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Steep Canyon Trail, Diamond Bar CA

1/29/2011

The City of Diamond Bar has several trails for hiking. I hiked the Steep Canyon Trail on a perfect Southern California January day. First you climb 97 steps or 105 depending on how you count. (The Diamond Bar website says 105 steps, but I counted 97). Although this is a short hike of less than a mile it is a butt kicker with grades from 19% to 25%. It is totally worth it because once you reach the top along the ridgeline trail the views are amazing.

A unique feature of the trail is that every time that I got tired or needed to catch my breath there was a convenient hilltop bench. They seemed to be perfectly spaced apart when I needed to relax. And the cool breeze and awesome views did not hurt either. You can see all of Diamond Bar, Chino Hills, and even downtown Los Angeles on a clear day.

Starting from The Steep Canyon trailhead you have the option to hike into different residential areas or into Summit Ridge Park. The trail is well maintained and many signs along the way direct you to areas where you can go and other areas that you can’t.

Make sure to bring plenty of water and a light jacket just in case. For more information visit the Diamond Bar website.

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My sleepy day at the Paramount Ranch

1/19/2011

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The Paramount Ranch is a movie ranch located in Agoura Hills, CA. At one time the ranch was owned by Paramount Pictures but at this time it is operated by The National Park Service. The ranch was home to the filming of several television shows and films, most notably Dr. Quinn Medicine women and Northern Exposure.

Visiting the ranch is easy. Unlike the Malibu Creek State Park there is no entry fee and no long hikes to see a filming site. If you park at the farthest end of the parking lot you probably would still only have a 1/4 mile walk to the western town. Although there are plenty of hikes nearby.

On my recent visit to The Paramount Ranch I traveled with a large meetup group. For some unknown reason I arrived extremely tired. Maybe the earlier 5 mile hike did me in, or maybe it was just one of those days. I zipped through the entire western town with a quickness snapping pictures of everything. Although the ranch is a very interesting site, It is very easy to see everything in a short amount of time. There are many surrounding trails such as The Backdrop Trail or The Hacienda Trail if you are not in a hurry.

As I waited for the rest of the group I had time to take a much needed nap. It was magical laying down on the train station platform (Used in Northern Exposure as Denver) staring at the blue sky and feeling a cool breeze against my body. I started to fall asleep. Eventually after what seemed like hours the rest of the large group was just arriving.

Large groups are fun but once more than a few people get together it seems that everything takes forever. I was already ready to leave and the group had just arrived. Ahhhhhhhhhh. So I slept more, woke up for the group picture and then left.

If you are not tired you can visit the ranch in this way:

From Los Angeles:

Take 101 North
Exit Kanan Road
Turn Left
Turn Left at Sideway Road
It turns into Cornell Road
Destination is on the right
If you reach Mulholland Highway you went to far

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The Banana Boat

1/19/2011

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The Banana Boat is an awesome and easy to make camping dessert.

All you will need is:

1-2 Bananas (one for each person in your group)
Small Marshmallows
Chocolate Chips

Optional Additions:

Strawberries
Blueberries
Rum

Other things you will need:

Aluminum foil
Tongs
Leather Gloves (Not required but good to use to protect your hands from the heat of the fire)
A camp fire with hot coals

How to make a Banana Boat:

First slice the top of the banana lengthwise and be careful not to slice it all the way through. Next open the top of the banana (The area where you sliced it), and stuff in chocolate chips and tiny marshmallows. For more advanced options you can add blueberries, or strawberries and pour your favorite rum inside the banana.

Last wrap the Banana completely in foil. Place the banana in the hot coals but not the blazing fire. Do not let the banana lay sideways or in a way that would cause the stem of the banana to burn. Although if you thoroughly wrapped the banana in foil this shouldn't be a problem.

Let the banana sit on the hot coals for about 10-15 minutes. Check with thongs to see if top of banana is soft. The Banana Boat is ready it appears soft or when the gooey banana awesomeness oozes out.

