Thursday, Nov 19, 2009

Episode 50 The Carey Castle Day HIke

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The 50th Episode of Anthony’s Audio Journal, is about our hike into Joshua Tree National Park and our adventure up the Red Butte Wash to visit the Carey Castle. This trip was unique because there isn’t really a trail to Carey’s Castle, in fact, it’s not a trail at all. The only tell-tale signs that it’s there is a small black dot on the USGS Topographic map and the words, “Carey’s Castle”. It’s a pretty well kept secret, and folks want to keep it that way. There are no signs at the trailhead or along the way. There’s no sign at the castle or any mention of it in any of the Joshua Tree publications that I’m aware of. The few cairns that have been placed by hikers are routinely knocked over and scattered about or purposely built to redirect hikers into dead ends, further adding to the mystery of the hike to Carey’s Castle.
The hike involves over four miles of walking in loose gravely sand and climbing through the boulder choked wash that forks many times throughout the adventure. Elevation gain is a modest 1400 feet but by the time you’ve walked through the deep gravel and climbed up and over the boulders, it seems like more, much much more.

Posted by Anthony Jones at 10:04 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Monday, Oct 26, 2009

Episode 48 The Palisades Glacier Podcast Part One

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In this Part One of a two part episode of Anthony's Audio Journal, Doug and I embark on a 4 day three night adventure up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek to visit the historical Lon Chaney Cabin and hike among the changing fall leaves. We work our way up along the creek and pass several glacial fed lakes before reaching our camp beneath imposing Temple Crag at scenic Third Lake.

After spending our first night at the Walk-In Camp, Doug and I meet some some interesting folks and and I hear about a terrifying bear encounter from someone I meet along the trail.

Be sure and click on the photo to a link to all of our photos from the trip; you won't believe the magnificent turquoise color of the lakes and the timber and stone Lon Chaney Cabin.

Also follow the link at www.anthonysaudiojournal.com to the video Doug put together of our photos and video he posted on You Tube.

Posted by Anthony Jones at 11:12 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Monday, Oct 26, 2009

Episode 49 Palisades Glacier Part Two

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In last episode Doug and I began a 4 day three night adventure up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek to visit the largest glacier in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; the Palisades Glacier. We also explored the historical Lon Chaney Cabin, and enjoyed the fabulous turquoise green glacier fed chain of lakes below some of the tallest peaks in California. In this episode we have an unusual encounter with a hostile backpacker and meet some unusual characters at Lake #3, before hiking up valley to the Glacier Trail. From here we work our way through a talus and boulder field to stunning views over the glacial fed chain of lakes and the Palisades Glacier.We conclude our hike with a stop at peaceful Black Lake for our last night in the wilderness.

Be sure and watch the video Doug put together of our hike and posted on YouTube in brilliant High Definition.

Search for the Palisades Glacier & Big Pine Lakes in the You Tube Search Bar.

Posted by Anthony Jones at 11:05 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Sunday, Oct 04, 2009

Where There's Smoke There's Fire Episode 47

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This podcast of Anthony's Audio Journal is about wildfires in the Southern California area, what to do if you're caught up in one while you're hiking, and all about Smokey Bear's big 65th birthday.

In last episode I talked about how Katie and I smelled smoke on our hike to the summit of Mt. Islip. We thought we might be walking into the mouth of a raging wildfire and I didn't know exactly what to do. This episode talks about three major fires in the last few years, including the largest fire in California history. I also share some advice by experts on what to do if you're in the back country and a wildfire approaches.

Another focus in this episode is about Smokey Bear and his 65th birthday this year. Over the years the forest service has had some great public service announcements to promote fire prevention. In this episode I mix in some great PSA's from the past to help bring back some nostalgia and its just plain entertaining.

I'll post some photos from the Cedar, Esperanza and Station Fires as well as some great advertising photos and memorabilia a from Smokey Bears fire prevention campaign at www. anthonysaudiojournal.com.

Posted by Anthony Jones at 11:02 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Saturday, Sep 12, 2009

Mt. Islip Day Hike Episode 46

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Episode 46 is about a day hike to the summit of Mt. Islip in the Angeles National Forest of Southern California. Katie and I took our Siberian Husky with us on this warm weather hike and worked our way through a beautiful meadow and under the delightful shade canopy of the tall pine forest to Little Jimmy Camp.

After taking a break we continued up through the Windy Ridge trail junction and on to the summit of Mt. Islip. Along the way we admired the different typed of pines and wondered where the smell of smoke was coming from as we made it to the summit and the remaining fire tower base blocks and the stone summit cabin.

