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Southern California Coast in Fall

Southern California Coast in Fall

Picture yourself here: southbound highway 1 from Pt. Mugu

Scenic drives are one of life’s simple pleasures and one I don’t take for granted, especially when I am able to go on my own. I travelled up to Montecito, CA to attend the Alaska Media Roadshow and luxuriously lingered on the road both ways. For much of the 320-roundtrip miles I hugged the coastline and explored on foot. Road trips are…

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Scenes from Our Holcomb Valley Adventure

Scenes from Our Holcomb Valley Adventure

My dad suggested we tour Holcomb Valley, California Historical Landmark #619, and the site of the largest gold mined in Southern California. I was a bit hesitant since I knew the entire drive would be on dirt roads and the thought of off-roading in his tiny Toyota Matrix made my stomach churn. Having an adventurous family, though, I was talked into it and off we went. Lucky for the kids they had…

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late summer wildflowers

Late summer we spent four days in Big Bear with family. Our family has gathered in this mountain town for many years and we all know it fairly well. Summer in the mountains are enjoyable for many reasons. I especially love the crisp evening and morning weather (it was still fairly warm during the day), quiet nights, fragrant pines, and the multitude of primary colors dotting the landscape.

We stayed near Snow Summit this time, walked to the slopes, bought tickets for a one-way ride on the scenic sky chair, boarded, and sat back and relaxed for the 15 minute, 1 mile ride up to the summit. The sun was shining and the sky was blue on this lovely late summer day.

It’s so nice to see trees and vibrant colors I feel giddy when I do. Our drought ridden landscape back home has starved me. I want more.

Snow Summit Scenic Sky Chair

good thing she brought her binoculars

At the top is the Village Haus where you can eat and drink with fantastic views. Snow Summit is on National Forest land and in addition to hiking down to the base there are a multitude of hiking and biking trail options from the summit. It’s a popular destination in  summer for bikers due to the mountain bike park at Snow Summit.

At the summit – top elevation 8200′

hmm. I wonder if this is the hiking trail? :)

Lucky for us there is one hiking trail down to the bottom and it is for hikers only.  Like cattle we moved towards the well-marked trail.

The hiking trail (Log Chute) takes us down one side of the mountain and once we left the summit people were at a minimum. While we did opt to take the sky chair up you don’t have to. The hiking trail is open both ways and we passed more people hiking up than we saw hiking down.

At the top. Big Bear Lake below.

The Log Chute trail is 1.4 miles each way (with 1200′ elevation change) and offers lovely views of the valley, lake, and surrounding peaks. In late August there were plenty of wildflowers and tall grassy plains lining the slopes.

Together my daughter, my dad, my sister, and I all spent time walking and talking. It was a nice hike with ample bonding time. I can’t say enough what a fantastic outing hiking can be as a family. Read a recent article I wrote about why you should take a multigenerational hike.

follow the trail

Being the prepared person that I am I brought two small, cold Gatorades in my pack in addition to my water stash. At least half of the trail is fairly steep grade. We did pass one couple with a dog and between them they had one bottle of water, less than half full, with at least 20-30 minutes left of an uphill climb in full, warm, sun. So I offered my unopened Gatorade. They took it and that made me happy.

More info:

Click here for info about the scenic sky chair.

Bring water!

Wear shoes with good tread for the steep parts (more than half the hike).

  Snow Summit Scenic Sky Chair Up and Hike Down Late summer we spent four days in Big Bear with family. Our family has gathered in this mountain town for many years and we all know it fairly well.

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Win a $50 Gift Card to Sierra Trading Post and Celebrate #teamSierra

Win a $50 Gift Card to Sierra Trading Post and Celebrate #teamSierra

For the better part of the last year I’ve been a contributing writer for Sierra Trading Post as part of  #teamSierra on their Sierra Social Hub.  Along with other fantastic outdoor enthusiasts, we’ve shared our adventures, tips, and love for the outdoors. I hope we’ve been able to inspire, give helpful information, and urge you to spend more time outdoors.

Catch up on my latest articles for the…

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5 Awesome Tips for a Happy Camping Experience

Whether you camp for a few days or take week-long vacations, campers have one thing in common: to be happy. We go camping to have fun and enjoy ourselves leaving behind the “real world” to be one with planet Earth. Besides the obvious basic needs, we want to have a good time and go home with memories of a trip we will recall for a long time to come. With nature as a backdrop, those sleeping surrounded by fresh air and starry skies have entered into a world of beauty where one can leave inspired. Of course, sleeping outdoors is always an adventure; optimistically, you can find small wins along the way. 

