY nice place to hang out and empty some beers on a summer night under the stars

http://www.trazzler.com/trips/desert...?from_rss=true

[Dr. Lufs-al-ot]

Going to be hiking Eagle Rock in a week or so, should be loads of fun.

[jimmycrackcorn]

went hiking in tahquitz canyon today with gf... trying to build up some stamina for coachella

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

Hey, hikers! The only places in LA that I've been hiking are in Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon. I have some family visiting later this month and wanted to take them on a nice hike. Any suggestions? Malibu and/or other coastal hikes would be great. Criteria...

Within an hour's drive of central Los Angeles
Easy to Moderate Difficulty (got varying ages/athletic abilities here)
Under 5 miles
Beautiful views
Bonus Points for coastal hikes or hikes near waterfalls, swimming holes etc.

[algunz]

Come down to El Moro. It'll be cooler than anywhere in LA & you've got direct access to the beach. Depending on traffic it's about an hour and then you can go in to Laguna Beach for a nice dinner. I suggest Brussel's Bistro, if you like GREAT beer.

[algunz]

went hiking in tahquitz canyon today with gf... trying to build up some stamina for coachella

Tahquitz is beautiful and it's such a cute little town. I need to go back up there. It's been too long.

[getbetter]

I climbed Cucamonga peak last friday the top is 8950ft.Tomorrow I am just going take it easy and jump some waterfalls and drink beer in the water.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

Come down to El Moro. It'll be cooler than anywhere in LA & you've got direct access to the beach. Depending on traffic it's about an hour and then you can go in to Laguna Beach for a nice dinner. I suggest Brussel's Bistro, if you like GREAT beer.

Laguna Beach is lovely, but unfortunately we have some time and geographic restrictions on the day we'll be hiking so I need to stick to the greater LA area. Thanks for the tip, though!