Climbers Mark and Anders gear up for the Nose on El Capitan

I rolled into Yosemite Valley late in the afternoon on a Monday in May. Three weeks before the Memorial Day Weekend rush the national park seemed almost vacant. Bluebird skies and warm temperatures made for great camping weather. And even though a friend offered me a bed for the night I headed over to Camp 4. 

 Not far from the park exit Camp 4 is a uniquely Yosemite experience. Made popular through the 60s and 70s this patch of earth is home to the many rock climbers who come to the Valley from around the world to ascend its high granite walls. For just $5 per person each night you can pitch a tent within a short trek to the base of El Capitan. There you can surround yourself with an eclectic mix of people like you who love adventure. And while 5-star luxury accommodations are available at the Ahwahnee Hotel Camp 4 caters to the bargain basement crowd just looking for a place to crash. So if you’re a dirtbag on a budget, here are a few simple suggestions to help maximize your time in the nylon ghetto.

1) Beware the bears: The morning after I arrived the car parked next to the Joy Ride was mauled by at least two bears. Paw prints on the doors looked like those of a mama bear and her cub. Sometime during the night they pried open all the doors and pulled out much of the car’s weather stripping. As long as you keep all the food and any items with an odor you should be safe. Each campsite offers a secure cast iron box for safe food storage. Use it! Unfortunately this mangled vehicle had a plastic container full fruit on back seat. The rest as they say was history. =>; Bear Food Storage
 

2) Show up early: Camp 4 usually sells out of sites every day during the summer. Frankly I lucked out. The ranger kiosk opens at 8:30 in the morning. But those hoping to camp arrive as early as 6AM! Last summer I was number 45 in the line at 7 in the morning and by the time I paid my dues for the night there were only 5 spots left.

3) Make Friends with strangers: There’s a good chance you’ll share a site with another party of campers. Living in close quarters is much easier when you’re open to sharing. Just saying hi or the gift of a smile goes a long way toward building rapport. Before you know it you’ll be sharing stories around the campfire over beers and a bag of chips.

4) Bring a bike: More of a guideline than a rule having a bicycle in Yosemite is a great way to get around. I drove out with a bike knowing I’d use it every day. Everything is close enough to walk but Curry Village according to the signs is 2.6 miles from Camp 4. And if you’re temped to drive parking, especially at peak season can be a nightmare. The park offers bike rentals for $28 a day. A bit pricy, but it’s an option.

5) Free WiFi: I confess that I enjoy staying connected even when camping. Cell reception in Camp 4 is actually pretty good. But Internet connections on my iPhone are spotty at best. Fortunately Yosemite Lodge at the Falls directly across the highway has free wireless access. That’s not true at other hotspots around the park that usually charge some kind of fee. At this very moment I’m set up at the food court with full connectivity, an outlet to plug-in to and a cup of hot tea.

I’ve made Camp 4 my Yosemite home base for years. Here is where I became friends with world-class climbers likeTimmy O’Neill, Cedar Wright and Ron Kauk. It’s not uncommon to meet up with other greats like Alex Honnold, Jimmy Chin, Renan Ozturk and Tommy Caldwell. At its core Camp 4 is an international community where people who share a passion for the outdoors gather to experience the Valley not as tourists but members of a great collective where everyone is welcome.
If you’ve got some tips or suggestions on how to enjoy your time in Yosemite I’d love to hear them! Post your comments here or drop me an email at info@joytripproject.com

Go be Joyful!

This guest blog was submitted by our friend James Mills of The Joy Trip Project which is made possible with the support sponsors Patagonia, Rayovac and the New Belgium Brewing Company.

1. Shop at an outdoor specialty store

While big-box stores carry backpacks, you need to visit an outdoor specialty store to find a high-quality pack that’s going to fit comfortably and last a long time. Outdoor specialty stores not only carry the most comfortable, durable products, but they also have staff members who are trained to help you choose the right product that really fits. Of course, a quality pack will cost more, but I recommend that you spend a bit more on your pack, shoes and sleeping bag, because these greatly affect how good—or bad—you feel during a trip. Also, cheaper gear often falls apart more quickly, so, in the long run, you end up paying just as much with replacements. 

2. Describe how you’ll use the pack

Tell the salesperson the types of trips you’ll take with the pack and the environment you’ll be in. This will help determine the size pack you should buy. For example, do you need a 6,000-cubic-inch pack for a weeklong backcountry trip, or a 3,000-cubic-inch pack for a weekend excursion? Maybe you want something super lightweight for thru-hiking. Keep in mind that you can get a bigger pack if you ever want to do longer trips. Also, if you’re traveling in summer, you might want a pack that offers more ventilation for your back.

3. Discuss other features that are important to you

Help the salesperson narrow the choices by discussing things that you would prefer. For example, do you want an external-frame pack (more ventilation), or an internal-frame pack (more custom fit, lighter weight, better load distribution). Also, some folks want a pack with a hydration system, while others prefer to carry water bottles. You can get a pack accessible only through the top, or one with multiple access points. Or, maybe you want multiple external pockets to organize your gear. You might ask the salesperson to show you two or three models to help you decide.

