The Life They Call Crazy

Cedar Falls Backpacking from El Capitan Reservoir

This was a trip that I’ve wanted to do for about 2 years now. At it’s destination sits an amazing 100 foot waterfall with rock faces to climb and jump. The average person reaches this “devils punchbowl” either from Ramona, or Julian and is about 3 miles each way. With the recent injuries at the falls the forest service was forced to close the main hiking trails coming into the falls. 

I took this as my opportunity to hike into the falls from the south for a solo jump sesh at the falls and it was sweet. This was my 5th time, and every time prior there were at least 30 people there, so to be at the falls with just Amy and I was awesome.

I’ve got to give major props to my fiancé Amy who killed it on this trip. Rough trails and long milage(30 miles, 2 days) made this one a bit harder than I had expected it to be and she stuck it out like it was no big deal. I look forward to taking her on more backpacking trips…

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High Mountain through Upper Lopez Canyon to Cuesta Grade Backpacking 26 Miles

Where do I start with this one. I have somewhat of an obsession with the foothills behind San Luis Obispo. From my first hike as a kid  to Lower Big Falls in the Santa Lucia Wilderness I’ve been hooked. We’re talking about an area that isn’t much further than 30-45 minutes out of town and still has that feeling of seclusion and serenity.

For this particular trip I wanted to include high valley below the the condor lookout and show Jimmy and Nick the dense Upper Lopez Canyon. got dropped off at the unnamed trailhead on High Mountain Road 12/26 not really sure of the quality of the trail ahead of us. (The trouble that I kept encountering while planning the trip is that trails on this side of the wilderness aren’t mapped on topo’s). To my surprise (and relief) the trail was in excellent shape most of the way up to the old High Mountain Fire Lookout now used as a condor lookout.

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Music

Music is something that has alway daunted me. It seems so overwhelming, the kind of thing that I would love to learn but so detailed. Probably the kind of thing that I could learn quickly with the right teacher, but hey who knows.

I want to learn the guitar, that’s my new years resolution.

On a side note, I am highlining the Congo gap in joshuah tree in two weeks. Very excited, stay tuned for updates and photos. (Congo gap= 80 feet in the air and walking 30 feet across on 1” webbing)

This is awesome, kill your TV!