Yellowstone National Park Trip

Well the blog will be a little less busy than usual for the next week or so as we are on a trip to Yellowstone National Park. We will have several write-ups to post when we get back in town.  Happy Hiking Everyone! Here are some pictures from previous Yellowstone Trips!

OC Parks June 2013 Calendar of Events

Here are some highlights from the OC Parks June Calendar of events, if you are looking for hiking ideas or other outdoor events in the month of June, make sure to check our some of these great events!

OC Parks JUNE 2013 calendar of events

June 1 – Pancake Breakfast and Equestrian Ride 

8:30 – 11 a.m.

OC Parks and Orange Park Association (OPA) invite you to a pancake breakfast followed by an equestrian ride throughout Irvine Regional Park. Few things bring people together better than a shared meal. A delicious breakfast of pancakes, eggs and bacon will be cooked by Irvine Park Rangers! The park staff looks forward to meeting the community that regularly visit Irvine Regional Park. After breakfast, OPA will be leading equestrian rides through the park’s best trails. Beginner and advanced rides available. All participants who RSVP will be entered into a drawing for OC Parks and OPA goodies! Please RSVP to Bill Klovstad at billklovstad@gmail.com by May 29^th to be entered into the drawing.

Location: Irvine Regional Park. 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869 Website: www.ocparks.com/irvinepark/

Cost: Free Parking: $5 per vehicle

Contact: (714) 973–6835

Special Instructions: For more information, please visit: http://ocparks.com/civicax/inc/blobfetch.aspx?BlobID=26644

June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Nature Walk

9 – 10:30 a.m.

Join our Naturalist on a nature walk and learn about Trabuco Canyon animals and nature. Light to moderate walk on mostly paved roads. Meet at the Nature Center just inside the main entrance of the park.

Location: O’Neill Regional Park, 30982 Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678

Website: www.ocparks.com/oneillpark/

Cost: Free Parking: $5 per vehicle

Contact: (949) 923-2260

Special Instructions: All ages welcome. Meet at the Nature Center just inside the main entrance.

June 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30 – Redwood Grove Hike

9:30 – 11 a.m.

Join OC Parks' trained staff on an easy 1.1 mile hike to the park's Coastal Redwood grove. You will use your 5 senses to engage with nature as you stroll to the Redwoods. You will also have an opportunity to learn about our native plants along the way. The hike begins each Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. from the park's Nature Center. Don't forget to visit our Nature Center when you are there, too!

Location: Carbon Canyon Regional Park. 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea, CA 92823

Website: http://www.ocparks.com/carboncanyon/

Cost: Free Parking: $5 per vehicle

Contact: (714) 973-3160

Special Instructions: All ages.

June 1 – Caspers Park Foundation Meeting

9:30 – 11 a.m.

Interested in volunteering at Caspers Wilderness Park? Join our monthly meeting held in the Caspers Wilderness Park Nature Center. This is a great opportunity to learn just what volunteers do, as well as meet others who love nature, the outdoors, and preserving the park for all. Meeting starts at 9:30 am followed at 10 am by an informative lecture presented by guest speakers. This month’s speaker is Laura Eisenberg who will be discussing Coyotes.  

Location: Caspers Wilderness Park.  33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Website: www.ocparks.com/caspers/

Cost: Free Parking: Free

Contact: (949) 923-2210

Special Instructions:  Ages 16 years and up. To sign up call Cindi Morgan at (949) 923-2207 or cindi.morgan@ocparks.com. Please bring a favorite dish for the potluck.

June 1 – Walk in Our Wild Side Nature Walk

10 – 11 a.m.

Join a Park Naturalist on an easy walk approximately 1 mile long in our Natural Area. See birds, hawks, insects, butterflies, and native plants. Recommended: Hat, binoculars, drinking water, and comfortable shoes.

Location: Mile Square Regional Park. 16801 Euclid, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Website: http://www.ocparks.com/milesquare/

Cost: Free Parking: $5 per vehicle

Contact: (714) 973-6600

Special Instructions: Meet at the entrance of the Natural Area just located next to parking Lot F. Event conditional upon the weather.

June 1 – Dr. Sue’s Insect and Arthropod Zoo

1 – 4 p.m.

Dr. Sue Van Vorhis Key, PhD. has a zoo full of amazing live insects and arthropods. Look, listen and learn! You can even touch an insect, if you like. Try out our insect scavenger hunt, sorting arthropods, and making your own insect to take home!  

