Mt. Washington, New Hampshire el. 6,288ft.

Mt. Washington, New Hampshire elevation 6,288ft
Via Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail/Jewell Trail Loop
Vertical climb approx 3800' Distance 9.6mi. Allow an entire day to hike for safety reasons, only start during the early morning hours.



Im on the far left trying to get in the photo. This is with my Lyndon State group at the Summit




Im about 95% sure this is a view of Mt. Washington. I took this from the summit of Burke Mountain in Vermont




The start of the ammonosuc ravine trail is easy. It's a gradual incline for the first mile and a half or so. When I was hiking this, I was unaware of any details at all about this trail. I was hiking with a group of about 40 or so people from my college so I put my trust in the leaders that I could make it up. During this early part, I got increasingly nervous, because I knew the more gradual the trail is now, the steeper it must be later on. Well, soon the trail turns towards the left with a sign saying Lake of the Clouds hut is (only a couple miles ahead). We have hardly climbed, and Lake of the Clouds hut is at 5012' above sea level! Oh boy.

This is where the fun begins (at the time being very inexperienced this is where the nerves began). The trail abrubtly begins to climb steeply. For much of the trail you will find yourself scrambling up small ledges using both your hands and feet. This is where you need to take it slow and be careful. During wetter times, the rocks will be damp and may cause poor footing. This is the part of the climb where a group of 40 of us spread out at our own pace, with the most experienced people intentionally the very last and very first person to make sure everyone was safe. Alone, I paced myself taking several breaks. Finally after a couple of miles (sorry I dont have the exact number at this moment) the trails incline becomes more gradual and your emerge above treeline and at the Lake of the Clouds Hut. (if you are looking for shelter think again, its usually closed and you need reservations way in advance to stay there). Don't forget to walk the extra couple of feet to the actual lake of the clouds, its real. From this point you can summit Mt. Monroe via Crawford path as well. Another interesting thing you will find on the trail is the change of vegetation as you increase elevation. It starts as a full size dense forest with a mix of all kinds of trees. Eventually the trees become more pine, and they start to shrink. As you start out they are way above your head, and the higher you go, the smaller they get. By the time your near treeline, they are little stubs about ankle high.

Once you get the lake of the clouds, the ascent to Mt. Washington is much less difficult from here on out (unless of course the weather is bad, you will be exposed to harsh conditions and it will be much more difficult). The trail turns into the Crawford path. Follow that to the summit for another (mile) or so. The rocks are difficult and annoying to scramble around, so keep that in mind.

At the summit you will find a small city. People where everywhere! With sever hiking trails, and auto road, a Cog Railway, and established research teams, it should come as no surprise to you. Its kind of a good feeling when you walk around and you can tell you where one of the relatively few people that actually hiked to the top. I even saw someone in high heels! It gave me a sense of accomplishment especially after some people commented they couldn't imagine how people climbed to the top. In the main summit building, you can buy food, gifts, rest, and even send a letter. Yes, they have a post office!
You have the option of taking the ammonosuc ravine trail down. I don't recommend this because of how steep it is. On the reverse, you have the option of hiking the Jewell Trail to the top. The downside of doing that is your adding a lot more distance, and the views are not as good.

Going down the Jewell trail proved to be alot more challenging than I expected, especially above treeline (actually above treeline its the Gulf side trail which leads to the Jewell trail). The trail is full of ragged, fairly large rocks (about the size of a person). They are thousands of them, which you have to use your balance, your hands and knees to scramble down. You don't have to worry about falling down far, but its a slow go. You must be careful about getting caught and twisting your ankle. It will make a hard hike almost impossible. Luckily I never heard of that happening on that day. I'm very tall, so it took me a considerable amount of time to get down, eventually the trail curves to the left and below treeline. If you make it to this point you are good to go! The hard part is over, its just a long, steady decline back to the parking lot.
If your anything like me, you will be very sore for the next few days after the hike. Bring some sort of pain reliever that will help. Obviously bring alot of water (about a gallon), extra food to be safe, a first aid kid, a walkie talkie, and DON'T forget your camera!

