Mountainpeaks Blog

Vivian Creek Trail to San Gorgonio

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2010-06-14T16:13:59Z

This is a trip report for a hike to San Gorgonio Mountains via the Vivian Creek trail along with some interesting observations and events. The trailhead is reached by passing through Forest Falls and parking in the parking lot at the end of the paved road. There are plenty of signs to indicate trailhead parking. Follow a dirt road about ¼ mile and another sign indicates the trailhead or at least the direction. At this point, cross the boulder strewn wash to the other side of the canyon. A sign directly across is the start of the trail.

Our hiking group this morning had 5 people. Three of us have been hiking for over a year and we are very familiar with each other and our habits. Two of my hiking buddies also brought friends with them. I was a bit nervous as to the condition and abilities of the guests as this was not an easy trail. One of the friends T for now was a finish carpenter that also was a mountain biker and looked fit, descent hiking shoes and prepared. The other friend D had ok shoes and properly outfitted as well. I did however notice a small tear on the rear shoe of D. I casually mentioned this and he indicated that it was nothing. We clad ourselves in our warm cloths. D had a straw hat, nylon under shirt, cotton tee shirt with a heavy flannel shirt on the outside. T had two nylon shirts and a acrylic looking outer sweatshirt with zipper.

We started up the first part of Vivian Creek and for those that don’t know the trail, it is nearly straight up for just less than a mile. The trail switchbacks on the side of a steep canyon and seems to go on forever. The persistent is rewarded with a nice meadow, small stream ( seasonal ) and a flat walk past the first campground, very pretty, quiet and peaceful. The next section was a more or less flat trail that followed the stream. Like the previous section, this section offered a very nice setting below a canopy of trees. Our spirits where high. We were talking and joking knowing that more difficult parts of the trail lay ahead of us. We passed halfway camp ( not really half way ) and started up a more exposed set of switchbacks that overlooked a canyon filled with green shrubs and some nice views.

In the next section of the trail, our party walked through a narrow section that had thorny bushes on each site. Attention was required to pass this section without too many scrapes on my bare legs as I was wearing only shorts. A moderate descent let to a flatter section of the trail that leads around a ridge to high camp. During this section however, the small tear on D’s shoe became larger at first and eventually ripped to the point that the sole was flapping around. Not a good thing at this point. He pulled to the side for some emergency repairs. After a brief discussion, I found that nobody had any duct tape. ( more on the necessity of duct tape later ) I usually carry a 6-8’ piece of rope for certain emergencies like this. Too my shock, the rope was not in my bag. The next best thing I thought of was to use the drawstring of my warm up pants to bind the boot. After a few minutes of binding, re-arranging shoelaces we where back on the trail.

I followed D to make sure the repairs where holding. They seemed to be working. One of my friends and I started to worry a bit as a trail like this would easily eat up a pair of boots like this. We continued to watch and worry a bit more about D and his boots. He was eating a lot and seemed to be laboring a bit. This section of the trail is rocky, moderately steep and exposed more than the previous sections. After a tune up of the boots to tighten the bindings, our group made it too the high camp area. There was a nice waterfall just as we entered the flat area. There were only a few patches of snow up to this point. Nothing to worry about and took less than one or two steps to cross. We stopped for a bit to refuel and water. I noticed that the wild flowers where just coming into bloom at this altitude. The trail runs in this area runs through the north side of the meadow and was covered by the stream in several areas. There are two strips of bright pink tape placed on trees that indicate the general path. I followed the stream bed as I had good waterproof boots. This seemed most like the trail anyway. The other hikers in the group navigated around the mushy parts, the wet parts and the like. I was worried about D as any water in the exposed boot would mean a very hard rest of the trip. He seemed to get through dry. I took another look at the boots and noticed that the other boot was starting to rip where the upper part attached to the lower part. It was just about to separate I think. After another emergency repair using pieced of string, parts of an extra long lace, that boot was also usable…. Barely.

And now for a brief note about duct tape. From this point on to the end of the trip, we started to ask fellow hikers if they had any duct tape we could borrow to use for boot repair. About 1 out of 4 hikers had good tape of some sort. All of the hikers that had duct tape had wrapped the tape around their hiking poles near the handle. What a great idea. We could immediately tell from this point on who the experienced hikers where just by looking for the tape wrapped around the poles. We had two hikers contribute to the repairs. D’s boots looked like a football players with their shoes taped for a game. Needless to say, I will always bring duct tape with me from now on and wrap it around my pole so I look like a seasoned hiker.

This section of Vivian Creek is a flat meadow area with lush vegetation. A spring at the top of the valley is the source. You can see the stream gushing from the side of the slope near where the trail starts up. We started the climb out of the valley following a long section of switchbacks. D at this point was laboring more and more and my buddies where concerned that he would not make it. He kept on plodding up this steep section of trail and finally reached the top. This stopping place about 10K feed high is my favorite place on the whole trail. It has a spectacular view towards Palm Springs and San Jacinto. There is a larger flat spot with several rocks to sit on. D asked where the summit was and after seeing the remaining distance decided to stop here. This was a very wise decision as the rest of the trail is steadily harder because of the elevation gain. There was only patchy snow that was easily crossed on this section.

George stayed with D and T, myself and Jim headed up to the summit. We crossed several patches of snow about 100 ft wide. There was a good boot path through that also helped mark the trail. A nice steady pace and a good use of poles was all that was needed to cross the snow patches. We did see two sets of hikers with ice axes attached to their packs. We finally made it to the top. We did however have a gut check about 30 minutes from the top as the altitude was starting to take its toll. It took 2 hours from where we left D and George to get to the summit. More than I had initially thought and a bit harder. The three of us were spent and wanted to get down as soon as possible.

Our descent was as fast as our feet and gravity would allow. We stopped briefly for water and food and more importantly to remove the small, seemingly endless pebbles from our boots. I did not see much on the way down as I was too busy concentrating on the trail and not falling. The trail did however seem much longer on the way down as it always does. This trail was well marked except for the two place noted. I would like to see the trail teams trim some of the plants back a bit. It took about 3 and ½ hours from the top to the car. We found George and D waiting for us at the car. They reached the car about an hour before we did. There were no complaints as they were enjoying the cold beers that we always pack for the end of the trip. We joked about the boots and reminded ourselves to always be prepared.

Mount Whitney Hike - Continued

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-09-08T17:02:28Z

this is a continuation of a prior post.