Here are tips to having a happy camping experience on your next trip: 

Find Scenic Beauty 

Whether you camp at the beach, mountains, desert, or your own backyard nothing puts a smile on your face like a lovely view. Warm feelings overcome me when I see such beauty. Sunsets are fantastic, don’t you think? 

Bring Good Friends 

There is nothing better than a getaway with your best pal or a group of friends. Grab a friend you know you can have a fun time with no matter what. A friend who is flexible and often looks at the bright side when a mishap occurs can make or break a trip. Bring a friend who can make you laugh and is as enthusiastic as you are about sleeping outside. Spending time surrounded by mountains, rivers, wildflowers, and trees with a friend who “gets you” turns an ordinary camping trip into an extraordinary one. Sitting around the campfire sharing adventure stories or replaying the day’s outdoor pursuits with your comrades brings a special joy only good friends can. 

Be active and play 

At the very least, explore your immediate area. Walk or bike around the campground, swim in the river or ocean, take a hike through the woods, go on a wildflower walk, or climb. Get some exercise in the fresh air and you will feel wonderful. Each moment adds to your memory bank so choose to do something you love. A benefit of camping is making a home base outdoors, which puts you closer to your play area: ocean, river, lake, or woods. 

In camp, games range from cards to Frisbee. All is equally enjoyable and good old-fashioned fun. Playing group board games triggers spontaneous conversation and that strengthens your connection to others. In addition, you are making memories together. Sharing this time with one another is priceless for your relationships and fosters a deeper connection. 

More play ideas: 

Play board games 

Play cards 

Bocce ball 

Scavenger hunts 

Campfire stories 

Geocache 

Bird watch 

Write in a nature journal 

Practice nature photography 

Ride bikes 

On a clear night search for constellations 

Bring a book to read 

Eat Good food and Drink Coffee 

I know some of you are thinking, “BACON, BACON, BACON.” You are correct, bacon for the win! Make bacon and eggs. Bacon burritos are good, too. For some reason everything tastes better, looks better, and sounds better outdoors. Does that happen to you, too? 

Every single time I camp and take that first sip of java made over a campfire my soul smiles. I am sure a campfire brew is one of life’s top ten pleasures. For some reason that coffee tastes even better on a brisk morning, when the air is still, dew covers the leaves, and a fire crackles nearby. 

Bring a winning attitude and smiles 

It is always easier to share a camping experience with someone who can laugh and show a persistent enthusiasm for adventure. Children offer a sense of wonderment at everything they see and it is hard not follow along. Happiness rubs off on others and having a good attitude helps to keep everyday worries at bay adding a sense of serenity to your trip. 

Camping can be easy and it can rough. Just like life, camping is not challenge free so patience and attitude go a long way to keep spirits up and help others stay calm. Giving a simple smile contributes to campsite peacefulness. 

Hopefully, you head into the great outdoors with an optimistic outlook, positive attitude, and spend time doing activities you love with those people you love. Go camp. Go explore. Go have fun. Make your next camping experience a happy experience. 

Traci Lehman, Walk Simply

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5 Awesome Tips for a Happy Camping Experience

Sisters bonding in camp

Whether you camp for a few days or take week-long vacations, campers have one thing in common: to be happy. We go camping to have fun and enjoy ourselves leaving behind the “real world” to be one with planet Earth. Besides the obvious basic needs, we want to have a good time and go home with memories of a trip we will recall for a long time to come. With nature as a…

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Who Else Wants to Take Morning Beach Walks?

Who Else Wants to Take Morning Beach Walks?

Summers around here are spent at the beach. With our recent tropical weather the Pacific was the place to play the last few months. My oldest took part in a junior lifeguard program where she spent 90 hours over a 3-week period running, swimming, learning first-aid, and playing. She loved it. That left time for me and my youngest to spend a few hours in the mornings to walk and play.  Mornings…

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Fine Day for a Quick Picnic Dinner

Fine Day for a Quick Picnic Dinner

Desi and Lucy watched over us as we ate.

Ideally, I would picnic every day and always at the most scenic place in the world (which is obviously debatable). There’s nothing like sitting outdoors on a warm summer evening to have a bite to eat. It’s such a simple pleasure eating outdoors perhaps due to sensory overload. Not only are you feasting on food, but there’s also a visual feast for the eyes.