Category: Mountain

Roanoke and Blacksburg

The first leg of this trip is a series of long driving distances broken up by periodic bicycle rides. Yes, this time I’m traveling with a folding bicycle which I rode today in both Roanoke and around the Virginia Tech campus. It was fun! It sort of fills a space between walking and driving. I could cover ground faster than by walking and yet still get closer to things than I can in my car. Today was a good first test of the bike’s value.

“Folding bicycle?” you ask? Watch the video and learn more!

Animal Bridge Canyon Falls Lake Mountain River Road Travel

Impacted by Road Construction

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 22, 2009
No Comments on Impacted by Road Construction

By the time I arrived at Grand Teton National Park it was getting dark but the peaks and the clouds cast a mood worthy of shooting. This disappointed me somewhat as I know from previous visits how beautiful these mountains can be. No matter, I planned on spending lots of time in the area over the following day. Little did I know that road construction would prevent me from getting back to these commanding peaks.

Yellowstone Road Construction

Yellowstone Road Construction Like a man on a mission I shot north through the Tetons, inched along the Rockefeller Parkway (which was being resurfaced) and wound my way through Yellowstone National Park in pitch darkness to the north entrance. My mission? To get some sleep, some food and some gas. When I finally got to Gardiner, MT I checked in to my motel and found food and gas at the only store open in town, five minutes before it closed. Whew!

I love Yellowstone and wanted to see as much as possible. The road network in the park is shaped like a figure “8” with radials heading off to five different entrances. During a very long day I covered it all save one road segment and one entrance which were both closed due to road construction. Though I didn’t do much hiking, I did see a lot, and it reinforced in me a feeling of awe. By late evening I had made it out the east entrance, through Cody WY and to my hotel in Billings, MT.

Lake Mountain Road Travel

Idyllic Lassen

The tire repair and oil change had set me back so arrival at Lassen Volcanic National Park loomed late in the day. Furthermore, the primary and more dramatic park entrance had closed the night before due to heavy snow fall. Luckily I was able to get to the north entrance before closing … but only just before closing.

Lassen Volcanic Things had been slow; bad weather had kept visitors away. On my arrival, the wonderful Park Service staff practically reopened the Visitor Center for me. They turned on the video system to show me the Lassen Park overview film. They walked me personally through their displays and picture gallery. They reopened the register to sell me a DVD. It may just have been that they were hungry to see a guest but they were very helpful to me. In just 30 minutes I had learned a great deal about Lassen NP!

Within the Visitors Center, the most interesting gallery contained the work of a photographer named B.F. Loomis who documented the last eruption cycle of these volcanoes back in 1914 and 1915. On display were many of his pictures, the equipment he used, and many artifacts from the period. His work was an important contributor to the successful campaign to make Lassen a National Park. As a photographer I especially enjoyed his pictures; the one above is his second plate from the first eruption.

Canyon Falls Mountain Road Travel

Yosemite Rain, Rocks, and a Flat

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 14, 2009
No Comments on Yosemite Rain, Rocks, and a Flat

Yosemite shouldn’t be remembered for floods, landslides, and car troubles but all these conspired to make my visit memorable. While at Kings Canyon I was aware that bad weather was coming but I still harbored hopes of hiking to the top of Half Dome and taking wonderful pictures. By the time I awoke the storm was in full force and by the time I left I was driving a hobbled car.

Canyon Mountain Road Travel

Kings Canyon and Amazing Sequoias

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 13, 2009
No Comments on Kings Canyon and Amazing Sequoias

The season’s first snow storm was moving in so the weather wasn’t the best but it was good enough for a glimpse at why these parks are special. The parks were Sequoia NP and Kings Canyon NP, they’re sort of commingled with shared borders, they’re just south of Yosemite and relatively unknown.

Kings Canyon General Grant

The General Grant Tree was proclaimed the Nation’s Christmas Tree in 1926. It’s the world’s third largest tree, has a 40 foot diameter, and is 1,700 years old. That makes it relatively young compared to many others. Wow! These trees are amazing! The grove where this great Sequoia stands is in King’s Canyon National Park. See what I mean when I say the parks are commingled?

Hike Mountain Ocean Travel

JazzTrax in Paradise

I have a great time each year as do hundreds of others. JazzTrax is wall-to-wall live jazz starting on Thursday evening and continuing through Sunday night. This year I saw old favorites and was introduced to new artists. My uncle has been responsible for helping many an artist “break out” of the pack and ignite their career. The fact that this all happens on a lovely island just an hour from Los Angeles only adds to the charm. Very nice. Highly recommended!

Desert Hike Mountain Ocean Travel

Hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 11, 2009
No Comments on Hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail

No, I did not hike the full length of trail which begins in the far north of Catalina at Starlight Beach and finishes in the far south at Pebbly Beach. I did what was a reasonable one-day outing, a total distance was around 12 miles.

Trans-Catalina Trail

Crazy as it sounds I hiked from Point B to Point A.

Mountain Ocean Road Travel

Descending in to Los Angeles

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 9, 2009
No Comments on Descending in to Los Angeles

Descending into LA — The Catalina Express ferry is an hour long shuttle between Long Beach and Catalina Island where the JazzTrax festival is held in Avalon’s glorious Casino. No, there is no gambling there, ever.

To avoid the burden and cost of staying in Los Angeles I spent my last west-bound night in Victorville, a city on the north side of town beyond the San Bernardino mountains. It’s another world up there but it’s a town I know rather well from having visited it many times. It lies on Route 66 which is one of my favorite road trips so I’ve been there several times.

My primary goal was simply to not miss my 2:00 ferry. On the way I planned on visiting my uncle’s cabin in Big Bear Lake and take in a scenic drive or two if time allowed. Wow! Was I pleasantly surprised!

Canyon Mountain Road Travel

Fiery Surprises You’ve Never Heard Of

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 8, 2009
No Comments on Fiery Surprises You’ve Never Heard Of

Fire Valley — While in red rock country I wanted to force myself in to new territory. State parks turned out to be surprisingly compelling. Guess the NPS doesn’t have a monopoly on grandeur after all!

Ever heard of Black Dragon Canyon? The Valley of Fire? Snow Canyon? Neither had I but they were along my route, AAA recommended them, and so I visited. I should have guessed they’d astound as they’re neighbors to other red rock greats. Because it left such a strong impression on me I also revisited Cedar Breaks National Monument where again I was taken aback.

Valley of Fire

Above you see just a tease of what Valley of Fire has to offer. The formations and colors were much more varied than at most parks. From jagged ranges to soft flowing rock, from intense rust red to pale beige, this place was a tightly packed jumble that was fun to explore.

Canyon Hike Mountain River Road Travel

Brilliant Red Utah

My next stop was Moab, UT where I was going to deliver a box of DVDs to the parents of a friend. Old favorites such as Arches and Canyonlands were also on my agenda as were new recommendations such as Dead Horse Point. Little did I know that an interesting-looking shortcut would drop me into the Colorado Riverway Recreation Area, another wonder of red rock and water.

To a great extent I’m going to let pictures convey the grandeur of the area. However, before I set you free on my albums I want to make two points. First, the rock really and truly is a beautiful shade of red. Second, the combination of blue sky, red rock, and green plants combine to make magic. The Colorado River is what makes this possible in Utah’s arid plateau.

I could spend a month in this region and not begin to do it justice.

Guess I’ll just have to keep returning!

Enough! Let’s see some pictures!