The first part of the climb up the switchbacks was ok. We stopped often to catch our breath and let a few hikers pass. We noticed that these hikers camped out at trail camp or outpost camp. About half way up, one of my buddies started to not feel well, headaches, lack of desire and an overall struggle to keep going. We stopped and gave him some aspirin. Right about this time, the sun disappeared and some big black clouds came flowing over the ridge. Within 3 minutes, it was snowing and the wind was blowing. We quickly put on our ponchos and warm clothes. By the time I had all my cold weather gear on, there was at least 1-2 inches of snow in all my pockets and exposed areas. We hunkered down to weather the storm and a few thunder claps rang out loudly in the valley. We say a few hikers running down the trail to safety and yelling for everyone else to do the same. In less than 10 minutes, the sun was shinning and we took off our ponchos. My buddy, after resting for 10 minutes was feeling much better and was able to continue the hike.

We reached trail crest ( 13,600 feet ) around 11:00 am. A cold strong breeze was waiting for us at the top. We stopped to congratulate ourselves but quickly moved on after prompting from a fellow hiker ( returning from the summit ) to get to a less exposed, warmer, less windy place. We took a break at the junction of the John Muir trail on the backside of the Whitney ridge. Here we met a pair of female hikers we saw on the trip. They were sitting at the trail merge enjoying a fabulous looking sandwich. I had sandwich envy as my trail mix was getting old. This pair passed us on the switchbacks but was worried about the weather and contemplating weather or not to continue. After seeing us older men starting off, they quickly packed up and passed us again.

We too started to think about the weather and time issues. It was noon at this time and there where a few dark clouds heading our way. The clouds where small cells that looked smaller than the event we had on the switchbacks. We did a few calculations and realized we would not reach the summit until around 1 and not be back between 7-8 pm a night. We where not looking forward to a decent with headlights and tired beyond belief. The decision was to continue on but would turn back because of weather.

The trail from trail crest to the summit is scary in some parts. The trail is cut out of rock and pretty steep in places. Some parts required climbing stairs made of jagged rock. Hiking poles where useless and required strategic placement of hands. We had a few hikers pass us on the way down and indicated they where turned back because of the storm we encountered while on the switchbacks. This was the hardest part of the trail for me. I was feeling pretty dizzy and not entirely with all my mental faculties because of the altitude. The trail was harder than what we thought and took about 2 hours.

My other hiking buddy hit the wall at around 14k feet. We stopped for about 10 minutes while my friend laid down to rest. After some confidence building, he was able to continue and we finally reached the summit at 1:00 pm. We where a bit worried that there would be no one left on the summit to take our picture. There where 4 people milling around taking pictures. We stayed for about ½ hour talking and taking pictures. Right before we left, a pair of real men appeared over the ledge. They had climbed up the face of Mount Whitney, about a 2,000 feet climb.

We stared down at a furious pace determined to make it down before headlamps where required. The trail down was just as difficult in some parts as the way up. Each step jarred my joints and rattled my teeth. Hiking up on rocks is hard. Hiking down on nothing but rock is even harder on my body. We where all pretty fatigued at this point and acting goofy in the altitude. We finally made it back to trail crest around 3:30 and started down the switchbacks.

I counted about 9 hikers that we passed on the way down that where still headed up to the summit. This was a nice feeling in knowing were where not the last ones. The hike down the switchbacks was relentless. The view was not quite as spectacular as the way up for some reason. My buddies also stopped eating as much and where we were all on autopilot. When we reached trail camp at 12,000 feet at 4:30 or so, we where all exhausted. We found a flat rock and sat down for a bit.

One of my hiking companions ran out of gas at this point. If he could, he would have stayed. But we had to keep going. The reason I believe is they where not eating and their bodies had no fuel. During the hike down, I managed to snap a bunch of pictures during our decent. We reached the Mirror lake and finally Lone Pine Lake at 7:00 pm. I finally forced my buddy to eat something and within 10 minutes was feeling much better. We put the headlamps back on and almost ran down the rest of the trail in the dark. We arrived back at the trail head at 8:30 at night full of a sense of accomplishment. We had reached our goal.

Here are some interesting observations during and after the hike.

• The beer I had back at the hotel was probably the best I ever had.
• We really smelled bad. There was no way we would be allowed in a restaurant without taking a shower.
• My feet hurt but there where no blisters.
• I ate almost all my food. I drank 5 liters of liquids. 4 liters of water and 1 liter of Gatorade.
• The ratio of men to women on the trail was about 3 to 1. Most of the women where traveling with their significant other.
• All of the people we met on the trail where really nice.
• I counted at least 10 people that did not make it to the top. One person said they did but we know they did not.
• Most of the 100 or so people with permits stayed on the mountain the night before.
• I asked my buddies, what one item they would bring the next time. The answer was (1) long, water and windproof pants, (2) a variety of foods ( he just had sandwich and way to much trail mix ) and for myself (3) a pair of gloves to keep my hands warm.
• I saw a Marmot, a Pika, many chipmunks, birds and what I think are ptarmigans along with many new plants that I did not expect to see between 12 and 14,000 feet. There where purple finches on the summit.
• I am not the fasted hiker around.
• My body is not what it used to be.

Mount Whitney Hike

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-09-08T17:00:41Z

Mount Whitney Hike – September 4, 2009

Note that this entry is broken into two entries.

Here is the trip report for our hike up to the Whitney summit on September 4, 2009. We (Jim and George ) arrived at Lone Pine around 10:30 in the morning after leaving Orange County at 6:00 am. We finally figured out that we needed to pick up the trail permits at the visitor center located at the 136 intersection just before town. We collected our WAG bags, dropped off our coolers and anything else with food at the Dow Hotel where we were staying.

Eager to start the day, we drove to Whitney portal for an acclimation hike to Lone Pine Lake. We arrived around noon and started our hike. This part of the trail does not need a permit. Permits are required about ¼ mile above the lake. We hiked the 2.8 miles and stayed at the lake for 2 hours. I brought my fly rod and caught about a dozen small, very hungry rainbows. My two hiking buddies took a nap on some rocks and talked to a few fellow hikers. Yosemite man was an interesting character. He had been on the trail for 18 days. This was his last night and he decided to stay and sleep at the lake before going down the next day… I would have certainly walked the 1 ½ hours down the trail and have a burger in town.

A few notables for the acclimation hike was a marmot sighting. I have never seen one so it was a nice surprise to see these big, fat looking golden colored squirrels. He was sitting on a rock and looked very content. At the lake, there was a group of kids supervised by 2 moms. The kids where very loud and not very considerate for other hikers and campers. I commend the moms for making the hike but they needed to restrain the kids from their loud, almost yelling conversations. A small, very quite applause was barely discernable when they finally left.