Finally remove the banana safely from the fire, unwrap the foil, let it cool down a tad if needed, grab a spoon, and enjoy!

The banana, marshmallows, and chocolate chips should have melted all together to form a delicious goo. Also try adding berries or rum for another delicious option. Try this easy awesome dessert next time you go camping and let me know if you found it as fantastic as I did.

How did you make your Banana Boat?

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MASH Tv Show Filming Site in Malibu Creek State Park aka home of the awesome park map.

1/19/2011

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Malibu Creek State Park is a great place for many outdoor activities. Activities like: hiking, fishing (California Fishing License is required), bicycle riding, picnicking, equestrian trails, and Camping. Check withe the rangers or read the signs as fire restrictions can be in place. I can't imagine camping without a campfire. I would advise you to make sure that fires are allowed before choosing this park as a camping destination.

For those who are fans of the Mash television show, this park offers a special treat. To many people, the main attraction is visiting the outdoor filming location of the Mash television series that aired from 1972-1983. I recommend buying the two dollar map from the ranger at the park entrance.

His exact quote was "Buy the $2 map and it will be the best $2 you ever spent on a map!"

Indeed it is a very awesome park map. I wish I could say the same for the $12 entrance fee. It used to be $7. Ouch!

It is up to you if you want the map, worst case scenario there are plenty of signs. Just remember to park in the lower lot before the campsites and take the Crags Road trail. The hike is a relatively easy hike of 2.5 miles one way. Follow Crags Rd past Century Lake and onto a small trail also called Crags Road. Follow the signs or the map whichever you prefer.

Finally you will reach the filming site of the Mash Television show. Remaining at the site are two vehicles used in the show and a small shed with Mash related pictures. Some stakes are layed out so that you can imagine where the sets once stood. If you hike up the tiny hill behind the picnic tables you can get a better view from the Helipad.

Hang out for awhile and enjoy the picnic tables. Hopefully you remembered a lunch. Did you?

As you start to head back an exciting destination is the Rock Pool. This natural pool is located 0.4 miles from Century Lake. To get there continue on Crags Road (The same way you got to the Mash Site aka backtrack your steps) passing Century Lake and High Road. There is a trail headed south off of Crags Road before the Visitor Center. Take that trail a short distance along the creek and past the rock climbers. If you don't see any climbers just pretend they are there. You can't miss the giant cliff that they climb. After that you will see the rock pool. Sometimes it is dry during the summer months. It is beautiful. Enjoy it. Have fun and be safe. And apparently you can't drink or smoke at the rock pool. So have fun but not to much fun.

To get to Malibu Creek State Park:

From Los Angeles or the Valley
take the 101 North
Exit Las Virgenes Road turn left
Drive about 3.3 miles
Turn right into the park

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What is Camping Fantastic?

1/18/2011

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Camping Fantastic is a website that celebrates my sense for adventure. I love to travel and experience new destinations. I enjoy camping, hiking, travel, food, drinking,almost anything outdoors, exploring ruins, walking through abandoned buildings and discovering the uniqueness of life.

I currently live in California and at this time most of the Camping Fantastic Blog focuses on activities in and around California. If you search carefully you can find some fun stories of my travels throughout Europe in 2004. It was an amazing trip where I visited eight countries in twenty two days.

I have traveled to many states and countries and I want to share my adventures here. Most of my adventures and blog postings will be aimed towards an adult crowd (Over the legal drinking age in your area). I am not going to give advice on how to go camping with kids etc. I don't have any kids and I don't want any kids and I certainly don't want to camp with any kids. So I am not the right person to write about that.

But wine tasting, pub crawls, Oktoberfest, hiking, extreme adventure, and world travel do interest me. I also love to cook. I love camping and making exotic and strange dishes. I made a spicy seafood dish in Big Sur that my camping buddies still rave about. It was super spicy even for me as I love spicyness but it was sooooo good. And I can make an amazing Banana Boat. It is probably the easiest and most amazing camping dessert that you can make.

