Photos and text by Larry Bloemker Hiking the Cinder Cone at Lassen Volcanic National Park is a journey that is part alpine and part alien. It’s an environment that can be as jarring and harsh as the forces that created it, but Cinder Cone offers … Continue readingLassen NP Cinder Cone
Lava Beds National Monument is a very remote place in northern California not far from the Oregon border. It was a three to four hour drive from Redding. I first read about Lava Beds while I was working at the Madison County Museum in Edwardsville, … Continue readingLava Beds National Monument
Pinnacles National Park is the most recent addition to our National Park system. Pinnacles National Park joined the California Condor Recovery Program as a release and management site in 2003. The park currently co-manages 86 wild condors in central California with Ventana Wildlife Society. For … Continue readingPinnacles National Park
The main residence on the grounds was built in 1921. Enemy of the Average Madame Ganna Walska, a well-known Polish opera singer and socialite, purchased the estate in 1941 and spent the next 43 years creating Lotusland, which is now recognized as one of the … Continue readingGanna Walska Lotusland
I took an excursion trip with Channel Island Adventure Company. I took the ferry from Ventura Harbor to Scorpion Beach on Santa Cruz Island. They have all the gear to suit you including wet suit, wind breaker, crocs. Bring snacks and a waterproof camera. The … Continue readingKayaking Sea Caves on Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island is one of five within Channel Islands National Park. Here are pristine beaches, rugged mountains, lonely canyons, grass covered hills, and some animals and plants that you have never seen before. This island is a miniature of what southern California looked like … Continue readingChannel Islands NP – Santa Cruz Island
On the ferry ride back to Ventura Harbor from Santa Cruz Island, I got to see two humpback whales. All the birds flying around indicate a feeding circle. Humpback whales migrate through here on their way down to the Baha Peninsula. Researchers use the … Continue readingFerry Ride from Santa Cruz Island
In December of 2017 fires burned in southern California. The Thomas fire burned in Santa Barbara County. The firefighters did a great job of impeding the flames preventing homes from burning. During the winter, this area has a rainy season. When the rain saturated the … Continue readingMontecito Debris Flows
by Larry Bloemker The blaze marking the path to Alamere Falls couldn’t have been any clearer. An arrow of stones pointed the way into the trees and brush that wound through the coast and eventually took us directly … Continue readingPalomarin Trail Christmas Hike
The Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park starts by Happy Isles in the Valley and goes 2,000 ft up Vernal and Nevada Falls 3.5 miles. It is an amazing, historic trail. Larry and I got to unexpectedly go to Yosemite and hike it due to … Continue readingYosemite National Park – Mist Trail