Thermarest Women's Trail Pro Sleeping Mat

Christmas time usually means some new backpacking gear for me. In this case, I bought myself a little something. I have been looking to upgrade my bulky, heavy sleeping mat for something lighter and more pack-friendly. Since I am not very tall, I was also looking for something more size-appropriate. Six feet of length was translating to me carrying unnecessary material and weight. This, coupled with a huge sale at Sports Chalet resulted in a brand new Thermarest Women's Trail Pro Sleeping Mat.

Want the short version: BUY IT. Buy it now and here's why...

For you backpacking fanatics out there, reason number one is its weight. It's light and compact and comes with its own stuff sack. On short trips, it's small enough to stuff in my bag instead of strapping on the bottom. For you technically oriented people, the inflatable sleeping mats are a go-to because of the added warmth. You will really benefit from the layer of air between you and the cold ground. From my experience so far, it has done an excellent job of maintaining the air volume in the mattress and I haven't noticed significant deflation in the mornings.

All of this aside, my favorite part is that I can sleep on my side for short periods during the night. I'm a natural side sleeper and have always found my backpacking mats unwilling to let me sleep on my side for more than a few minutes. This one by no means provides a full night of side sleeping, but it will definitely allow you a little bit.

My only word of advice is to pay attention to the sizing. When they say 5'6" they really mean 5'5." If you don't buy the right size, you're going to have a bad time.

It's proven itself in Joshua Tree in the winter and I am headed to San Jacinto in a few weeks where I expect it to perform just as well in the cold. I love this mat and I couldn't be any happier. 

Lost Horse Mine Loop

At a Glance

Distance: 6.2 mile loop

Difficulty: Easy - Moderate

Elevation Change: 400 feet

Trail Condition: Very Good

Restrictions: National Park Entrance Fee

Trailhead Coordinates: 33.950685, -116.159805

This loop capped off a perfect car camping weekend in Joshua Tree. Heading south on Keys View road, make a left onto Lost Horse Mine road about 2.4 miles past the fork at Park Boulevard. Continue down to the very end of Lost Horse Mine road and you will find parking and pit toilets at the trail head. Once you turn off Keys View, you will be on a dirt road to the trail head, but fear not, my little sub-compact Chevy made it with no problem. 

We hit the trail early in the morning, as it's a popular hike and the parking lot fills up. Heading in the clockwise direction, you have two options: the 4 mile and change out and back hike to the mine, or head around the mountain to complete the 6.2 mile loop. If you have enough energy and water, I strongly encourage you to complete the whole loop.

Heading up the hill toward Lost Horse Mine

The first two miles to Lost Horse Mine greeted us with a gradual incline and gentle, rolling hills. The hills were a smooth, refreshing change from the often striking and severe peaks and points towering above the desert floor. This area was badly burned by a fire and there is a noticeable lack of vegetation, so please do your part in helping this area recover by staying on trails and not disturbing the surrounding plants and wildlife. Shoot off the main trail to get a little closer to the mine and take a snack and water break before heading around the hill. Note that due to vandalism, the mine itself has been fenced in. While you can't get close enough to the mine to touch it, there are informative and interesting signs posted about the history of Lost Horse Mine and the importance of mining to the area in the early twentieth century.

The Valley Floor stretched out to the East

I wasn't sure what was in store for us as we headed past the mine and around the hill. Luckily for us, we were about to enter an area untouched by the recent fire with sweeping views of the basin to the East. Winding up and around the nearby hill, we were greeted by a lot of small elevation gains and losses as we twisted and turned toward Quail Wash. The trail here narrows quite a bit, and while mountain biking is forbidden on this trail, there were obvious tire tracks along the trail, so keep an eye out and be safe as you move along the ridge. Stop and take a minute to enjoy the views of the valley stretched out toward the East and see if you can spot Malapai Hill.

Chimney just before Quail Wash

The narrow hillside trail eventually flattens out into Quail Wash, the final portion of the Lost Horse Mine Loop. The Joshua Trees in this wash are absolutely superb. This portion of the trail surprised me with some of the largest and most elegant Joshua Trees I had seen in the park to date. I can only imagine what this wash must look and sound like after a thunderstorm or flash flood, with water rushing through the sand around the great trunks of the Joshua Trees. As this wash forks and winds through the valley, keep an eye out for posted signs keeping you on the trail. The park rangers do an excellent job of posting signs where turnoffs may be the most confusing, but it's up to you to navigate through the wash appropriately.