We left around 5:00 pm and arrived back in town around 7:00. Had a pizza, a few beers and went to sleep eagerly anticipating the 3:45 am wake up call. My two buddies where up before the wake up call and waiting in the lobby for me to show up. It is usually the other way around. After a cup of coffee and a handful of trail mix at the hotel we started. We where very eager and could not stop talking about the days events. We arrived at the trail head just before 4:20 and had trouble finding a place to park. All the spots were taken but we did find one spot left in the overflow parking. We noticed most of the cars had not moved since the day before. We then thought of Yosemite Man and he had been there for 18 days. We took a few required pictures and headed up the trail with our headlamps.

The section to Lone Pine lake is a series of switchbacks and a very well maintained trail. We passed a few water crossings and arrived at Lone Pine lake around 6:30 am. We took the headlights off around 6:00 am or so and happy to have the little light available. The trail flattened out for a bit before ascending a small ridge that led to a gorgeous meadow at outpost camp. The trail in this area was flat, fast and nice to hike. We past outpost camp and headed up a small ridge the lead up to Mirror Lake. Another gorgeous alpine lake filled with fish.

We had about 12 hikers pass us from the start until this point. I was expecting about a 100 people on the trail based on the number of permits issued. I also expected to see all 100 starting around the same time we did. Where were all the other hikers? The weather at 7:30 this morning was in the 50’s with a light breeze. There where clouds already forming at the peaks and looking a bit ominous. The hike up to this point was very pretty as we passed pines and low shrubs on a well maintained dirt trail. We passed the last of the trees on our hike out of Mirror Lake and started hiking on mostly rock of all sorts and sizes. In some spots, it is more like climbing stairs. The trail was blasted out of the rocks in several places as it climbed up the valley to trail camp. This was the first time we started loosing breath and taking a few more breaks. We where passed by a few more hikers. We stopped and talked to a few. There were many people from out of state and a few from other countries. Most of the hikers where couples in their late 20’s or 30’s. There where several groups of mountain men ( guys that could stay out in the wilderness and build a log cabin with just their hands ).

The trail flattened thankfully for a bit just as it reached trail camp at 12k feet at 9:00 or so. We stopped for a bit, took a few pictures and downed another handful of trail mix. We were all in good spirits but starting to feel the altitude. We had shortness of breath and our steps a little shorter. Our moment of truth was upon us. This was the start of the dreaded 97 switchbacks up the side of a mountain. This is a grueling climb up to 13,600 where many hikers fall victim to altitude, too high expectations and in experience. We had no experience at this altitude but we did have our training to fall back on.

Marion Mountain Trail to San Jacinto Peak

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-08-24T22:46:47Z

This is a trip description for the trail Marion Mountain Trail to the San Jacinto Peak. We left a little early for the trail head is about 2 hours from where I live ( in south Orange County ). There is a bit of extra time to go into the town of Idllywild and fill out a permit. See the last part of this post for more info.

The trail head is well marked. Make sure to park at the trail head and not the Marion Mountain campground. It is just a few minutes more up the road. We started off at 7:45 am with high spirits and a much too fast pace. This first section of the trail is hiking through a mix of oak trees and pines. After about 20 minutes of hiking, the oak trees area all gone and only the pine trees remain. During this part of the hike, the trail follows a constant grade with several areas where you need to step up over rocks and logs. It feels a lot like climbing stairs. The scenery was great. The sun filtered down trough the trees and we had a cool climb to the Deer Spring trail junction.

This was a very nice part of the climb. I like hiking the north and west approaches as there sun is low and not so hot. This is much better than hiking Baldy for example where the sun beats down on you relentlessly. One interesting observation for the lower part of this hike. There was a lot of logging activity. It appeared that the forest was being thinned and all the dead trees and underbrush was being removed. We could not figure out how the trees where being removed as there where no roads, mule tracks, tractor tracks etc. We ran into a few workers ( hard hats and vests ) that informed us that they where using a helicopter to transport the trees and brush to a staging area for eventually trucking out.

Near the 1.5 mile marker was an exception lookout over toward fuller ridge. It made for a very nice place to stop and snack. We continued up the trail and passed a few small streams with wetland plants around. I nice change from the woods. The trail keeps going up and up. Not as steep as other trails but up none-the-less.

After hiking for what seemed like a long time, we finally made it to the Deer Springs junction. We then passed Seven pines trail and 20 minutes later the fuller ridge trail. We started traversing a slope up a steep ridge that was covered with low shrubs. It turned out that the trail went through the shrubs. The reason I mention this is the shrubs need a bit of trimming for they almost cover the trail. They are also sharp. It resulted in many scratches on my exposed legs. I was envious of those that wore long pants through this area.

From here, we ascended over the ridge that lead into a small, flat area I believe is little round valley. There was a nice meadow area near the center with a very small stream passing through the middle. It looked like a spring fed stream. There is a camp ground here with not one… but two outhouses. Maybe one for the guys and one for the girls, I did not stop to check. The area was flat and is a nice resting stop before venturing to the summit about 1.5 miles further.

The trail from this point is a bit more exposed than the lower sections. There are still more trees than the Baldy trails however. We also started to pass a lot bigger, round rocks. The rocks become more and more present as the trail climbs to the pass. The pass is where the trail crests the ridge and starts down the south and east part of the mountain. By the way, we are still on the Deer Springs trail. Just a few minutes past this crest, we encounter an old hut that the Sierra club made way back when. We slowly opened the door and found that people were sleeping over. I wonder if they take reservations as the ski hut on the Baldy trail does. The trail to the peak from this point is no longer a trail. It is a series of big rocks. Each hiker or climber at this point, gets to decide the best way to the top. It is probably about a 50 yard boulder hop to the top. Say that 10 times fast. Just as long as you know that there is no trail, just rocks you will do fine. It took my friends and me about 8 minutes to figure this out after watching people make their way up and down from the peak.

The peak offers spectacular 360 degree views. This is what a peak should look like. The peak marker is set near the highest boulder and secured by a bunch of smaller rocks. There is room for just a few people at the very top. We stayed for about 40 minutes or so talking and see how brave the squirrels where. We stared talking to Whitney man ( he has climbed up Whitney 14 times ) and asked him how Whitney compares to this. He indicated that if we could do this one ( from Marion, not the Tram ) we should be ok.

We stared hiking down around 1:00 pm or so and made it back down the trail head around 5:00 pm. Whitney man passed us ( after taking a nap at the top ) around 3:00. It took us nearly 4 hours to get back down. It took almost 5 going up. According to the maps, this was maybe an eleven mile hike. We hiked up and down Bear Canyon in the same time. I have a hard time believing this is only 11 or so miles. This was however one of my more enjoyable trips. I highly recommend it.