4. Have the employee measure your torso

Once you have chosen a model, have the salesperson measure your torso (from the hips to the base of the neck) to determine the size pack you’ll need. Keep in mind that some manufacturers offer waist belts and shoulder straps in several sizes to fine-tune the fit.

5. Try on the pack with some weight in it

The salesperson should fill the pack with about 20 pounds of weight, and then let you try it on. Ask the salesperson to show you the proper sequence for adjusting the waist belt, hip straps, shoulder straps, sternum strap and load-lifter straps. The salesperson should then ensure that the pack is sitting properly at the shoulders and hips. This is also a good time to get advice on how to properly pack your gear to balance the load effectively.

6. Wear the pack in the store for a while

Tell the salesperson you would like to wear the pack and walk around the store for several minutes. Pay attention to how it feels, and ask salesperson to help you adjust the various straps to balance the load between your shoulders and hips.

7. Don’t forget accessories

Ask the salesperson to show you any accessories you might need, such as a rain cover for your pack, a camera bag, or extra straps to latch things to the packs.

Written by guest bloggers Wendy Geister and Marcus Woolf of The Adventure Post (www.theadventurepost.com), which inspires people of all ages and abilities to explore their world and enjoy the outdoors. Geister and Woolf have gathered a community of outdoor writers and travel experts to share travel tips, provide insider info on destinations, and offer opinions on the latest gear and clothing.   

Favorite State or National Park and why?

Yosemite National Park.  The first time I went, I drove in at night in the dark.  That meant when I woke up in the morning I was blown away by the truly magical scenery around me.  I will never forget that feeling of awe and delight.

What activities would you recommend at this park? 

If it is a first visit I recommend going on a tour with a park ranger.  This gives you a great backdrop of information and things you can look for throughout your visit.  If you haven’t experienced the majestic California redwoods, Mariposa Grove is a must see. 

What are the best uses of CleanWell products at a park? 

Our biodegradable canister & travel wipes are great because they remove dirt and germs.  So they are perfect to use at your campsite.  After you’ve been out exploring and before you eat.  They are also great for an impromptu wipe down of the kids; hands, feet & legs too!

Thanks, Holly for the interview!  For more info about CleanWell, visit http://www.cleanwelltoday.com. 

Interested in alternative means to note significant outdoor experiences?  Try drafting a soundtrack for your adventures.

"What seems to happen is that a piece of familiar music serves as a soundtrack for a mental movie that starts playing in our head." said Petr Janata, a cognitive neuroscientist at University of California, Davis. The article can be found here: Music-Memory Connection

Your “mental movie” could include a list of memorable tunes or just a single song to represent the entire trip.

Here are two suggestions for Joshua Tree National Park.

* The majestic Long Highway by The Jezebels.

  This song can energize anyone as they traverse the long, vibrant roads of Joshua Tree.  “Long Highway” build an intensity that is only equaled by the vivid display of colors at sunset in the desert.

 * For a mellow, yet refreshing tune be sure to add Emmylou by First Aid Kit.

This humble, folksy melody can aid anyone musing on romantic ideas while trekking through the beautiful desert.

Enjoy! 

The response to the Geico RV has been extremely positive; most people seem to enjoy the colorful wrap, the message, and yes, the giant Gecko. Here's a fun video that My Fox Houston ran about the Texas state parks and the RV: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/120315-find-life-outdoors-inventing-ways-to-keep-parks-afloat. 

Shameless plug: this is just one of the many effective ways that Good Solutions Group (our parent company) partners with corporations to support state parks!

The Len Foote Hike Inn, an eco-friendly lodge, lies deep in the Chattahoochee National Forest, just north of Amicalola Falls State Park.

courtesy of Len Foote Hike Inn 

Accessible only by a 5-mile hiking trail, the Len Foote Hike Inn serves as a sort of retreat from the plugged-in world. I made a spring trek to the Inn and found that it’s comfortable but also wonderfully primitive in some ways – for example, the cabin rooms have no electric outlets. But that’s the whole point of the Inn: Get visitors to trek in and encourage them to disconnect from smartphones and other high-tech distractions, and simply enjoy the quiet surroundings.

While the Inn provides a respite from our tech-heavy world, the facility itself is really a showcase of modern, eco-friendly design. Outfitted with solar panels, composting toilets, water-harvesting devices and a number of other eco-friendly features, the Inn received the gold rating for environmentally efficient structures within the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program. It’s pretty impressive to see such forward-thinking design put to use smack dab in the middle of an immense forest.

Before heading to the Inn, guests must first check in at the Amicalola Falls State Park ranger station, and I arrived there on a typical spring day, with the parking lots and waterfall trails bustling with visitors. As I confirmed my reservation, a ranger reminded me that the Inn allowed no pets, cell phones or radios to ensure that peace and quiet are maintained. We chatted a bit, and I asked the ranger what types of people tend to visit the Inn. She remarked that people from all over the world have stayed there, and that Len Foote excursions were really popular with families and women because it’s especially safe. For one thing, everyone who stays at the Inn registers at the ranger station, so the Inn knows to look for your arrival that day. If something were to happen to hikers, they wouldn’t be left stranded in the woods for long.