For Directions to the Cog Railway, additional info, and pictures, there are dozens of official and non-official sights on Mt. Washington and the White Mountains which you can search on google.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas and its mountains. Apparently the Los Vegas Ski Resort got 8 Feet of natural snow soon after I took these pics.

Confirming our encounter with Katy Perry and Russell Brand

For any non believers, here is a link to one of several articles stating that Katy Perry and Russell Brand were indeed staying at the San Ysidro Ranch on Thanksgiving. That's exactly the time and place we met them!

http://unrealityshout.com/blogs/katy-perry-russell-brand-had-wine-and-cheese-thanksgiving

CALIFORNIA PICS NOVEMBER 2010

Some other California Pics 11/25/10-11/29/10

Bob Hope International Airport, Burbank, CA

View from Amtrak ride

Sunset on the Pacific Surfliner

Pismo Beach, CA

Las Padres National Forest, CA

Santa Barbara, CA

Malibou, CA

Santa Monica, CA parking garage #6

Me on the Santa Monica Pier

Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA

View of Los Angeles from Mulholland drive

Hollywood sign from Mulholland drive

Bishop Peak, San Luis Obispo, CA Elevation: 1546 ft. Hiking Distance: aprox 4 miles RT

A San Luis Obispo gem...

Bishop Peak from San Luis Obispo, CA

Trail head sign, didn't see any Mountain Lions that day



You should run into this sign if you start on Patricia Drive (felsman loop) Take Biship Peak Trail from here



San Luis Obispo from higher up the trail

Trail Switchbacks

Me at the top

View from just below the top

Boulders on the summit

My friend Kristen demonstrating the scrambling involved at the top

SLO

A couple people rock climbing, found alot of this

Bishop Peak in San Luis Obispo(SLO), CA is the highest of 9 local mountains called the nine sisters. I was surprised when I first saw the peak from town. Given its low elevation, it certainly displayed some prominence. Bishop Peak is fairly narrow with a clear abundance of boulders. The second surprise was just how fun this hike was. It is also a haven for serious rock climbing and bouldering. There is more than one trail entrance to bishop peak trail. The trail head we chose is located on Patricia Drive called felsman loop (3 possible trail heads) is clearly marked with a sign saying "trail" along with four posts in the ground. Initially its a gravel/paved road. It gently climbs to an open field area. Once the trail gets to the open field, its splits. The one the continued right went to a water tower. Stay left towards the general direction of the summit. You will eventually run into a sign pointing you to Bishop Peak trail, reassuring your ascent. A short distance later, the trail clearly splits again. Do not take the trail that continues up the open field, keep going straight into the woods. You will know your in the right spot if you see a large rock face on the right side of the trail in the woods. After this point, you will not have anymore trouble staying on the correct path. After a short distance, the trail opens up again and begins climbing moderately. You will encounter several switchbacks with sweeping views of the town below. On the day we hiked, the trail was crowded, including a couple runners. I think it was because it was a nice day and everyone wanted to burn off last nights thanksgiving dinner. Sometimes I like crowds, sometimes I don't. For this type of hike, it was nice. A lot of friendly people having a good time. The only other time I encountered so many hikers on one trail was while climbing Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.

Once your reach the summit area of Bishop Peak, you can stop at the bench for some great views, or you can continue up some of the boulders. The boulders require a bit of hand and foot work going up, but they are not technical or very dangerous. You will encounter more excellent views on the tops of the boulders.
Getting down the boulders will be easier than getting up them. Once you hit the main trail again, use caution on the way down. The gravel/dirt trail has poor traction when it is dry, so it is easy to fall. I must also caution you if you are uneasy about heights, this trail is very open. On the other hand, it provides plenty of bang for your buck as far as views. In New England, having such open trails is very unusual. Usually, you have to hike the entire trail covered in woods. Only at the summits, ledges, or cleared overlooks have any viewpoints. The only exception is if your climbing above treeline in New Englands highest mountains ( above 4,000ft).
Overall this was a great climb. Give yourself about 1hr 30 min to reach the peak if you hike at a leisurely pace. It can be done in about 45min at a quick pace. Allow another 1hr for the way down. It is a good workout without being too strenuous. Just about anybody can do this hike if you put your mind to it. If your unsure whether you can make it, just remember you can always stop and take a break! If You start early, you have all day. Most importantly, have confidence in yourself and have a good time!