Next up for us: Mount Whitney on Sept 4, 2009.

Trail head info:

There are 4 basic trails (yes, there are more…. Seven Pines etc.) that will take the would-be hiker to the top of San Jacinto from trail heads near and in Idllywild. All require a permit but only one requires you to contact the ranger station in advance. That is the Devils Slide Trail. You need the rangers to issue you a permit for this one.

Note that all trails will eventually lead to the Deer Springs trail. It is confusing at first but the Deer Springs Trail is the only trail that passes by the Peak. Marion, Deer Springs ( trail head ) and Fuller Ridge all connect to the Deer Springs trail on the west side of the mountain and continue past the peak and down the south side of the mountain. The Devil’s Slide trail joins the Deer Springs trail on the south side of the mountain and hike North West. Hmmm. Try to get a map first.

Bear Canyon trail to Mount Baldy

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-07-27T21:35:54Z

Bear Canyon Trail to Mount Baldy –

This article details a hike up Bear Canyon trail to the top of Mount Baldy and back down. This trail is probably one of the more difficult trails in the San Gabriel Mountains. The only other comparable trail ( that I have been on ) is the Vivian Creek trail to the top of Gorgonio.

The trail started at the mount Baldy visitor’s center. I parked on the street. The reason I mention this is when we came back down, the gate to the visitor center parking was locked and a car was inside with no way to get out. The trail follows a paved road along a small stream through a densely forested area were little or not sun sees the ground. We passed a series of house and cottages in various stages of their live span. Some of the houses where build in the cliffs and required a pulley system to bring items, like groceries, to and from.

The trail crossed the stream and began the never ending upwards journey. The trail follows the stream for the most part up until Bear flats. This is a moderate climb through wooded area. There is a water pipe that follows, and is part of the trail at places, to a small, green water tank. The trail leads to a small meadow that is covered with ferns and other plants associated with water. This area was recently burned ( 2-4 years? ) and is in stark contrast to the wooded trail just before.

We crossed over the creek and quickly began the second most difficult part of the hike. There trail ascends up a slope to the “Ridge”. There are many switchbacks that take the unwary hiker to the top. The air during this part of the hike seemed much more humid and hot making this section of the trail a real bear. I think the increased humidity and temp are due to the water source directly below and the exposed trail. The trail gets really steep in some places.

We finally made it to the ridge and quickly sat down indicating we would new get up again. The trail continued up the ridge line through pine covered areas. This provided much better scenery than the switchbacks from hell. It also provided more shady spots to stop and rest. The ridge trail only lasted a few hundred yards until the really steep trail started. The trail goes straight up the ridge but has sections of loose gravel and dirt. Several times I was using both hands just to get up. There are plenty of trees along with scrubs of many varieties to break up the difficult climb. After many, many rest breaks, we finally made it to the top of this “ridge”.

This next section of the trail is much more flat than the prior section. This section has fewer trees than the prior section but has outstanding views of the nearby peaks and valleys. The trail meanders its way through scree fields along sometimes steep hillsides. There are fewer trees in this region and the ones that are there have certainly earned the right to be there. A hiker can just imagine the strength of the winds that must come through this region. The trail finds its way to the top of Baldy 1.5 miles or so away. I was hoping for some sort of applause when I reached the summit from the other hikers but none seemed to notice that I had arrived from the “hard way”.

The hike back down was treacherous in places because of the steepness, loose rock and dirt. This was true particularly in the switchbacks and the path down the middle steep area.

We had a great sighting of 3 big horn sheep very near the top of Baldy on the way down. There where three big rams watching us watch them. There were much fewer hikers on this trail. We only had one hiker pass us up, we called him superman. We later discovered that he was hiking with his girlfriend that he left behind on the trail for he wanted to “get his training in”. He is not so super after all. He should not have left her on the trail alone. Not a very smart move I think.

We had 4 people pass us going down the trail while we were still going up and two people pass us on the way down. One was superman, and the other was some crazy German man riding a mountain bike down. Yes, a bike down that trail…We say two dogs on the summit along with 30 other people.

In comparison, there was about 30 or so hikers on the ski hut trail to the top of baldy. Our next hike in a few weeks will be up to San Jacinto leaving from one of the Idlewild trails.

Mount Baldy hike via ski hut trail returning to baldy notch

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-06-29T17:47:39Z

Mount Baldy hike June 28, 2009

There are four trails leading up to Mount Baldy. They are generally known as Bear Flats, Baldy Bowl ( Ski Hut ), Devels Backbone the Pine Mountain/Dawsons Peak trail. We took the Baldy Bowl trail for this trip. We arrived at the trailhead located on the north end of Maker Flats campground. There where about 30 cars parked here at 7:30. This is a good indication of the popularity of this trail and hike.

We started out walking up the paved road and at the first turn had our first glimpse of the top of Baldy. At this point the road became a dirt road that switched back across the slope and continued up to the Baldy notch area. We continued on the road for another 3/10 of a mile according to all the trail descriptions. We came upon this little trail connecting to the trail and heading almost straight up the side of the ridge. We did not think this was it but fortunately a group of hikers corrected us and indicated it indeed was the trail. This is very easy to miss as all the trail descriptions had indicated.

We started the ascent up the trail and quickly where hiking up a trail the was always going up. No flat spots anywhere. The trail is on the north/west side of the ridge that kept us in the shade. This was nice in relation to the exposed ridges farther up. There was a bit of water running and we did see parts of san Antonio falls on the lower part of the trail. There were plenty of pines and bushes along the trail to make for pretty scenery. The trail kept going up and up.

We finally reached the Sierra Club ski hut at 10:00 am or so. This was a nice resting spot before heading up the rock field and the exposed ridges leading to the summit. This hut/shack can be rented for about 25 per day. It has some solar power and an outhouse. There where a group of people enjoying the views while sitting in the chairs outside the cabin.

We left the ski hut and crossed the bolder field. This boulder field is created from the rocks falling of the summit of Baldy and stopping some 2000 feet below in this flatter area. The trail is a bit tricky to follow and we had to hop a few larger boulders. The trail is easy to find at the base of the ridge directly across. Climbing up this ridge was hard and slow. The trail was loose dirt in spots and easy for a hiker to slip. The trees started thinning out and turning to low scrub.

Once on the ridge, we had a few hundred feet of flat that quickly turned steep again. This was the first place we could see the west ridge where the bear flat trail is. There where about 20-30 people we say on the trail that we passed or passed us. We are also amazed that a few of the hikers where hiking in low cut tennis shoes, low socks and just a bottle or two of water. I am not sure how they made it bet we did see some of these hikers at the top. This next section leading from this ridge after leaving ski hut to the top is the toughest. The trail gets steep in places, little shade to rest and a seemingly never ending trail. We started to take much more frequent rests until we finally reached the summit around noon.