Another popular aspect of the trip is that you don’t have to haul a big backpack. Since a cabin room lies at the end of the walk, you need only carry a daypack with toiletries, a few clothes and a few other necessities as you traverse the Amicalola Mountain ridgeline. Plus, I found that the hike was an easy to moderate walk over rolling terrain.

An hour or so after I reached the Inn and checked in, I joined a guided tour of its eco-friendly design elements, including the worm bed where red wigglers decompose organic material, such as leftover salad, deposited from the dining hall.

After hanging out with worms, I figured it would be a good idea to clean up before dinner, and I really appreciated that, despite its rustic nature, the Inn did include hot showers in the bathhouse. I then strolled over to the Sunrise Room, a cozy space with large, East-facing windows and places to sit by a wood-burning stove to enjoy a book.

courtesy of Len Foote Hike Inn 

Soon, dinner was announced, and I shuffled to the dining hall where I joined the other guests sitting shoulder to shoulder at a long wood table. Servers brought out large plates of food for everyone to share, and they encouraged us to take only what we could eat. The conversation was lively, and the stick-to-your ribs food was amazing – some of the finest mashed potatoes I’ve ever eaten.

At the end of the meal, we participated in what has become a ritual at the Inn. First, each person scraped his or her leftovers in a trashcan, and then uneaten food was weighed. The final weight was written on a dry-erase board next to figures recorded from previous groups. (Most folks in our group wore a sheepish grin, as we tipped the scales a bit more than earlier diners.)

Of course, the food weigh-in was just another way that the staff tries to make people more aware of conservation. That has been a main mission of the Inn since it opened in 1998, and the facility is actually named for Leonard E. Foote, a conservationist, biologist and photographer who dedicated his life to protecting Georgia’s natural resources.

The Inn’s other mission is to simply provide a place for folks to relax. After dinner, I strolled down to a bluff at the rear of the Inn, sat in an Adirondack chair and gazed at faint city lights far below and miles away. Perhaps more than ever, I appreciated that the frenetic, electronic world was a mere twinkle on the horizon.

courtesy of Len Foote Hike Inn 

Traveler's  Notebook:

-Reservations are required: call 800-581-8032. $140 per adult for double occupancy; $97 per adult for single occupancy.

-Book early: the Inn is very popular and rooms sell out quickly during popular spring and fall months.

-The Inn gives you access to other great trails in the area. Consider returning to Amicalola via the Appalachian Approach Trail. Just be aware that this path is more strenuous than the Len Foote Hike Inn Trail.

Written by guest bloggers Wendy Geister and Marcus Woolf of The Adventure Post (www.theadventurepost.com), which inspires people of all ages and abilities to explore their world and enjoy the outdoors. Geister and Woolf have gathered a community of outdoor writers and travel experts to share travel tips, provide insider info on destinations, and offer opinions on the latest gear and clothing.  

 Jason kayaking in Morro Bay

Morro Bay Estuary is no San Francisco Bay based on size. Sure it sees its share of fishing boats coming and going, but by no means did it seem large. That is, until I asked my arms to do the traversing. Getting out of the car and kayaking forced me to slow down to a speed where I began to notice the small fish swimming through seagrass and the startling splash of a pelican's dive.

Besides pelicans, gulls, and jet-black cormorants, you will also find a variety of aquatic mammals about the Bay. One of my favorite animals to see is the harbor seal. Periodically these seals pop their heads above water with puzzled expressions as if to ask, "Who's the new guy?" It's also impossible to beat sea otters on the cuteness scale. You'll find these furry little creatures floating around the Bay or harvesting shells to snack on.

While it is possible to see most of Morro Bay's wildlife from shore, you're guaranteed a more intimate experience if you paddle it. On any given day in the Park you will encounter a variety of watercraft: kayaks, canoes and SUPs. Keep an eye out for fishing boats and always bring a floatation vest. Although not dangerous like large boats, the biggest thing to watch out for in Morro Bay is the low tide. Getting yourself out in an area that's too shallow can be a muddy mess! Check the local tides before heading out.

Tips for visiting Morro Bay State Park:

-If you make it out of the water mud-free, treat yourself to a meal at Bayside Cafe. If you launch from the southern end of the Bay near the Natural History Museum you will find this eatery conveniently located in the parking lot... Go ahead, you earned it!

-To stretch your legs out, tackle the short hike up Black Hill, which is also within the park. From this vantage point you will get a great panoramic view of the Bay and coastline beyond.

-Best time to visit: Winter can afford some of the clearest days, but be prepared for lower temperatures. While other nearby beaches are pounded by winter swells, you'll find that Morro Bay is perfectly protected from waves.

-The sand dunes on the western edge of the Bay make for a great paddling destination. Just be sure to respect the endangered snowy plover's nesting area.

Written by Guest Blogger, Jason Weddle. Jason puts his paddling experience to use at www.TheNiceRack.com. Nice Rack specializes in wall racks for surfboards, and SUPs, but also sales kayak and canoe carriers for trucks and cars.