Guess where Western States

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I know where the troll is. We drove over that bridge and drank down the road from that troll many times.

Bill

So, where is the troll? And what does the troll have in his left hand?

 

[easyrider]

So, where is the troll? And what does the troll have in his left hand?

If it were up to me it would be a beer instead of a bug, lol.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

So, where is the troll? And what does the troll have in his left hand?

Under the Freemont Bridge and a VW Beattle. This would be near your old stopping grounds I think. There was a newer for me brewery last time we stopped by with people that hadn't seen the troll. The last time we were in this area was helping a friend move his kid over to UW.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

 

[Shiba]

Hearst Castle.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Under the Freemont Bridge and a VW Beattle. This would be near your old stopping grounds I think. There was a newer for me brewery last time we stopped by with people that hadn't seen the troll. The last time we were in this area was helping a friend move his kid over to UW.

Bill

correct. And it's an actual VW Beetle. With a CA license plate, as I recall.

 

[easyrider]

Hearst Castle.

Bingo !!!

 

[beejaybee]

This photo of mine taken October 24 was published in The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Wish I Was There feature. Can you guess where?

 

[Laurie]

@beejaybee

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP in Colorado?

 

[easyrider]

Can you guess where?

It kind of looks like somewhere I don't remember in Zion Park.

Bill

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

@beejaybee

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP in Colorado?

It kind of looks like somewhere I don't remember in Zion Park.

Bill

I don't know the exact locale, but that relatively flat upper surface of limestone means that it's an incised canyon complex in the Colorado Plateau. However, there aren't any red rocks exposed under the limestone, so that puts it on the eastern side of the Plateau. Gunnison certainly fits those criteria.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

And googling, here is picture of the Gunnison Black Canyon. Looks like the same locale.

 

[beejaybee]

Yes!
Black Canyon of the Gunnison. I am so glad we took the long way from Grand Junction to Moab to be able to visit this national park. The entrance north of Montrose had only recently reopened following July's devastating wildfire. My photo shows only one of the amazing Vistas along the loop road.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Need to be familiar with coastal Southern California to get this one.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Need to be familiar with coastal Southern California to get this one.

View attachment 124589

It's hard to tell exactly, but I'd guess that it is Mount Calavera, in Carlsbad, California. I moved to Carlsbad last year.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

It's hard to tell exactly, but I'd guess that it is Mount Calavera, in Carlsbad, California. I moved to Carlsbad last year.

That is correct. The view of the northwest face, with Calavera Lake on the west. The Carlsbad beaches are on the coast, directly behind Calavera.

I took the picture late this afternoon, from the trail that runs along the eastern edge of the Carlsbad Highlands Ecological Reserve.

Calavera is what is left of the center magma plug of an ancient volcano, much eroded, with a good portion of both the top and sides eroded. It's a smaller version of Devil's Tower.

 

[easyrider]

View off our deck.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

That is correct. The view of the northwest face, with Calavera Lake on the west. The Carlsbad beaches are on the coast, directly behind Calavera.

I took the picture late this afternoon, from the trail that runs along the eastern edge of the Carlsbad Highlands Ecological Reserve.

Calavera is what is left of the center magma plug of an ancient volcano, much eroded, with a good portion of both the top and sides eroded. It's a smaller version of Devil's Tower.

How strenuous would the hike be for someone mid 70's? Also, is the trail fairly well marked and is it one-way in and one-way out rather than a loop?

 

[BJRSanDiego]

View off our deck.


View attachment 124603

Very nice!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

How strenuous would the hike be for someone mid 70's? Also, is the trail fairly well marked and is it one-way in and one-way out rather than a loop?

BTW - I'm also mid-70s (just had my 75th a few weeks ago). We've been in the area for two years now. I have not done the trail to the top of Calavera yet. That's because I had an arthritic hip when we moved in, and the trail to the top was a bit more than I felt comfortable. Not because of the exertion, but because I didn't want to take the chance of being up on the hill and having my hip decide it didn't want to cooperate any more. Then I've dealt with a litany of tendinitis issues post-surgery as my body has been adjusting to the replacement - was in a boot for about eight weeks.

It hasn't been until the last three weeks that my leg and hip have returned to normal. I took the picture while I was on a 2.5 mile loop in the park. I had planned to do a bit less than a mile, as an out and back, but when I hit my turnaround distance I was still going strong and feeling fine, so I completed the loop. During the walk and afterward, I felt better than I've felt walking for about the last six years - before my hip started acting up.

Most of my family members have gone to the top - I'll probably tackle that this weekend.

Trails are very well marked. There are multiple access points to the reserve, and a network of trails (City of Carlsbad Trail Map). So you can do an out and back or put together a loop, as you wish. (For my loop, I went in on the southeast off of Cannon Road, in Oceanside across from Ocean Hills Country Club, and came out on the northeast side near Lake Boulevard, basically following the west side of the housing developments on that side of the reserve.)

There are several routes to the top of Mount Calavera, of varying steepness.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

BTW - I'm also mid-70s (just had my 75th a few weeks ago). We've been in the area for two years now. I have not done the trail to the top of Calavera yet. That's because I had an arthritic hip when we moved in, and the trail to the top was a bit more than I felt comfortable. Not because of the exertion, but because I didn't want to take the chance of being up on the hill and having my hip decide it didn't want to cooperate any more. Then I've dealt with a litany of tendinitis issues post-surgery as my body has been adjusting to the replacement - was in a boot for about eight weeks.

It hasn't been until the last three weeks that my leg and hip have returned to normal. I took the picture while I was on a 2.5 mile loop in the park. I had planned to do a bit less than a mile, as an out and back, but when I hit my turnaround distance I was still going strong and feeling fine, so I completed the loop. During the walk and afterward, I felt better than I've felt walking for about the last six years - before my hip started acting up.

Most of my family members have gone to the top - I'll probably tackle that this weekend.

Trails are very well marked. There are multiple access points to the reserve, and a network of trails (City of Carlsbad Trail Map). So you can do an out and back or put together a loop, as you wish. (For my loop, I went in on the southeast off of Cannon Road, in Oceanside across from Ocean Hills Country Club, and came out on the northeast side near Lake Boulevard, basically following the west side of the housing developments on that side of the reserve.)

There are several routes to the top of Mount Calavera, of varying steepness.

I suspect that we live in the same approximate area. I live at the "old folks home" at La Costa Glen (close to the Forum shopping center off of El Camino Real and Casa Di Bandini at the south end of Carlsbad). I'm wondering if there are any other Tuggers here at the old folks home?

Thanks for your feedback. I am working with a hip problem and (currently) sacroiliac issues. But I'm trying to keep moving. So, I'm going to try out Caliveras in the future. Thanks for your input.

Bruce

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I suspect that we live in the same approximate area. I live at the "old folks home" at La Costa Glen (close to the Forum shopping center off of El Camino Real and Casa Di Bandini at the south end of Carlsbad). I'm wondering if there are any other Tuggers here at the old folks home?

Thanks for your feedback. I am working with a hip problem and (currently) sacroiliac issues. But I'm trying to keep moving. So, I'm going to try out Caliveras in the future. Thanks for your input.

Bruce

Sent you a PM to take this discussion off-thread.

 

[easyrider]

Easy one.

 

[beejaybee]

@easyrider
North Window at Arches?

 

[klpca]

Located in California in an infamous location.