There where about 20-25 people having lunch on the summit. We took the necessary pictures and sat down for about 15 minutes. The top of baldy has several crescent shaped rock shelters about 2 feet high. They are used by overnight campers to shield the wind. We finished lunch and started down devils backbone trail to the east. The trail is loose rock and steep in parts. I would not want to up this trail. This is a very popular trail in that hikers can take the ski lift to the top of baldy notch and hike the 4 miles to the top of baldy. Little to these hikers know that it is not an easy trail. The trail follows the ridge line and gets steep and tricky in parts. The part near the notch follows the ridgeline and hikers can see 1000-2000 feet drops on either side without moving very much.

We did see plenty of hikers wearing jeans, long shirts and carrying only one or two bottles of water. I am pretty sure many of them did not make it all the way.

While coming down through the ski lift area ( chair 4 ) we missed the service road that turns right and leads to the ski lodge. We scrambled down a short ridge and found the service road again. A hiker can also follow the out of bounds markers on the top of the ridge and arrive at the same place. We took the service road back to manker flats and arrived back at the car around 3 or so. It was a pretty long walk down the service road.

Next on our list is the bear flats trail. It is about 14 miles round trip, 6000 foot elevation gain and not for the faint of heart. This trail is about 3800 elevation gain. 4 miles from manker to the summit, Another 4 or so to baldy notch and way to many down the service road ( maybe 3 or 4 ).

Mount Baden-Powell hike in the San Gabriel Mountains

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-06-29T15:39:57Z

Mount Baden-Powell hike in the San Gabriel Mountains June 7, 2009

My hiking buddies and I went on a hike up to Baden-Powell and over to Mount Hawkins. This was our fourth training trip in preparation for our Whitney hike in early September. We started out from the trail head at Vincent gap at about 7:30 am or so. The weather was cooler but the sun was out. There where about 10 cars in the parking lot when we left. The first four miles of the trail is uphill. I believe the trail ascends about 2800 feet or so. There are many switchbacks of the north east side of the mountain.

This first part did not seem to long for some reason. It certainly did not seem like the 4 miles indicated. The trail climbs in and out of pines and exposed sections. The trail is well marked but care must be taken as to not miss a switchback. There were many times I needed to remind Jim or George they missed a switchback. The trail is mostly uphill but there where a few flat sections.

The Trail splits near the top just before the peak of Baden-Powell. The trail going to the right is PCT. This is also the trail leading up to the peak from the parking lot. There is a famous tree at this junction as well that makes a great photo spot. Looking over the cliff to the east is a least a thousand if not two thousand foot, very steep drop off. We took the trail ( left trail from PCT junction ) leading to the top of the hill. It was just another 200 feet or so. There is a nice monument at the top. There are a few scattered trees near the crest but pretty bare.

We left down the north or north west side of the crest. We scrambled down some loose rock and re joined the PCT trail heading along the ridge top. We passed Mt Burnham on the way to Throop Peak. The trail in this section mostly follows the ridge line either on the north or south side. The trail is good and passes through wooded areas and more exposed areas. This I think was one of the prettier sections of the hike. The trail passes below Throop peak on the south side so all you peak baggers will need to scramble up a few hundred feet to actually reach the top. It looked like scree most of the way. Lots of fire damaged trees on this section.

We made our way over to mount Hawkins from Throop. There is a small side trail leading to this peak that we took. Really nice views from this peak. The trail in some sections was not marked or the marking was not readable. One note is that the PCT trail is marked with white metal posts about 2 feet high. If you see these, you are on the right trail. There is a trail that splits off from this and heads to Dawson saddle I believe. You want to stay to the left.

The hike on the way back was a bit harder. My friend Jim indicated that it feels more like a let down after reaching the highest point ( Baden-Powell), descending a few hundred feet, walking 4 miles to Hawkins and having to climb back up it again. He much prefers to climb to a peak and then continue downhill back to the start.

We met a few interesting groups of hikers on this trip. We met a group of 4 women all wearing light blue fleece jackets and light blue wide brimmed hats. They must have belonged to a hiking club. We also ran into many hikers with their dogs. We probably saw 10 dogs at or near the top of Baden-Powell. We returned to the parking lot at about 4:00 pm or so after hiking 16 miles round trip. There where about 60 cars in the parking lot. Our next hike in a few weeks should be Baldy.

Mount Whitney training hikes in so cal

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-04-14T17:56:02Z

Here is a list of the training hikes we are planning for our trip to Mount Whitney. This training schedule starts from short, lower hikes and progressively gets longer and higher. The final training hike is 22 miles with 4000 elevation gain and gets to 11,500 feet. Not as much as Whitney but hopefully enough for us. The schedule is about 2 hikes a month leading up to the Whitney hike with individual training on the weekdays and weekends.

April – Santiago peak ( done ). see post

April – Timber Mountain ( done ) see post.

May 15 or 16 Modjeska Peak, Mt Wilson or Iron Mountain. The other peaks of interest, Cucamonga, Ontario still have too much snow to find the trail at higher elevations.

June 6 or 7 Baden Powell (near Wrightwood).

June 27 or 28 Mt Baldy – There is an East approach (Devils Backbone trail) and a South approach (ski hut trail) that both begin and end at the same trail head. So we could do one way up and one way down or make this two different hikes. The Devils Backbone is 13.5 miles with a 3800 elevation gain to the 10,000 foot summit. The ski hut trail is a shorter hike at 8.4 miles with a 3900 elevation gain..obviously a steeper climb

July 18 (Sat) Bear Flats hike up to Mt Baldy (we might want to switch this date with San Jacinto )..this is one of the toughest hikes in southern CA..my work buddy’s dad trained on it as prep for Mt McKinley, and he calls it a real ball buster, bar none! 12 mile hike with a 6000 foot elevation gain!

July 25 or 26 San Jacinto

Aug 9 (Sun) San Gorgonio (Vivian Creek Trail) another all day, ball buster hike
Note…this is the weekend of United Cup, but the timing is ideal as we need to hike this weekend, take a week off then hike Aug 22-23, take a week off and head to Whitney

Aug 22 or 23 San Gorgonio (Fish Creek Trail)

Sept 4 MT Whitney

Middle Fork Trail to Timber Mountain

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-04-07T16:11:39Z

This is a summary of a hike a friend and I did on April 5, 2009. We started at Middle Fork trail head in the Lytle Creek recreation area. The intent was to climb up to Mount Cucamonga and back. The trip takes the Middle Fork Trail to Ice house notch - 7600 ft. ( 5.7 miles one way ). Then from there, take the Mount Cucamonga trail to the peak ( 8900 ft ) and back ( 2.9 one way).

