Joshua Tree

I have been wanting to camp in Joshua Tree for a few years now. Finally, this past weekend my friends and I decided to make the trip. There are a total of 9 campgrounds in Joshua Tree and 6 of the 9 work on a first-come first-serve basis. Most of our group set out early Friday morning with hopes of scoring 2 campsites next to each other at Jumbo Rocks. If you have ever camped in Joshua Tree, especially during the spring you're aware that this mission seems relatively impossible. Also, this weekend happened to be the first weekend of Coachella making our chances even more slim. We were hopeful, but totally prepared to be camping in the overflow BLM area if needed. Luck was on our side and we totally scored! Our best case scenario ~ 2 spots, side by side in Jumbo Rocks. Spots 72 & 73, quite possibly the best spots in the campground. We were tucked in the back away from the road, with plenty of space and large boulders to block some of the wind.

True to it's name Jumbo Rocks features giant granite boulders that are scattered throughout the park. The elevation is 4,400 feet and a short trail will take you to Skull Rock, a beautiful area where you can hike around and climb these giant boulders. Here are some pics from our hike to Skull Rock.

Skull Rock

We spent our day on Saturday hiking and driving around the park. Joshua Tree National Park actually lies in two deserts. The western half of the park is the Mojave Desert and the eastern half lies in the Colorado Desert. We did a few hikes, including Ryan Mountain and The Mill. Ryan Mountain has a summit of 5,185 ft. and has lookout points with views of the Queen, Lost Horse, and Pleasant Valleys. Geology Tour Road is an awesome 18 mile off-roading adventure that was one of the highlights of the trip. Here are a few pictures from Saturday...

Joshua Trees!!!!

wildflowers

more Joshua Trees 

Joshua Tree bloom

at the summit of Ryan Mountain

Keys view~ View of the Coachella Valley from 5, 185 feet

Saturday morning I decided to hike around a bit by myself to look for a good spot to shoot the sunrise. I got completely disoriented and lost, ending up on the opposite end of our campsite. Apparently Joshua trees don't necessarily make good landmarks. Still a fun adventure! Here are a few sunrise pics from Saturday morning...

I love camping. Making s'mores, cooking dinner over the fire, drinking moonshine, playing cards... Some of the best times camping are spent hanging around back at the campsite. This trip was no exception. Nighttime in Joshua Tree was majestic, with colorful sunsets and black starry skies. I finally saw my first shooting star!!!!!

sunset on Saturday

our campsite

It's pretty entertaining watching 4 people (after hours of drinking around the campfire) try to perfect the words Joshua Tree with flashlights and headlamps. After multiple attempts they finally got it!

Park City, Utah

I just got home from another snowboarding trip. This time we hit Park City, Utah. Yes, I'm spoiled. I know this. I'm completely aware. I promise you though, I'm not the least bit ungrateful. 

I have been fortunate enough to score fresh powder on each of my snowboarding trips this year, but timing is everything and I was a couple days off on this one. Conditions were decent on the mountain over the weekend, but the day we left it snowed heavily throughout the day and night and temperatures dropped into the low 20's. Unfortunately, the perfect powder day we were looking for happened the day after we left. I am not bitter, but I am slightly jealous of my friends that are still there riding. They are kind enough though to send me pictures of their perfect bluebird day, their tracks showing in the 7 inches of fresh powder they got after I left. I swear I'm not bitter at all...really, I'm not. 

Anyway...here is a bit about Park City, the mountains & of course the local distillery.

Park City is the epitome of unique. Silver was discovered in the surrounding hills in the late 1860's and it thrived for a long time as a mining town. No longer a mining town, Park City is now well known for it's three world-class ski resorts; Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons. It is an art community with 30 galleries and home to the Egyptian Theatre, which was the original venue of the Sundance Film Festival. The Sundance Film Festival is still held here each year in January.

Park City Mountain Resort

Park City Mountain Resort has approximately 3,300 acres of rideable terrain. The base elevation is 6,900 feet with the summit reaching 10,000 feet.  The terrain encompasses 8 mountain peaks, 9 bowls, 1 super pipe and 3 terrain parks. Neff Land, it's newest addition is a progression park designed by the Neff team and is located at the top of Eaglet Lift. A town bridge that goes over Park Avenue enables skiers and snowboarders to ride directly from the mountain to lower Main Street. Here are a few pictures...(All taken with my iPhone)

I got separated from the group and accidentally found myself at the top of this moguled-out run...perfect spot for a photo op!!