Party Adventure Camping is a name that could be used to describe what I do or just exploring the world in a tent or sometimes cheap hostels will do. At the very least I go camping once a month, hiking once a week and I do these activities year round in all weather conditions. I have camped in the rain, the snow, the crazy desert wind, and the hot California deserts.

In addition to my camping experience I am an Eagle Scout and I am trained in Wilderness Survival, First Aid, Lifesaving,and Life guarding. I hope you enjoy this site. I work everyday on it and improve upon it. Feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, concerns here. Have a great time camping! I know I will.

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Rubelia (The Rubel Castle), Glendora CA

1/10/2011

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Know as Rubelia, The Junk Castle, The Pharm, Rubel Farms, or The Rubel Castle, this is not the type of structure that you would expect to find in a quiet residential area in Glendora,CA. But Michael Clark Rubel had a dream, it wasn't to go to school, graduate and find a fancy job but something much more magical. He decided to build a giant castle.

Michael's Junk Castle was made of river rock, railroad track, concrete and many random items including an old motorcycle, bottles, trophies,and tools. The castle took 25 years to complete and many of the strange items used to construct the castle were donated by the many people that helped Michael Rubel build his castle. He referred to his helpers as "The Pharm Hands".

I have never quite seen anything as unique as The Rubel Castle. It contains 75 foot towers, a blacksmith area, an old printing press, a drawbridge, vehicles from the 1920s, and a model railroad in an old citrus packing house. The castle has even survived several earthquakes and the clock tower rings every half hour. Michael Clarke Rubel passed away on October 15, 2007 and he left his castle to the Glendora Historical Society. The castle is not open to the public but can be viewed by arranging a private tour. For more information call (626) 963-0419 or go to http://tours.rubelcastle.org/#tours.

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Lake Casitas Recreation Area, Ventura CA

1/10/2011

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Lake Casitas is the perfect outdoor playground for many different activities. The park offers excellent fishing, hiking, biking, and camping opportunities. It is located near the town of Oak View but camping can feel as if you are camping in a private lakeside paradise even though you are surrounded by 400 campsites. Some campsites feel as if you are in a secluded lakeside cove.

On my last visit to Lake Casitas I stayed in Mallard 32 which provided a fantastic lake view and was near a Aircraft Runway used for Radio Controlled Aircraft. The Mallard or Osprey campgrounds are the furthest from the park entrance and have the most remote feel. If you are looking for a campsite closer to the boat ramp or park entrance I would choose Angler, Bass, or Creekside. During hotter months and especially in the summer you should try your best to find a shady spot. Not all campsites provide enough shade.

The park also has a small waterpark and hosts several events throughout the year. The event that I enjoy the most is the Ojai Wine Festival. It usually happens in June. For more information visit www.casitaswater.org/department.php?url=lake-casitas-recreation-area.

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Nature's Toliet Paper

1/4/2011

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Although you should never forget toilet paper in your camping kit sometimes things happen. However, when you have to go you have to go. And if you are in the middle of the woods without toilet paper and you have to go do the bathroom don't worry- Nature has provided you with toilet paper.

The Great Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) or the Lamb's ear (Stachys lanata) are two plants that grow in America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. Survivalists refer to these plants as "Nature's Toilet Paper" and after you use this broad soft leaf you may never go back to normal toilet paper again. The large soft fuzzy leaf feels like a Lamb's ear and it is perfect when you have no other options. Some plants even grow up to 6 feet high in the wild. Although I never recommend that you destroy any native plants it is important to know what plants can be used just in case of a emergency . See below for several pictures of the Lamb's Ear and Great Mullein.

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Steep Canyon Trail, Diamond Bar CA

My sleepy day at the Paramount Ranch

The Banana Boat

MASH Tv Show Filming Site in Malibu Creek State Park aka home of the awesome park map.

What is Camping Fantastic?

Rubelia (The Rubel Castle), Glendora CA

Lake Casitas Recreation Area, Ventura CA

Nature's Toliet Paper

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Text and photography copyright 2011 by Brian S White, all rights reserved.