The trail head was much higher than expected. I knew it was 3980 feet but it did not seem that high. There are two trail that leave the trail head. The high trail cuts across through the hill on the right hand side while the lower trail is located on the bottom of the riverbed. Both trails offer different views and perspectives. In the early morning the high trail was warmer. This was nice in the chilly mornings. I can see this would be very warm trail in the summer and the lower trail would be the preferred route. The lower trail offers close views of the river bed and trees. It is a typical river bed with large rocks, boulders, a few trees and meadows. The water was running, cold and very clear.

The trails meet a few miles up so it does not make too much difference which one to take. We came to the first campsite and we lost the trail. After a little searching, we found the trail again. The trail grew much steeper in this section. We could here the waterfalls down in the bottom of the gorge. The trail also moved along some pretty wide debris/scree fields of various size of rocks. One part was the trail was gone and we had to scramble through the debris field. A little unnerving when you look down and it falls of into the bottom that you cannot see. We went through several types of climates zones. Tall forests, I think they where cedar although they looked like redwoods, open manzanita scrubs, mature oak groves.

The trail was narrow in many places but passable. We arrived at the second camp and again lost the trail. After a short search, we found it again near the back. This campsite, and the first where situated under a large canopy of trees providing cool shade all day long. After leaving the second camp, we started the long climb up to Ice House notch. There where more an more patches of snow on the ground but still easy to find the trail. The most interesting feature was a rock that had broken off way above, rolled down a long and steep snow covered slope, slammed into the snow, bounced up and slid a ways down the snow field.

About half way up, the snow started covering the trail and we had to scramble up to the top. Ice house notch is 7600 feet. It was very windy and cold at the notch. We had to put the sweaters on. As you can see from the pictures, there as still lots of snow on the south side of the ridges. 5.7 miles from Middle Fork Trail head. Our initial ideas was to climb mount Cucamonga. The trail was completely covered with snow so the only trail left to go was to Timber mountain. We went to the top of Timber Mountain ( 8300 ) and had lunch 0.9 miles from Ice House Notch. I had part of Jim's turkey sandwich and tasted great. I usually only eat cliff bars and things like that but just a few bites of the sandwich was a treat. We thought about continuing over to Telegraph peak ( 8900 ) but again, the trail was covered with snow.

We started back down and reached the car after 2.5 hours. 4.5 hours up.

Rio Grande, New Mexico

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-04-02T02:41:00Z

Rio Rancho, New Mexico has been called the “city of vision.” Its mile-high elevation, climate, and proximity to Albuquerque and Santa Fe has made it not just a top vacation spot in New Mexico, but also a fast-growing city. Started in the 1960s on 55,000 acres of land just outside of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho now boasts a year-round population of 75,000, making it the most rapidly growing city in New Mexico.
Lying in the beautiful Sandia Mountains, Rio Rancho offers a host of activities of its own for visitors. Mountain biking in the Sandia Mountains is a popular recreation. Hikers can marvel at the dormant volcanoes. Those who prefer seeing the sights on horseback can saunter along the Rio Grande river. The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway in nearby Albuquerque takes visitors to the highest peak in the Sandia Mountains, at 10,350 feet.
One can also take a hot air balloon ride to view the spectacular sights. The Rio Rancho Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a list of nine companies with FAA-certified pilots in the area who can take interested visitors on an adventure up, up, and away. Most trips occur at sunrise or sunset, for two to three hours. More information can be obtained by calling (888) 746-7262. Albuquerque also hosts its annual Balloon Festival each October, with over 700 hot air balloons taking flight during the first week of the month.
Fourteen golf courses can be found in the Rio Rancho/Albuquerque area. Some of the most popular include the Sandia Golf Club (http://www.sandiagolf.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=282&page=5745),Desert Greens Golf Course (http://www.desertgreensgolf.com), and the Santa Ana Golf Club (http://www.mynewmexicogolf.com/golf/proto/mynewmexicogolf/).
Affordable, comfortable lodging is available in Rio Rancho. At the Inn at Rio Rancho (http://riorancho-inn.com) , rooms range from $69 to $99 per night. The Sandia Resort & Casino (http://www.sandiacasino.com) charges approximately $180 per night. Other local hotels include Extended Stay America Rio Rancho on American Rd. (http://www.extendedstayhotels.com) at about $55 per night; Comfort Inn Rio Rancho on High Resort Blvd (http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-rio_rancho-new_mexico-NM144?amp;promo=gglocal) for about $67 per night, and Days Inn Rio Rancho on Crestview Drive SE (http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=05917&brandInfo=DI) for about $54 per night.
There is a myriad of dining choices in Rio Rancho for travelers as well. Joe''s Pasta House at 3201 Southern Blvd SE (505- 892-3333) offers excellent Italian food and family-style dining at mid to upscale prices. O''Hare''s Grill & Pub at 4100 Southern Blvd SE (505-896-0123) serves good, pub style food at reasonable prices. Of course, many Mexican restaurants can be found in Rio Rancho. One of the most highly recommended is Cazuela''s Mexican Grill, at 1600 Sara Rd.(505-994-9364). Diners there particularly recommend the shrimp and fish tacos, with an average entree price of $20.
If you''re looking for clean air, a temperate climate, breathtaking views, and plenty of outdoor activities, Rio Rancho is the destination for you.