McConkey's Bowl

Accessed by McConkey's lift, this bowl was named after former Park City ski-school director Jim McConkey.

at the top of Blue Slip Bowl

Blue Slip Bowl is located off Pioneer Lift. This bowl received its name because it used to be beyond the resort boundary, workers who were caught ducking under the rope received a blue slip (i.e. they were fired!). Not a horrible way to lose your job!

last run of the day

The Canyons

The Canyons is the largest resort in Utah. It has 4,000 skiable acres, along with 9 mountain peaks, 5 bowls, 6 natural halfpipes and 21 chairlifts that serve 182 trails.  The base is 6,800 feet and the summit reaches 9,990 feet. 

Lookout Ridge

surrounded by Aspen Trees

I had no idea there was a photographer snapping pics on this run until I heard someone yell out 49. I thought he was calling out my speed and was actually pretty stoked. I later realized it was the number to look up the pictures. Bummer! I thought I was going pretty fast too!! haha :) I'm always taking the photos so I guess it's still kind of cool to have a few of myself on the mountain.

View from underneath the Orange Bubble Express

The Orange Bubble Express is a heated chairlift that has seats that can warm up to 55 degrees and a bubble shield that keeps wind off of your face. 

High West Distillery & Saloon

Park City is home to High West Distillery & Saloon. High West is the World's only ski-in distillery and is located in Old Town Park City, Utah. This place has a really cool vibe and an authentic feel.  If you like whiskey this is your place...

Whiskey/Bourbon flights...yes please!

Lake Tahoe

I just got back from a pretty awesome weekend in Tahoe.  There is not much that beats a good snowboarding trip, except of course a good surf trip, but I'll save that for another post...

This weekend I got a small glimpse into what Lake Tahoe has to offer. Three days wasn't nearly enough, but there is no doubt I'll be going back. We stayed in North Lake Tahoe in a town called Truckee. Truckee is about as authentic as it gets when you think of a mountain town. A perfect place to spend my first few days in Tahoe.

Early morning ~ Truckee River

Tahoe hasn't been hit hard this season with snow, but luck was on our side and we got around 6 inches of snow our first day. We only had 3 riding days, but managed to hit a new mountain each day; Squaw, Alpine Meadows & Sugar Bowl.  Alpine Meadows offered some amazingly breathtaking views of the lake, but if your talking strictly about riding, Sugar Bowl was my favorite.

Here are a few pictures from our trip. (Most were taken with my iPhone)

Snow Day!!!! On the way to the mountain...

Day 1 ~ Squaw

Kt-22

Day 2 ~ Sugar Bowl

The boys taking a quick break 

Day 3 ~ Alpine Meadows

Summit ~ Alpine Bowl

I wanted to go to Emerald Bay at least once while we were there. The boys agreed to take me, BUT only after a full day of riding. I'd say we hit it at the perfect time. The snow had just stopped, but the storm clouds remained giving the bay an even more majestic feel. What a beautiful place...

Waves for Water

In keeping with my love for the ocean, the surfing community and my passion for helping others I thought it would be nice to take a moment to talk about an organization that does some pretty amazing things. 

The organization: Waves for water

Their mission: It is simple. To get clean water to every single person who needs it.  

Their current project hits close to home for me. As most of you know Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast late October of last year, leaving many surf-based communities in New Jersey and New York completely devastated. Waves for water normally focuses on clean water, but this project focuses on initial survival needs, from first responder assistance to rubble removal and rebuilding efforts. They will be focusing primarily on the surf-based coastal communities in Jersey and New York to start. The hope is that the Waves for Water effort will be a vessel for the global surf community to directly help fellow surfers in need of help along the east coast.

To donate to this project: http://www.wavesforwater.org/project/hurricane-sandy-relief-initiative 

Don't want to donate? No worries. Check them out anyway: 
http://www.wavesforwater.org/about

No blog post would be complete without some pictures.

Here are a few pics I took during tonight's sunset session in La Jolla.