Active Toby's Adventure Blog : 2007 : June

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Sequoia National Park -- Sawtooth Peak Movie

Posted by Active Toby Jun 26, 2007

If you have 8 minutes to spare, join me on my backpacking trip through Sequoia National Park

I know, it still needs music

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Mount Laguna wilderness movie

Posted by Active Toby Jun 26, 2007

*Plug in your headphones, this track features Active's very own talented musician, Rob Costlow in a piece entitled, Return to Flat Rock*

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Tomorrow, I’m joining up with 4 others to leave San Diego at 4:30 am and drive north along the western side of the Sierras to a place called Mineral King. Our destination lies due-east of Fresno amongst the front range of Sequoia National Park. After obtaining the proper permits, the 5 of us will hit the trail, beginning at roughly 8,000 feet of elevation. Our destination for day 1 is Spring Lake, but plans remain flexible due to the long drive and the unforeseen circumstances that all-too-often plague large groups. So, we plan to enter the park and get as far along as we see fit tomorrow afternoon and set up camp when the time feels right.

On Saturday morning, we'll either finish off the remainder of the hike or wake up next to Spring Lake, below a beautiful amphitheater of high-alpine peaks. Saturday, we’ll have the choice to hang by our camp site and fly fish in the surrounding alpine lakes or choose from a variety of peaks to climb. My friends and I have Sawtooth Peak, a 12,343-foot peak that offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Great Western Divide, Monarch Lakes the Kaweahs, the Whitney group, Mineral Peak, Tulare Peak, Florence Peak, Olancha Peak, Owens and Siretta.

Its going to be a grand weekend despite the long drive on both Friday morning and Sunday evening. Any opportunity to enter the Sierra is worth the drive. I’m excited to share pictures with you upon our return. Stay tuned for a trip report coming to you early next week. Yours in adventure, Active Toby.

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Mount Laguna

Posted by Active Toby Jun 14, 2007

This weekend, I’m heading out to spend a night in the southern-most National Forest in California. The Cleveland National Forest offers 460,000 acres of camping, hiking and recreational opportunities only 40 miles east of San Diego on Interstate 8 and then 10 miles north on Sunrise Highway (S1). I’ll be car camping in the Laguna Mountains at a camp site that is designated for tent camping with parking for two vehicles, picnic table and a fire ring. It costs $14 per night which includes bathroom access too.

From the camp fire, to star gazing, to watching the sunrise over the Anza-Borrego desert to the east, this recreation area offers a wide variety of activities that welcome exploration for a day, a weekend, a week or longer. When parking and leaving your vehicle within the recreation area, it is required that you display an Adventure Pass on your dash board. These can be purchase at local outdoor recreation outfitters as well as the Mt. Laguna store for $5/day or an annual pass for $30.

There are many trailheads throughout the wilderness area that connect to a large network of hiking trails including direct access to the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a 2,650-mile national scenic trail from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington.

I plan to hike the PCT for roughly 20-miles on Saturday morning beginning as early as possible. The forecast says it will be in the mid-80s, which never actually feels hot because the elevation is between 4,000 and 6,000 feet above sea-level. I will be bringing over a gallon of water per day for myself to make sure I stay hydrated in this dry climate.

This area is so close to the city yet feels like a complete escape into your own wilderness sanctuary. Although it is common to share the trail with others, it is still a refreshing dose of nature and beauty in an easily accessible over-night trip. Your questions about mountain biking trails, hiking or backing are more than welcome. Remember to leave no trace and leave the area cleaner than you found it.

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Active Toby's Adventure Blog Launch

Posted by Active Toby Jun 12, 2007

Hey everyone, Active Toby here.

Thanks for tuning in to celebrate the launch of the Active Toby's Adventure Blog.

This blog is certainly not just for me to tell the world of my fun and crazy adventures. In fact, I created this site in hopes of sparking an interest in those who have hesitated to get outside and explore this beautiful planet. I will do my best along the way to provide accounts of my own but I encourage you to ask me questions about any of these related topics:

• National Parks and Forests

• Outdoor ethics/ Leave No Trace

• Gear

• Itinerary/trip planning

• Nutrition/backcountry recipes

• Maps/orienteering

• Outdoor adventure sports

For information on the latest and greatest in the world of Endurance Sports, please check out the Active Endurance Sports Blog.

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A resource for adventure created to inspire. First-hand trip reports, wild stories and ideas for excursions of your own. Questions about gear and trip planning are encouraged. Feel free to offer your stories and suggestions. Active Toby

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