North East, Maryland

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-03-23T02:42:00Z

The small town of North East, Maryland often gets mistakenly thought of as just the northeastern part of the state. Hence, its motto: “Not Just a Direction – It''s a Destination.” North East, Maryland is at the head of the Northeast River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. It is situated 50 miles from Baltimore and 50 miles from Philadelphia. The town itself has a year-round population of just 2700. However, this sleepy town plays host to thousands of visitors each summer, as they flock to North East to partake in boating and other water sports and to enjoy the many outdoor attractions to be found.
In addition to being a boater''s paradise, North East is home to some interesting parks. Elk Neck State Park, which is 2188 acres, contains beaches, marshlands and woods for visitors to explore. It lies at the peninsula formed by the North East River and Elk River, and hikers can take the trail to Turkey Point Lighthouse. Within the town limits is another park, North East Community Park, which also lies along the water and provides another area for many to launch boats.
For those who love to golf, the Chesapeake Bay Golf Club (410-287-0200 http://www.chesapeakegolf.com) will satisfy that need. Horse lovers can ride horses at Fairwinds Stables (http://www.fairwindsstables.com, 410-658-8187).
Most people come to North East for boating and water sports. McDaniel Yacht Basin (http://www.mcdanielyacht.com/) (410-287-8121) provides a place to anchor that boat and to store it in the off-season. There are also a plethora of boat dealers in the area, should you be in need of a boat, including Jackson Marine Sales (410-287-9400).
If shopping is your ideal vacation, the Main Street of North East will delight you, as Main Street is peppered with unique antique, art, curio shops and good restaurants. Some of the more notable shops along Main Street which should be checked out include Main St. Books, Blue Iris Salon & Spa, Pooches & Purrs, England’s Colony on the Bay, and Day Basket Factory. Visitors in late September can participate in the town’s Yesterdays Historical Festival, occurring along Main St., which also coincides with its Annual Auction.
You have your pick of lodging in the North East area, including hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts. Some of the better hotels include the Best Western (410-287-5450 http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=21048) which averages $96 to $117 per night; or Comfort Inn (410-287-7100 http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-north_east-maryland-MD191), charging $89 to 189 per night. Both of these hotels are convenient to travelers, located just off Interstate 95.
There are many Bed and Breakfasts from which to choose as well. These include Fairwinds Farm (http://www.fairwindsstables.com) 410-658-8187), charging $95 per night; and the waterfront North Bay Bed & Breakfast
http://northbayinc.com/BedAndBreakfast/index.shtml
410-287-5948), which charges between $65 and $125 per night. (All rates quoted are for double occupancy).
When you’re in Maryland, you must try Maryland Blue Crab. A place that specializes in that dish is Woody''s Crab House (410-287-3541 http://woodyscrabhouse.com), located on Main Street. Woody’s is a family restaurant which has a kids menu and moderate to high prices. If you’re looking for Italian family dining, Pier One, on Main St. & Cecil Ave. (410-287-6599) is your best bet. This local favorite also features a kids menu with reasonable prices.
If you visit North East, Maryland, you’ll learn that it’s not just a direction – it’s a destination!

The Poconos

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-03-21T02:43:00Z

The Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania has been called the Honeymoon Capital of the World. While it is a great place for lovers, there is much more to do in the Poconos than just honeymoon.
Vacationers have been enjoying the 2400 square miles of mountains, lakes and rivers that make up the Pocono Mountains region since the 1800s. The Poconos offer something for everyone all year long. Popular outdoor recreation activities include skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, hiking, fishing, boating, water parks, and family play parks.
Winter is still the main vacation season in the Pocono Mountains, with winter sports dominating the region. Skiing and other snowsports are the favorite pastime of vacationers during the winter months. Activities that are popular during the other three seasons include hiking, bicycling, canoeing, whitewater rafting, and golfing at the 35 area golf courses.
One of the more notable sites to see is Bushkill Falls (http://www.visitbushkillfalls.com). Located off Rt. 209 in Bushkill, PA, and described as the “Niagara of Pennsylvania,” the falls is actually a series of eight waterfalls existing within the Pocono Mountains.
The Poconos has its share of shops from which to choose for those interested in shopping, including antique shops, flea markets, farm markets, craft shops, specialty shops, factory outlets, and gift shops. The Crossings Premium Outlet (http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=59),located in Tannersville, PA on Rt. 611, features over 100 designer and name brand outlet stores, including Adidas, Eddie Bauer, and Timberland, to name a few. If antiques are your bag, you might want to visit Pocono Peddler''s Village antique mall on Rt. 611 in Tannersville. This antique mall spans three buildings in which 90 vendors sell their wares.
Although the Poconos are noted for being a honeymoon destination, family lodging also exists. One of the top-rated family lodges is the Skytop Lodge in Skytop, PA (http://www.poconosbest.com/resortskytop.htm). This 5500 acre resort features nature programs, indoor swimming, hayrides, golf, fishing, and tennis. Three meals a day are included in the price, which averages $399 per night during the winter season.
If you are looking for a couples'' only resort for a lovers'' getaway or perhaps even a honeymoon, the most famous one in the Poconos is Caesars Cove Haven in Lakeville, PA (http://www.poconosbest.com/resortcovehaven.htm). This is the resort housing the famous heart-shaped tubs, which also offers guests champagne, breakfast in bed, and other amenities suited to couples only. Rates range from $225 to $475 per night, depending on the date and the package chosen.
Dining choices abound in the Poconos. One of the most favorably reviewed restaurants is The Meadowbrook Inn (http://www.meadowbrookinn.net/rest.html), located on Cherry Lane Rd. in Tannersville. Its country inn elegance makes it a popular spot. It is open for dinner only Wednesday through Sunday. Entrees range in price from $24 to $40.
Another favorite of both tourists and locals is The Stone Bar (http://www.stonebar.com), located on Rt. 209 in Snydersville, PA. Open just for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, entree prices average from $20 to $40.
If you''re looking for a place that serves lunch, and features a children''s menu, Alaska Pete''s (http://www.alsakapetes.com) on Rt. 209 in Marshalls Creek, PA is a good choice. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week from 11 am until close, their lunch prices average from $8-$10 and dinner entrees average about $20.
Mollie''s (http://www.molliesrestaurant.net) , located on Main St. in Stroudsburg, PA, is famous for its good, homestyle food. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week at reasonable prices.
For your next vacation, why not head to the Pocono Mountains, where there''s always something to do, no matter what time of year?

Tortola, Island Paradise

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-03-20T02:44:00Z

If you''re looking for a quiet Caribbean getaway, with plenty of sand and surf, Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, is the place for you. With a population of 60,000, this island is just 10 miles long and 3 miles wide. With a name meaning the Turtle Dove of the Caribbean, Tortola is considered to be a laid-back, easygoing destination for those who want to get away from it all for a while.

Tortola boasts the highest elevation in all of the British Virgin Islands. Mount Sage, at 1716 feet high, provides a vantage point for panoramic views of the sea and the islands. It was from this point that Columbus viewed the islands and named them the Virgin Islands after after St Ursula''s martyred 10,000 virgins.

Tortola offers the vacationer many water sports and activities from which to choose. These include sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, fishing, boat charter trips, and much more. One of the most unique offerings is Dolphin Discovery ( 866-393-5158) , in which tourists go out on a boat with a trained professional and search for gentle, graceful dolphins in the sea.

Other sights that are not to be missed on this small island include the Botanic Gardens, which encompass four acres; and the Fort Recovery Tower, built around an original 17th century British fort, one of the last standing, oldest, completely intact forts in the Caribbean. Of course, there is always shopping as well. Tortola''s shops offer the normal clothing, jewelry, and sundries, but one can also find unique spice shops, art galleries, and stores sellling herbs and natural medicinal alternatives.