Location: Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Website: www.ocparks.com/lagunacoast/

Cost: Free, donations appreciated Parking: $3 per vehicle

Contact: (949) 923-2235

Special Instructions:  Reservations required, sign-up online: www.lagunacanyon.org/activities. Ages 7 and up. Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center (west side of Laguna Canyon Road/SR-133, approximately 3.5-miles south of I-5/405).

June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Ranger Led Campfire Program

8 – 9 p.m.

Join us Saturday night at the amphitheater for this Ranger led talk on local animal life, set to the glow of fire light. This event is only open to those camping at O’Neill Regional Park. No access for day use after sunset.

Location: O’Neill Regional Park. 30982 Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678

Website: www.ocparks.com/oneillpark/

Cost: Free

Contact: (949) 923-2260 or (949) 923-2256

Special Instructions: Event is outdoors and dependent on weather conditions. 

June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Campfire Program

8 – 9 p.m.

Every Saturday night, join us for a campfire program that may include a slide presentation, wilderness safety, games and activities for children, animal adaptations, skins and skulls, a live animal demonstration and a chance to visit the Nature Center. Topics may vary weekly. 

Location: Caspers Wilderness Park. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Website: www.ocparks.com/caspers/

Cost: Free Parking: $5 per vehicle

Contact: (949) 923-2210

Special Instructions: All ages welcome!

Family of Skunks In Riley Wilderness Park

Here is a little video of the family of Skunks we saw this past week while hiking at Riley Wilderness Park (One mom and three little ones). One of the joys of hiking is never knowing what type of wildlife you will see while out hiking on the trail!

San Juan Hot Springs Hike (Caspers Wilderness Park)

The San Juan Hot Springs Hike in Caspers Wilderness Park travels to a natural hot springs deep within Caspers Wilderenss Park. The hike to San Juan Hot Springs is long, but the hot springs at the end and the beautiful scenery along the journey makes this hike well worth your time. For more pictures of our hike to San Juan Hot Spring in Caspers Wilderness Park make sure to check out our Facebook Page.

Directions to Trailhead: Going to the San Juan Hot Springs in Caspers Wilderness Park from Orange County, take the Ortega Highway heading toward Riverside. A couple of miles past Antonio Parkway is Caspers Wilderness Park. There are signs alerting drivers as to where to turn to enter Caspers Wilderness Park. The turn to enter into Caspers Wilderness Park is on your left side. The address for Caspers Wilderness Park is 33401 Ortega Hwy.( P. O. Box 395) San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. The parks phone number is (949) 923-2210. There is a cost to enter Caspers Wilderness Park, day use costs 3 dollars Monday through Friday and 5 dollars Saturday and Sunday. Once past the ranger gate, proceed straight on the main park road until the San Juan Meadow group camping area which will be on your right, after you cross the stream-bed for San Juan Creek.  The Juaneno Trail is at the farthest point of the San Juan Meadow group camping area, so make sure to drive all the way to the trail.

Description of Hike: This is an out and back hike to San Juan Hot Springs along a (mostly) maintained dirt hiking trail. You begin your hike on the Juaneno Trail in Caspers Wilderness Park.  The Juaneno Trail is 2.68 miles long one way.  There are plenty of great views along the Jueneno Trail as well as a great opportunity to see wildlife in this section of the park. The Juaneno Trail is mostly flat and is well maintained dirt hiking trail.  It intersects with the San Juan Creek Trail, where you will make a left and continue to head toward the hills.  In just under one mile you will hit the Oso Trail Make a left onto the Oso Trail and head uphill.  This is where a significant portion of the elevation gain for this hike is. In approximately 1.5 miles you will hit the turn for the Cold Springs Trail.  Take this trail down into Cold Springs Canyon. The trail ends in about 1 mile when you hit the San Juan Creek Trail again.  At this point make a left and head up a steep hill on the San Juan Creek Trail. You will pass two heavy posts driven into the ground. At this point you are getting close to the San Juan Hot Springs. Pay attention for several Palm Trees on the right side of the trail. (Note: They can be easily missed)  At that point there is a path on the right side of the trail which takes you directly to the San Juan Hot Springs. (Note if you hit another major trail intersection, you have gone to far).

I am sure some of our reads have asked why use the Oso Trail and the Cold Springs Trail when the San Juan Creek Trail can be used the whole way? The reason is because between those two point the San Juan Creek Trail is seldom maintained. We took the trail on the way back and can personally attest to how overgrown the trail is and how difficult it is to follow the trail. As the Park Rangers whether this section of the trail has been worked on recently when you go to do this hike. If it has feel free to use the trail which will save you approximately 3 miles total of the hike and save you significant elevation gain as well. If the trail has received not maintenance, the heavy bushwhacking required and the possibility of losing the trail make the shortcut not worth the effort. We have marked the potential short cut in yellow on the Google Map below. For a printable hiking trail map of Caspers Wilderness Park, click Here. For the Caspers Park Brochure click Here.