Directions: Look up Patricia Drive in San Luis Obispo, CA. It is easily accessible from CA 1 and Central San Luis Obispo. You will find the trail head on the left side of the road with 4 posts and a sign saying "Trail". You will be surrounded by houses, and chances are cars will be parked. The trail head is very easy to identify and find if you search directions using an online map.

A hike good enough for the famous

San Ysidro Trail, Montecito, California Sat 11/27/10



  





Me on the San Ysidro Trail, CA

 Well, I was right about having interesting stories to tell after my climbs. This is my most ironic story yet. Going back to Friday night (11/26) my friend and I decided to watch the movie Get Him To The Greek. A comedy about an ailing rock star and his coordinator trying to find their place in the world.
So what does this have to do with climbing mountains?
Russell Brand, the main character from Get Him To The Greek and his wife Katy Perry just happened to be on the trail! Thanks to a seemingly lost dog, we where lucky enough to have a couple short and friendly conversations with them! I want to point out that we pretended as if we did not recognize them as we where talking to them. Although in most circumstances I wouldn't see anything wrong with asking for a pic or an autograph, we both felt (along with other hikers) that it was best to let them be. One of the reasons I hike is to escape civilization, enjoy the best that outdoors has to offer, and the stress of everyday behind. I am sure that is why they where there, so we decided to respect them in the same way.
During the same time as Katy and Russel, my friend Kristen and I began our ascent up the San ysirdo trail (11/27/2010). We parked in a prominent Monticeto, CA neighborhood on East Mountain Road. The first mile or so of the trail winds its way passing gated homes. Please Respect the residents in this neighborhood. The trail system is a gem and it would be a shame to have it closed off. You will find that the locals are very kind and are also users of the trails. I must warn you, although the trails are well maintained, it is easy to take the wrong one. If it wasn't for the encounter with Russell and Katy, as well as superb views of the pacific ocean, I would not have posted this hike at all until I did it right.

We set out to do a loop to a "bench" and back to the car which was about 3.7 miles. We ended up taking the wrong trail and hiking higher into the mountains than anticipated. The beginning of the "real" trail starts with a chain linked fence at the end of the neighborhood. Immediately after beginning the hike, we saw a couple enjoying the river as we walked by, I noticed the gentlemen and thought to myself, huh he looks like the guy from the movie we saw last night. Then I heard him speak with the exact accent and tone from the movie. I thought there was no way we can just randomly bump into them, especially since just a few hours after earlier we saw his movie. I didn't say anything to my friend Kristen, until she was like "Tyler that was Katy perry and Russel Brand."

How strange is that?

Further up the trail we discovered a dog "Sage" who began following us. Sage had a number on his collar so we called the owner and nobody picked up. A group of hikers passed us heading the other direction, so we figured that maybe it was their dog. We began running back down the trail, as an excuse to talk to Katy and Russell, we asked if sage was there dog. They said no. We kept heading down the trail and back into the neighborhood and finally caught up to the group. We asked if Sage was there dog and they replied he is just a neighborhood dog. So we turned around and began running back up the trail because the time was getting late. We eventually once again caught up to Katy and Russell. Sage decided to tag along with them (smart dog). As we went up to them, Russell told us that he called the owner, and that sage is a neighborhood dog just as the group did. After a little bit of small talk, we decided to hit the trail and leave them behind, Russell told us to have a nice day, and we began the climb. The trail we took (the wrong one) ascends moderately with several switchbacks. The climb is a workout, but is not strenuous if you take your time. As a warning, Although the climb is rarely steep, the trail can be dangerous if you are not cautious. Some parts of the trail are thin (6 inches to 2 feet wide) with lose gravel and some steep drop offs on the side. Bushes will stop your fall if you do go over, Its not hard to imagine somebody getting hurt, possibly seriously if you are not careful. The switchbacks lead to ever improving views of the pacific, and the town below. It became evident after a couple hours of ascending that we took the wrong trail. Instead of looping we stayed on the San Ysidro trail. Although we where both reluctant to turn around before arriving at the summit (if there was one), it is always smart to err on the side of safety. Based on the trail maps I looked at later, I would guess we got to around 2,500FT in elevation. It was 3:30pm, the sun was setting, and rain was forecast to start anytime. We decided it was time to turn back and call it a day. Being safe is something I want to stress. Even for short day hikes it is always important to hike with snacks, water, a basic first aid kit, a compass with a map, a small flashlight, and proper weather gear. As you read some of my future posts, you will learn it is very easy to unexpectedly get lost or get caught in severe weather. It is also VERY necessary to always tell somebody where you intend to hike and for how long so they can locate you in case something happens. Finally I want to point out that having a fully charged cell phone is important, but since service my not be everywhere, don't rely on it. For more information on outdoor safety, I recommend searching google, or going to your local bookstore for detailed info.