Accommodations on Tortola range from private and secluded to larger, busier hotels. Villas are quite popular, as they are small homes that can be rented by the week or sometimes per night with a minimum stay. The Sugar Plum villas http://www.purplepineapple.com/ offer a two bedroom house on the sea, and sleeps four. It boasts panoramic sea views, and is just three minutes from the beach. These villas rent for $1950 to $3500 per week. The family-friendly Fort Recovery Beachfront Villas http://www.fortrecovery.com/ are a bit more reasonable, from $150 to $200 per night.

The Sugar Mill Hotel http://www.sugarmillhotel.com/ offers 23 rooms, ranging from suites to villas. It sits on a small beach with a natural reef, rand rooms rent from $250 to $700 per night. A restaurant serving breakfast and lunch also exists at the Sugar Mill.

Tourists in Tortola also have many restaurants from which to choose. One popular dining spot is Sebastians On The Beach, located on Little Apple Bay http://www.sebastiansbvi.com/ . Sebastians serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is also famous for its own Sebastians Rum. Sebastians also has a 26 room hotel ranging from $105 to $300 per night.

One of the island''s fine dining choices, The Last Resort, on Trellis Bay (284-495-2520) is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner for two. The Last Resort offers dinner only, and is a bit more expensive, but worth it for a special evening.

Manchebo Beach, Aruba

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-03-16T02:44:00Z

For a delightful place to stay while visiting Aruba, check out tropical Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa, the largest resort in Aruba that can boast being located right on the beach. Opt for their all-inclusive package and get three meals a day (including restaurant and bar service charges) plus unlimited premium beverages along with your room.

The Manchebo Beach Resort offers two types of rooms, the Garden View and the Ocean-Beach View. Each room features its own private patio or balcony to create an unforgettable vacation. Free towels and lounges for use while enjoying the white sand beach are provided as well as 45 beach shade huts for protection from the tropical sun. For the more adventuresome types, the Alhambra Casino is just a 3-minute walk from the resort. See what this resort has to offer at www.manchebo.com.

Eating is a pleasure as well with three memorable restaurants to choose from. For evening dining, try the French Steakhouse which features their Churrasco Steak, a 12-ounce lean tenderloin from Argentina, marinated in red wine, virgin olive oil and fresh herbs and then grilled. Their menu is viewable at www.aruba-manchebo.com/steakhouse/index.shtml.

If Italian cuisine is your preference, try Giorgio''s Ristorante Italiano on the poolside garden terrace. For lighter fare and happy hour, there''s the Pega Pega Cafe and Beach Bar which offers specialty salads and sandwiches.

While the Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa also offers a fresh-water pool, fitness center and full-service spa, a bit of sightseeing around Aruba is also a great way to spend some vacation time.

The Natural Bridge, one of Aruba''s most popular tourist attractions, was cut from the coral limestone by years of pounding surf. 23 feet above sea level with a 100-foot span, it was one of the largest natural bridges in the world before its collapse on September 2, 2005.

The Natural Pool known as Cura di Tortuga is surrounded by Aruba''s most rugged terrain. Most visitors go here to participate in diving from the rocky cliffs surrounding the pool.

Shoppers will love Aruba''s capital city, Oranjestad. Purchase or just browse the produce and fresh fish sold daily from boats along the wharf or stroll through the downtown shops. Enjoy the distinctive Dutch colonial architecture in all its pastel beauty while in Oranjestad.

For those who love caves, there are Aruba''s Quadiriki Caves, located high in the limestone cliff walls. The first two chambers offer Arawak petroglyphs (drawings), dripping stones, bat guano and graffiti. They''re both damp and dark so be sure to take a high-intensity flashlight when visiting the caves.

With an average year-round temperature of 82 degrees, Aruba is a tropical vacation paradise. The island only covers 70 square miles but its beauty is breathtaking and it offers some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Plan now to treat yourself to a few days in paradise.

Anguilla, a relaxing resort

nospam@example.com (Kasey Eunice) — 2009-03-15T02:45:00Z

For a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation where you can lounge on almost-empty beautiful white sand beaches, try Anguilla. With only 35 square miles, Anguilla (which means eel in Spanish) offers 70 restaurants and 33 beaches. A 20-minute ferry ride from St. Martin''s, its average year-round temperature is a balmy 80 degrees. With soil too poor for most crops, Anguilla became known for its salt mines. Now, however, tourism is their main livelihood.

Many of Anguilla''s beaches offer barbecue shacks, as well as water that''s perfect for snorkeling, scuba diving and windsurfing. Sailing, their national sport, and deep-sea fishing are also available. For something a bit more adventuresome, consider swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Discovery at Isla Mujeres. They offer several dolphin encounters including one for $69USD where a dolphin offers a kiss and hug, a song and a handshake. This all takes place in shallower water. For $199USD, encounter and feed dolphins, manatees and sea lions at Discovery Plus. Visit www.dolphindiscovery.com/cancun-islamujeres/isla-mujeres-activities.asp for information on these and more encounters.

For dining at a reasonable price, try the English Rose (www.fodors.com/world/caribbean/anguilla/review-153134.html) located on Main Street in The Valley. They offer such local foods as beer-battered shrimp, Caesar salad with jerk chicken, baked chicken and snapper creole and even the locals eat there. Their phone number is 264-497-5353 but they''re closed on Sundays.

When visiting Shoal Bay East in Anguilla, stop by the Madeariman Reef Bar and Restaurant (phone 264-497-5750) for a relaxing afternoon sunning and swimming on their beach. Lunch diners get complimentary use of a beach umbrella and beach chairs all afternoon. Their cuisine is French and includes soups, salads and grilled items. Plus Madeariman is right next door to Uncle Ernie''s BBQ for easy bar-hopping!

For those who enjoy staying at unique spots, take a look at the Arawak Beach Inn. They are located at Island Harbour and have 13 rooms and 4 suites. Arawak Beach Inn is a colorful 2-story villa with their own private beach just a five-minute walk away. They offer Oceanfront rooms on the ocean level, each with their own terrace, refrigerator, and ceiling fan. While most don''t have TV''s and aren''t air conditioned, local island breezes are sufficient to keep guests comfortable. Deluxe rooms are also available which offer slightly better accommodations for a slightly higher price. Wifi is offered in the common areas. See what they offer at www.arawakbeach.com or call 264-497-4888 for information or 877-427-2925 for reservations.

While not a shopping or sightseeing mecca, Anguilla is the perfect spot for a few days of relaxation and rejuvenation from a normally hectic lifestyle.