Climbing Fire Towers in So Cal

by Erik Olsen on

Even though I spent most of my youth in and around Southern California, there are still some wild places I never managed to see. To wit: I just came across this article in the LA Times about a writer who spent time checking out the fire towers in and around both the Sierras and the San Bernardino National Forest. What a col idea. Turns out that the towers are operated by the National Forest Service and most, says the article, are open to visitors. I imagine that is NOT the case during the high fire season, but still it seems like a rather cool adventure to go up and hang out in some of these towers to savor the view and perhaps nibble on a sandwich. Some of these towers even allow overnight stays, which sounds totally cool…perhaps the closest we have in this part of California to the alpine lodges so common in Europe.

The writer in the article ventures to the top of 10,365-foot Mitchell Peak and takes in the 360-degree view of the central Sierra Nevada, but also heads to Buck Rock, a tower perched on an 8,500-foot granite cone in Sequoia National Forest, about 250 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The article here also provides a nice little dose of history, wherein we learn that the whole fire tower thing was started during the administration of Teddy Roosevelt and that much of the effort to build them was in response to a five million acre blaze that killed some 78 firefighters. A nice dose of adventure and history to kick off your Monday.

Across Mexico via Train

by Iva Skoch on

One of the most scenic train rides I have ever taken is the Chihuahua al Pacifico (or ChePe). We boarded the train in the coastal town of Los Mochis in the morning and traveled eastbound toward Chihuahua, stopping in Creel in order to explore the Copper Canyon area. The train ride takes around 10 hours, depending on how many stops (and breakdowns) you’ll encounter along the way.

And the entire time, the one thing you can’t get out of your mind while watching the Sierra Madre pass by is: “Badges? We ain’t got no stinking badges!”

It is best to travel from west to east because you see the best views during daytime. The scenery is stunning. From the low coastal areas, the train makes its way to the elevation of some 8000 feet. Make sure to pack appropriately. We went in December: it was steaming hot on the coast and below freezing in Creel. Needless to say, we were not prepared. Fortunately, as we descended into the Copper Canyon town of Batopilas, inhabited by the Tarahumara Indians, it was nice and warm again.

Death Valley

by Erik Olsen on

For a lot of folks, the name Death Valley hardly suggests a great place to take your next vacation. Most people know it for one thing: that it is the lowest point in the United States, some 282 feet below sea level. It is also know for being one of the hottest places in the US. But put those things aside for a moment and consider that there are many miles of hiking trails there, mountain biking opportunities and a string of superb campsites where you can hang out at night and gaze up at some of the clearest skies this side of the MIssissippi (as if the skies East of the Mississippi are any good either). And believe it or not, but flowers do bloom in Death Valley, and when they do, the effect is said to be explosive, with yellows and oranges and reds rolling on and on over the hills. There is also a bona fide National Park there, with extensive exhibits that talk about the region’s past aas well as where it got its name (several miners during the gold rush thought they’d take the desert as a detour…bad mistake).

So if you’;re interested in taking a weekend off to do something rather unconventional, give Death Valley a look-see. Also, for accomodations, try the Furnace Creek Inn, Furnace Creek Ranch, and/or the Sunset Campground.

Free Accommodation in Paris

by Iva Skoch on

If you are into mixing culture with adventure travel, Paris is the new hot location. Apparently, you can pitch your tent right on the banks of the Seine these days.

Friends who just honeymooned in Paris sent me this picture, actually a series of pictures. Look closely – yes, those are all tents of the homeless along the Seine.

This is what they said: “How on Earth can these folk camp around The Pompidou Center? At the shore of the Seine beneath the Musee D’Orsay? With dogs. Fires. Reading newspapers. Playing instruments with competence. One bloke in the Palais de Tokyo was charging his phone, playing Nintendo GameBoy, rolling smokes and sipping a six pack of Belgian blond beer. Is this a common phenomenon for…art galleries?”

Well, after a glasses of chilled Chablis, I guess you could call this a postmodern approach to housing. I hear that the views are great, but the service is so so. And, of course, it is always BYOB.

Motoring Through Indochina

by Iva Skoch on

A friend recommended an adventure that I’m dying to do: a week motorcycling throughout Vietnam. He’s done it two years in a row, and recommends an outfit called Explore Indochina. The outfit is apparently run an Aussie and a Brit that act as tour guides and speak fluent Vietnamese.

They host a couple of rides each month, and cover different areas of the country (as well as Laos and Cambodia). They put together only small groups (5 or less).

Picture this: 6+ days straddling a 125cc two-stroke Belorussian motorbike, rolling through the beautiful scenery of Vietnam. It’s muddy, it’s wet, it’s real. That’s my idea of cruising!

Makes me want to dust off that copy of Jupiter’s Travels.