Hikelopnik

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678) 01/24/2018 at 11:13 • Filed to: None

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Always gotta lead with a car image. Look my subaru went on dirt! In a parking lot but who is to know this isnt overlanding the Mojave somewhere?

Yesterday I decided to do a “short” two mile hike over lunch time. I say “short” since it was only two miles but also 1200 feet of elevation gain for the first half. The entire thing was just straight the hell up with no real switchbacks of any sort. The idea was to get a quick workout in and admire some beautiful sights. It was midday which is always the worst time to hike in Socal but it being “winter” meant it was just a nice 75 degree and sunny afternoon. A little warm for a heart racing hike like that, but with my “zookeeper hat” as my girlfriend likes to to call it, I was quite content. Damn lunatics I saw on the trail though in hoodies and jeans. One dude was running up and down the mountain dressed like that. Insane I tell you! Anyways, photo dump:

Steep with a capital S

Turn around though and this is the view the whole way up. Good motivation that there is more to come!

Finally get out of the first major climb and pause before the goliath push to the top on my right. Beautiful plains and a nice breeze here.

Tri-peaks in the background from another hike a couple years ago

Note that radar equipment center of the screen

Now take a look at this area from another perspective. Cool that I was able to hike a different peak overlooking this area a couple years ago:

That white spec on the peak just off center is that same radar equipment! Quite a bit greener at this time...

Back to this hike, cresting the final ridge:

MURICA, I have made it to the top!

After making it to the top, BAM ocean views for days:

After a nice 15 minute relaxation at the top just taking in the view and then taking some photos, I made my way the mile back down the hill. It was honestly more of a workout going down, my legs were on fire thanks to that part of it. Always hate going down hills like that, not much cardio in the process but man does it make my legs hurt. The uphill climb always feels kind of good but downhill is just a chore, odd thinking about it. Anyways, definitely looking forward to doing this hike some more. Perhaps a nice sunrise and sunset hike before/after work would be ideal as well some day. Its nice to have access to something like this in under ten minutes from my office.

The Subaru always likes the mountains as well!

TheRealBicycleBuck > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/24/2018 at 11:42

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Lucky dog. The only hills in my area are overpasses. If I went for a hike at lunch, it would look like this:

Flat, hot, humid, and smelly. I’d also have to pay for the privilege of walking this trail.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/24/2018 at 11:45

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Absolutely wild the color difference! I was always shocked at that when I was living in NJ and hiked in both places, often times just a few days apart from each other. The browns/reds of the ground and blue sky/ocean versus the heavy abundance of green and usually greyish skies. Always makes me appreciate nature to see both. I would be just as happy on either trail for sure though.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/24/2018 at 11:45

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Damn you and your sunshine

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/24/2018 at 11:49

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My favorite days are partly cloudy, I would gladly give away like 25% of sunny stuff to make your life better lol. I am far too fairskinned for this stuff all the time.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/24/2018 at 11:50

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Hiking around here is a little greener

TheRealBicycleBuck > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/24/2018 at 11:51

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Access to nature is great. Easy access to nature for a lunchtime hike that won’t leave you saturated in sweat (high temps plus 90%+ humidity ) and smelly (sweat + swamp smell) would be excellent.

When my son was in the Scouts, we’d go camping a couple of times a year, but we had to go a couple of hours north to get out of the swamp.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/24/2018 at 12:00

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Fresh water? That exists outside of the once annual rain?

I have found some greener hiking in Socal but its a bit rarer:

random001 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/24/2018 at 12:02

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SUBAROOOOOOOOO!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/24/2018 at 12:04

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I was certainly still saturated in sweat. No way would I do physical activity like that without a shower. I have gym with shower to use so I certainly made use of that afterwards. Same goes for when I play soccer at lunch or go workout. No way am I just smelling up the office after that lol.

Oh yeah I know the feeling. 2 hours was the minimum drive to get to any actually cool hiking when I was in NJ. 3-4 and up to get to anything near as cool as this though..  

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/24/2018 at 12:09

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Oh yeah man! We got alllllll the water. So clear, so cool and refreshing. A great swimming lake.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/24/2018 at 12:21

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Back when I commuted by bike, I would arrive drenched in sweat. Low humidity and a good fan was all it took to get me cool and dry once again. The secret to not smelling is getting dried off quickly. I know it works. My future wife would never have agreed to marry a smelly guy. :)

promoted by the color red > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/24/2018 at 12:25

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I’m jealous, all the local hiking trails require overlanding through the Mojave either on foot or by car. The Camry is really good at this since I don’t have the nerve to take the Miata through the more exciting stuff.