Posts Tagged ‘Hike’

Mishe Mokwa Trail to Sandstone Peak

Saturday, July 9th, 2011

Sarah, Kelvin, and I headed north up PCH past Malibu to hike to Sandstone Peak today.  This gorgeous hike was well worth the drive.  The hike gives you unexpected views of southern California’s gorgeous wilderness.

Hike Basics

Miles: 6 miles, loop

Elevation Gain: 1400 ft.

Duration: 2 Hours and 45 Minutes

The address of the trailhead and parking area is 13500 Yerba Buena Rd, Malibu, CA 90265.

For the hike, we used this map generously provided to us by a park ranger in the dirt parking lot, but it can also be found through the NPS website on Circle X Ranch.  We took Mishe Mokwa Trail up and the Backbone Trail down, taking the back and out trail to climb up to Sandstone Peak.  The trails are very well maintained, however watch out for the occasional poison oak along the trails.  There are some shady areas on the Mishe Mokwa Trail, but for the most part the trails are uncovered.  Definitely bring plenty of water and wear sunscreen.

I loved the views of these gorgeous green mountains throughout the hike.

There were tons of pretty wildflowers all along the trails.  Sustainable plants can totally be beautiful.

There were lots of large boulders scattered along the mountains.

Sarah!

The Balanced Rock.

Kelvin in front of Split Rock.

This rock looks like an elephant/hippo.

I’ve been really into succulents, and I was super excited to see a healthy one in the wild!

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griffith park: hollywood sign hike

Monday, April 4th, 2011

A group of us went hiking at Griffith Park last weekend.  We went on a 7 mile hike up to the Hollywood sign.  Because I am training for a Mt. Whitney backpacking trip we have planned for this summer, I packed up my backpack and brought it along on the hike with me.

Hike Basics

miles: 7.0, out and back

elevation gain: 1032 ft

duration: 3 hours

For the driving directions, I went off this map provided by the Department of Recreation and Parks Griffith Park website.  Head north up Canyon drive.  You drive through a good length of a neighborhood before you hit the park gates as you drive up Canyon Drive.  We parked in a lot after you pass a playground but before Camp Hollywoodland off of Canyon Drive.

For the trails, I used this map provided by Dan’s Hiking Pages.  We headed north up the Brush Canyon trail, then turned left onto Mulholland Trail, and then turned right on Mt. Lee Drive.  Mt. Lee Drive ends behind the hollywood sign.  We wanted to catch a better view of the Hollywood sign, so we followed Mt. Lee Drive all the way back down the mountain.  After we took some pictures, we headed back up until we reached Mulholland Trail and then followed the original route we took back.

You can shorten the hike to the hollywood sign by parking off of Beachwood Drive and starting the hike on Hollyridge Trail, making a left at Mulholland Trail, and a right at Mt. Lee Drive.  The shorter hike is a 3.0 mile hike.

At the intersection of Brush Canyon and Mulholland trail.

Sunday is a busy day for Griffith Park trails.  There were trail runners, hikers, horse riders, and a military group.

The view from the top of the trail.

The back of the Hollywood sign.  Not the most photogenic view of the sign.

The girls.

View of the Hollywood sign from the bottom of Mt. Lee Drive.

Me and Kel.

One of the things I don’t like about Griffith Park hikes is how dry it usually is.  I was surprised to see lots of greenery and yellow flowers this trip out.

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great smoky mountains national park

Monday, June 29th, 2009


Last weekend Kelvin and I made a quick trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee/North Carolina. I couldn’t believe how gorgeous the scenery was. The smoky appearance of the mountains is caused by evaporation from the trees.

We got a chance to hike part of the Appalachian Trail. I was surprised to learn that the National Park has a higher biodiversity than the entire northern Europe. The trails were nicely covered and really well maintained.

We woke up an hour before sunrise to catch the mountain ranges at their smokiest. It seems like there were a ton of awesome hikes there. We only had a chance to hike two, Charlies Bunion and Chimney Top, but I would love to go back and explore more of the Great Smoky Mountains.

On our one night stay, we got a chance to check out Gatlinburg, TN, a funny little tourist town just outside of the National Park. It was a fun trip to explore the candy shops, souvenir shops, and other little touristy gimmick stores around town.

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