I posted photos of our hike at my web site at www.anthonysaudiojournal.com and uploaded a short video titled Mt. Islip Day Hike on You Tube.

Posted by Anthony Jones at 12:55 PM |  1 comments  

Thursday, Aug 27, 2009

Bear Awareness Episode 45

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This episode is about confrontations with bears while on the trail or at home. There have been many encounters with bears this summer; bears coming into the neighborhood or into the picnic areas. This podcast gives you a brief idea of what went on in the Southern California area this year, what the local wildlife personnel are doing about it and how you can prevent an unwanted encounter with a bear. I talk about bear food storage containers; how they are tested, who tests them and some of the field trial successes and failures. For more information check out my web page at www.anthonysaudiojournal.com for photos and links to bear resistant container manufacturers and agencies that help us keep bears in the wild and eating their own food.

Posted by Anthony Jones at 3:43 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009

Iron Mountain Podcast Episode 44

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This podcast is about a day hike to the summit of Iron Mountain in San Diego California.

I picked up Dave at the train station in Escondido and drove to Poway where we headed up the Iron Mountain Trail. Along the way we saw more wildlife than ever and met some unusual folks while hiking along this splendid wilderness trail.

After reaching the summit we headed back to the trail junction of the Ellie Lane Trail and finished our semi loop hike with a rousing and thigh burning climb up a steep hillside. We met some shifty looking characters and stared at some very unusual looking rock formations before taking the Wildhorse Trail back to the truck.

Posted by Anthony Jones at 5:46 PM |  2 comments  

Saturday, Jul 25, 2009

Big Bear to lake Arrowhead Podcast

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This episode of Anthony's Audio Journal is about a quick overnight hike from Big Bear Lake to Lake Arrowhead in Southern California. Doug, Steve, Brad and I made this hike from the shores of Big Bear Lake up the Cougar Crest Trail to the Pacific Crest Trail near Bertha peak. From here we headed south along the P.C.T. alongside Delamar Mountain and down into the Holcomb Creek drainage toward Lake Arrowhead almost 30 miles away.

Doug brought his German Shepard Brandy while Brad's Golden Retriever June happily followed along. We hiked at a fast clip taking in some beautiful scenery above Holcomb Valley and eventually made camp at Holcomb Creek Crossing Camp for the night. Steve had stashed some beer in advance and he and Doug humped the extra couple of miles to fetch the beer for all of us to share.

Steve's friend Matt joined us for the night and we sat around the campfire talking about our adventurous day and about our favorite parts of the hike so far.

The next morning we continued on towards Deep Creek and the large metal bridge before splitting up at Splinter's Cabin. Steve, Matt, Brad and June headed back to town on the fire road while Doug and I continued up the Little Bear Creek Trail into the North Shore campground and eventually arrived at Doug's Fire Station 92 in Lake Arrowhead.

This podcast features lots of great music with lyrics that compliment my thoughts and feelings along the way and ends with a special song that flushes out the last of fond memories.

I took lots of photos along the way and posted them on my web site at www.anthonysaudiojournal.com. Head over to my web site for links, photos and more.

Posted by Anthony Jones at 12:30 PM |  1 comments  

Sunday, Jul 05, 2009

Apache Peak Podcast

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In this episode of Anthony's Audio Journal, Dave and I make a trip up the Spitler Peak Trail to the desert divide and hike up to the summit of Apache Peak.

Along the way we hike through transitional zones of chaparral, oak woodland, and eventually pine forest. We meet the friendly California Conservation Corp and chat with trail boss Jose Murillo while the CCC crew from San Bernardino clip back the manzanita and remove rocks from the trail.

Music featured in this episode of Anthony's Audio Journal is from Douglass Spotted Eagle with Summer Morn, ALexander Blu with Nature Song and Maria Danes with Church of Rock.

Additional photos are avail1ble on my web page at www.anthonysaudiojournal.com

Posted by Anthony Jones at 11:03 AM |  3 comments  

Saturday, Jun 13, 2009

Dangerous Encounters with Mountain Lions

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In this final part of a three part series on dangerous wildlife encounters I relate my personal story about a unique encounter with a mountain lion and talk about mountain lion attacks in Southern California.

I also talk about my eerie connection with the attack victims and the unusual familiarity with the areas where the attacks occurred.

Also featured is some great information on what to do if confronted by a mountain lion and some great music from the Podsafe Music Network.

Posted by Anthony Jones at 10:20 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT