EISPIRATEN

Cool! I wasn't familiar with this site.

I primarily use this one: https://macrostrat.org/map/#x=16&y=23&z=2

I'm comparing the two.... I think the USGS one you link to is a bit more consistent across the country. But Macrostrat has better detail in certain regions. Around LA, I upon initial ...

You guys go big or you go home!

Thats a lot of uplifted granite pluton.

A smaller-scale variation on this basic route concept would be a good eastern Sierra intro for me. I'm still not sure how elevations above 10,000 are going to effect me.

N8K

I've never encountered a bear like that, but from some research it sounds like you did all the right things. You were relatively close to Deukmejian when you came upon the bear, so that's frustrating to have to go back around adding a lot of distance and gain. Surprised the bear was so stubborn to ...

Taco I love how you use TRs as diary entries. We've spent limited time together in person but I feel like I know you pretty well. Actually, I feel like I know everyone here a lot better than I would otherwise from reading not just the content of their TRs, but more importantly the style of them.

I ...

Man so much gain with this route dang

I really really want this thread to become a conversation between AW~ and JoeHardway

What a culture and lore Mt Baldy has. A whole book could be written about that mountain and all the characters and tragedies it attracts if there hasn't been already...

Interesting! Tekewin, you know anything about this? (He's my go-to for knowledge of mountains south of here )

I didn't realize the mountains north of San Diego south of San Gabriel Valley that aren't the San Jacintos get this rugged.

Sounds like the article is biased in favor of making the road private.

Congrats on completing this terrific project. Excellent finale. If I had been available I would have definitely joined, particularly being a San Gabriel east fork virgin.

I think you might have been right about that bear being dead last time

EPPPPIIIIICCCCCC!

Well, that's a dramatic way to end the trip. I don't think I'm ever going to put aerobars on my bike after this....

Are you back to 100% now?

Then, I was standing on one on one of Nate's birthday hikes while me and Nate took a photo. The lil shit let me step on it and didn't even budge when I stepped off of it!


The little dude just curled up chillin' right under us.
IMG_2132.jpeg

I think that big black chungus lounging around ...

Columbia by bike! This is sort of like that layover travel concept- a bike and a few days to kill in Bogota.

I always feel a tension between meticulous planning and the romance of improvisation. There are benefits and drawback to either strategy. I've decided that if there *are* lots of plans, it ...

Was that your first time towards Rocky peak? There are alot of cool caves around that area. When you have more time to explore you will also find a couple of cool waterfalls but pretty sure it is dry right now. I use to go up there alot with my Wednesday group. There is also a cool cave with a ...

Why do people hate golf courses? Listening to George Carlin too much?


If you are a fan and have HBO Max, watch this documentary! I was the music editor. That bit is even featured in part 2 (part 2 is when Carlin entered his ranting phase)

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/george_carlins ...

Sean wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2026 8:31 am Thanks for the report. I've raced the sun on the Jones Peak Trail out of Bailey Canyon. It also climbs up a west-facing slope.

Yeah, west-facing slopes are the hack for still getting something in early morning on a day when its actually too hot to hike.

adds a feeling to my parents that they should always be able to reach me, regardless of my boundaries. On top of that, they don't respect my right to disconnect when I'm in the mountains. I also think that people trust the technology too much. I'll go into my further annoyances with InReach on my ...

FYI, there's also an abandoned (AFAIK) course near the CA aqueduct in Sylmar. I don't play/like/respect golf, but it's fairly depressing nonetheless.


An abandoned golf course is far less depressing than an operating one! I came away rather heartened at how fast nature claimed it all back in ...

Great trip reporting. The tension of independence and vulnerability with your parents really brings me back to my 20s. Also makes me think about how that will eventually play out kind of in reverse as my parents further age, and then my own kid too.

This day also makes me appreciate fire stations ...

Grown accustomed to a certain level of energy and chaos of having a 6 year old bouncing around every day, having the wife and kid away at the grandparents for a second weekend in a row I'll admit I'm starting to get a little stir-crazy. Wandering around outside before the heat gets to be too much ...

2298 on the USGS, 2297 on OSM.

Just a quickie this morning on Rocky Peak to get some exercise in before it got blazing hot. Started at 6:30am from Corriganville Park. I selected this route from my dank stash since you do the gain right away from the start, and it's on a west-facing slope. With a ...

Sean wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 7:51 pm You just need to live within a ten-mile radius of Everest and then it'd be totally appealing. Remember, I know how your brain works.

lol yes you do.

Is it just me or does the prospect of climbing Everest really sound not all that appealing? Huge crowds, garbage and dead bodies everywhere and extremely expensive. Meh I'm good. Plenty of other mountains out there to explore without those things.

JakubRZ wrote: Mon Jul 20, 2026 10:45 am Have you explored the abandoned mine? Is there a name? Fascinating post, thanks!

I didn't feel like confronting a Balrog or anything, so I kept my distance. The black snake that writhed violently out of one of the shafts as I filtered water was enough.

Looks like you had a true Great Basin Nevada adventure with remote old gas stations and everything! I always stare longingly at those endless normal-faulted ranges when I fly over them on the way to Utah.

Matthew wrote: Sun Jul 19, 2026 5:23 pm What kind of magical tinned fish did you eat? Is it legal? How much per gram?

I really should have at least checked the expiration date before I started munching it....

Reminds me of that one dude who worked alone for years on the Crazy Horse monument in South Dakota. Thanks for the florid, whimsical report!


It is kind of like that - Garen has put a massive amount of work into the trail, I just wish it could lead somewhere more popular to receive more use. I ...

A grand and hollow peace settles upon the father when left without wife and child, much like a king without crown. In possession of a weekend as empty as my home, I allowed my mind and body to wander to the wildlands which encircle the great valley of Fernando, and the secrets they contain.

I’ve ...

Yeah, how are you healing up?

When riding after 24+hours like this do you ever find yourself making mistakes or doing things you otherwise wouldn't? Do you ever fight dozing in the saddle? How do you know when you *have* to take a break?