The way down we jogged (except in places where the trail was thin and steep, we had to hold on to tree roots in a couple spots). Just as we got to the end of the trail, we once again caught up within about 25 yards Katy and Russell. We decided to hang back and leave them alone for the rest of the hike. They finished at the same time as us and went on to their next destination. Once we got in our car, the rain began!
If you decide to hike these trails, remember, movie star or not, please respect everyone on these trails. We're all there for the same reason, and that is to have a good time and enjoy the outdoors. It is only fair everyone has that opportunity. Especially in this exclusive spot!

To get to the start of the San Ysidro trail, use the following coordinates on your gps.
Latitude: 34.4686063 Longitude: -119.6226311
This will lead you to East Mountain Road at the front entrance of San Ysidro ranch and trail head in Montecito, CA




View of Pacific Ocean from San Ysidro Trail



We parked across the street from the San Ysidro Ranch



My friend Kristen and "Sage" the neighborhood dog



This may be tough to see, but the trail collapsed here, the ledge is small but steep.






Blog Introduction - Climbing America

Happy Thanksgiving!
As I am writing my first post, I am on a plane about to land in California for the first time. Aside from seeing my friends, and the pacific ocean, the one thing I am most excited about is climbing a small relatively unknown mountain called Bishop Peak in San Luis Obispo.
My name is Tyler Ventrella. By no means am I hardcore mountaineer (although someday that may change). I'm just an ordinary person with an extraordinary passion for the outdoors. I enjoy pretty much anything that gives me the excuse to travel, meet new people, and be outside. So when I first discovered mountain climbing, I instantly knew that it will become a lifelong hobby of mine.
I started this blog for a couple reasons. The first is to tell my stories. Every time I climb, something interesting happens. Whether it's meeting someone on the trail, getting caught in adverse situations, or getting out of challenging situation, they all provide a unique tale that can only happen on the trail. I want to share my stories to help you get a feel for the mountains Ive climbed, and also for your enjoyment.
The second is to share information and photos as a guide for you. A lot of the mountains I climb are off the radar. It is often difficult to get accurate information about many these places, so I want to put those questions to rest. I will try my best to give you parking info, trail info, hazards, and how to avoid places that might get you confused. I am also going to provide you (to the best of my ability) an assessment on the difficulty of the climbs (based on someone that is in average shape).
Being from Connecticut, most of the mountains I post will be from the New England area. I am planning to move to Colorado eventually, and will have an opportunity to climb out west.
In addition to mountains, Ill also post blogs about various places I travel. Its another passion I have, so I feel its important to include it in this blog.
So sit back and enjoy! I encourage you to visit my site often, and post your comments or questions. I also want you to feel free to remark on any mistakes I make, or any additional information I may have missed. Some of the mountains I describe early on are ones that I have not visited in a few years, which means things might have changed.
Ill leave you with a couple shots I took of the green mountains of Vermont on Halloween, unfortunately no opportunity to climb on this weekend.

Colvin Hill Road Danby, VT

Rutland, VT

Colvin Hill Road Danby, VT 

Danby, VT

Danby, VT Near Rt. 7