Further Thoughts: This was a hike I did with two friends from work Matt & Jon. It was a great hike that offered the opportunity to see abundant wildlife and the opportunity to relax by the San Juan Hot Springs. We saw deer, a ringneck snake, a red diamondback rattlesnake, hawks, turkey vultures, and an alligator lizard. One of the things about this particular trail is you will find the farther out on the trail you go, the less likely you are to see other hikers as only few hikers make the lengthy venture all the way to the San Juan Hot Springs.

We enjoyed the length of this hike as it provided a complete change in scenery. On your hike along the Juaneno Trail you have great views of the Santa Ana Mountains as you follow San Juan Creek. You travel up the creek bed through open terrain as well as through areas with lush Coastal Live Oak Trees and Sycamore Trees. Once you hit the San Juan Creek Trail and Oso Trail the hike is more exposed. Make sure to have plenty of water on warmer days. Additionally, make sure to have good sunscreen as the hike is exposed on these section. The journey down the Cold Springs Trail journeys deep into a vibrant riparian area that makes you feel miles away from civilization. However, the highlight of this hike is once you reach the San Juan Hot Springs which is a great place to enjoy lunch. (Note: make sure to pitch in and carry out some of the trash others have left behind in this area to help improve it for others)

The San Juan Hot Springs actually have a long history, even though most people in Orange County do not know they exist. Note, most of the hot springs are too hot to even stick your feet in and most websites have the temperature of the hot springs at between 120 and 130 degrees. In the 1870s the area where the San Juan Hot Spring were was a well known tourist destination. At the turn of the 1900s a hotel and other buildings were constructed to meet the tourist demand to visit the San Juan Hot Springs off of Ortega Highway. Sometime around 1936 the resort was shut down. Sometime in the late 1970s a new owner renovated the rundown resort. However the resort again closed down and most of the remnants were destroy in a 1993 that ravaged the area. For more on the history of the San Juan Hot Springs click Here.

Caspers Wilderness Park is an 8,000 acre protected wilderness preserve nestled among the river terraces and sandstone canyons of the western coastal Santa Ana Mountains. The park's many fertile valleys are overtly complemented by specimen groves of native Coastal Live Oak and magnificent stands of California Sycamore. These areas are further accentuated by seasonal wildflower displays and running streams. Wildlife is abundant and can be readily viewed from any of the parks numerous trails.

Bottom-line is the hike to the San Juan Hot Springs is a fun must do hike to a very neat geological feature deep in Orange County's wilderness!

Rating: Elevation Gain: 1,200 ft (Strenuous), Distance: 15 Miles Roundtrip (Strenuous).

Time to Complete Hike: 6 - 7.5 hours.

MORE TRAIL WRITE-UPS ON CASPERS WILDERNESS PARK

Bell Canyon Trail

Bell Canyon Trail/East Ridge Loop

San Juan Hot Springs (This Post)

View San Juan Hot Springs Caspers Wilderness Park in a larger map

Learning to Fly: An Uncommon Memoir of Human Flight, Unexpected Love, and One Amazing Dog (Book Review)

A while back we were given a copy of Learning to Fly to read and review for our readers. It is a good read for those that enjoy outdoor adventure books.  This is also a story about life and self discovery in the face of life's difficulties. The book starts with the background on who Steph Davis is.  She is well renowned in the climbing community and has ascended some of the world's most awe-inspiring peaks. In 2003, Davis became the second woman to free climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in one day. Two years later, she became the first woman to freeclimb the Salathé Wall, on El Capitan, and to climb Torre Egger, a difficult summit in Patagonia, of which she made the first one-day ascent on that summit. As noted in the video above, she has free climbed some major peaks. In the book "Learning to Fly: An Uncommon Memoir of Human Flight, Unexpected Love, and One Amazing Dog," world-renowned climber, skydiver and BASE jumper Steph Davis tells the story of her transformation from a professional climber to a skydiver and BASE jumper.

The book begins by chronicling a media controversy, surrounding a controversial rock climb by her husband in Arches National Park and the media fallout from that event. The media controversy surrounding her husbands climb causes them to lose many of their sponsorship and eventually get so bad her husband leaves her.  The book then details her transformation from a professional rock climber to and avid skydiver and BASE jumper. It is a fast paced adrenaline based book that is also deeply introspective. You get a view into Steph Davis' mind as she takes new risks and begins to live again after the loss of her marriage and the controversy surrounding a rock climb in Arches National Park. Steph Davis, lives an adrenaline filled life that few have the opportunity to do, which is what makes this book a good read! 

OC Parks Presents the 2013 Summer Concert Series

If you are looking for some free concerts this summer at a local OC Park, make sure to put some of these on your calendar! 

OC PARKS PRESENTS THE 2013 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Free all ages shows outdoors every night June through August

Matt Costa, Hindu Pirates, Hunter Hunted and O.C. Supertones among other local acts to perform

(Orange County, Calif.) – OC Parks welcomes back its annual outdoor summer concert series. Thirteen free concerts at Craig Regional Park, Mason Regional Park, Mile Square Regional Park, Irvine Regional Park and Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach will present Southern California artists performing live under the summer sky on Thursday evenings June through August.

Craig Regional Park in Fullerton will kick off the summer concert series with three free concerts. Thursday, June 6 welcomes acclaimed Oingo Boingo tribute band Dead Man’s Party performing with Michael Michael. June 13 presents ‘80s sensation Flashback Heart Attack with DJ Velvet Touch. The O.C. Supertones will bring ska to the park on June 20performing with Mike Vitale.

The concert series continues at Mason Regional Park in Irvine with three free concerts on Thursday evenings. June 27 presents the indie rock sensation The Devious Means with Cherokee Fade. Breach the Summit and A+ Dropouts will perform for a special 4^th of July celebration.  July 11 welcomes singer songwriter Micah Brown with Nicole Vaughn.

Next the series visits Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley. Surf garage rock group Hindu Pirates will perform with Cali Conscious on July 18. July 25 will present Hunter Hunted with DJ Velvet Touch. Los Angeles-based Latin sensation Boogaloo Assassins will perform alongside With Strangers August 1.

Irvine Regional Park will present three concerts in conjunction with the Into the Wild OC Trail Rockin’ 8k Summer Runs. The music kicks off with roots jug band Moonsville Collective and D.T. Robbins on August 8. Rock n’ roll blues favorite Jeramiah Red performs with Mia and the Moonlight August 15. August 22 welcomes Latin super group The Orquesta Cortez and DJ Hector Waluyo.

The last concert of the 2013 OC Parks Summer Concert Series stops at Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach on August 29 with a special performance by local indie rock icon Matt Costa and The Blank Tapes.

All of the OC Parks Summer Concerts are part of The World Famous KROQ’s ROQ N’ Surf summer series. All shows are from 6 to 8 p.m., free concert admission with free parking and open to the public of all ages. Food trucks will be serving on-site at each location. Friends and families are invited to come out and enjoy great local live music under the stars at OC Parks this summer season.

Craig Regional Park

Location: 3300 State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92835

Contact: (714) 973-3180, craigpark@ocparks.com 

Date: Thursday, June 6

Artist: Dead Man’s Party with Michael Michael

Date: Thursday, June 13

Artist: Flashback Heart Attack with DJ Velvet Touch

Date: Thursday, June 20

Artist: O.C. Supertones with Mike Vitale

Time: All concerts 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: Free Parking: Free

Mason Regional Park

Location: 18712 University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612

Contact: (949) 923-2220, masonpark@ocparks.com 

Date: Thursday, June 27

Artist: The Devious Means with Cherokee Fade

Date: Thursday, July 4

Artist: Breach the Summit with A+ Dropouts

Date: Thursday, July 11 

Artist: Micah Brown with Nicole Vaughn

Time: All concerts 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: Free Parking: Free

Mile Square Regional Park

Location: 16801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Contact: (714) 973-6600, milesquare@ocparks.com 

Date: Thursday, July 18

Artist: Hindu Pirates with Cali Conscious

Date: Thursday, July 25

Artist: Hunter Hunted with DJ Velvet Touch

Date: Thursday, August 1

Artist: Boogaloo Assassins and With Strangers

Time: All concerts 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: Free Parking: Free

Irvine Regional Park

Location: 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA, 92869

Contact: (714) 973,6835, irvinepark@ocparks.com 

Date: Thursday, August 8

Artist: Moonsville Collective with D.T. Robbins

Date: Thursday, August 15

Artist: Jeramiah Red with Mia and the Moonlight

Date: Thursday, August 22

Artist: The Orquesta Cortez with DJ Hector Waluyo

Time: All concerts 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: Free Parking: Free

Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach

Location: 33333 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, CA 92629

Contact: (949) 923-2280

Date: Thursday, August 29

Artist: Matt Costa with The Blank Tapes

Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: Free Parking: Free