Quail Wash

Enjoy your last moments of solitude and the beauty of Joshua Tree as you wander through Quail Wash. Soon you will turn the corner and be back on Lost Horse Mine road, a few short steps from the parking lot. As you wind through the mine area, back around the mountain and through the wash I hope you enjoyed the scenery and all that Joshua Tree has to offer as much as I did.

Cabrillo National Monument

I have been so graciously invited by The Little Backpacker to contribute to her hiking chronicles. I recently went on a much (MUCH) smaller hike at Cabrillo National Monument. I highly recommend it for its leisure and sight seeing, not so much for the difficulty or stamina. However, I ended up exploring this little gem in December 2013. So, let's start from the beginning.

What did I bring? I brought my camelbak just as a place holder for my water bottle, keys, and power bars. I did not need to fill the pack because I knew the hike was short. A water bottle is sufficient. I also brought a couple of snacks because I spent a few hours there doing some exploring. Cabrillo National Monument is located in Point Loma overlooking the San Diego bay. The entrance fee was $5 which was well worth the exploring that I got to do. The area is small with gift shops, information centers, the trail, and the Cabrillo lighthouse and monument all in close proximity of each other. I went out early in the morning (meaning 10 am) to do some exploring before I hit the trail. It was well worth my time! So, I highly recommend you set apart some time to explore the lighthouse and the actual monument of Cabrillo. The view isn't too bad either overlooking the bay! If you do go up into the lighthouse I recommend a light jacket or windbreaker especially in the windy and winter months. Other than that jeans (or comfortable pants), a t-shirt, and some tennis shoes are the essentials and layer as necessary depending on weather.

So, the actual hike was not much of a hike at all but more of a stroll overlooking the ocean's edge. The trail is known as the Bayside Trail totaling 1.86 Miles round trip. It does not form a loop so you eventually reach an end with a gate cutting off the trail and you have to turn around to get back. The trail is located right off the light house path and takes you down through a spectacular view of San Diego and the ocean bay. Thankfully, the day I went it was beautiful and mostly clear so the view was the highlight. The trail is very well marked and looks more like an old service road so the terrain in manageable for all ages. The beginning part is moderately steep, but the rest is smooth sailing.

I do recommend this hike for beginners, like me, who are undecided if they want to take hiking up as a hobby. It was a great place to explore on my own and the view was phenomenal. I also got to break in my new hiking booth! There are plenty of activities for all. On the way out of the park I even stopped at the tide pools, but I did not stay long with the wind picking up that day. However, depending on the tide the tide pools may not always be visible. I hope this was helpful and make sure to add this small gem to your list of hikes.


 

Ryan Mountain

At A Glance

Distance: 2.96 miles (out and back)

Difficulty: Strenuous

Elevation Change: 1234 feet

Trail Condition: Very Good

Restrictions: National Park Entrance Fee

Trailhead Coordinates: 34.002611, -116.136592

Elevation Marker at the Peak

After spending my first weekend at Ryan campground, I had my sights set on Ryan mountain. This desert beauty towers over Juniper Flats, keeping the campground in the cool shade until the sun peers over the ridge in the mornings. Getting to the trailhead was a piece of cake. It's a short ride east from Ryan Campground on Park Boulevard. The popularity of the trail was immediately apparent. The trailhead is very well marked and boasts restrooms and relatively large paved parking lot.

View Northwest toward Wonderland of Rocks

Heading south, we started gaining elevation right away. As we started winding around the west side of the mountain, the views were already spectacular. The Joshua Tree forests of Juniper Flats and the Wonderland of Rocks to the north were beautiful. It provided ample motivation to make it to the top.

The trail hugs the West side of the mountains for the majority of the hike. Near the peak, it flattens out into a very small valley and heads toward the eastern side of the ridge. The last couple hundred yards start to give glimpses of the sweeping Eastward views from the summit.

View Southeast toward the Hexie Mountains

Once we arrived at the summit, it was immediately obvious why this was such a popular hike. The 1.5 miles up the ridge paled in comparison to the 360 degree views of the park. The Wonderland of Rocks rises in the North and the Joshua Tree forest of Juniper Flats stretches out to the West. Lost Horse Mine is hidden somewhere in the gentle hills to the South. The vast expanse of the Pinto Basin, abruptly halted by the Hexie Mountains, lies to the East. My only advice is to take a fleece or a windbreaker, as it can get blustery and chilly at the summit.


The takeaway from this hike: DO IT! The short 3 mile jaunt is well worth the incredible views of Joshua Tree NP stretched out below.

Simple Knit Beanie

It's getting a little bit chilly here in Southern California so it was time to break out the knitting needles and do something I've been wanting to for a long time: knit a beanie! I don't have a good beanie for backpacking, skiing and other general outdoors activities, so this was a perfect rainy day project. The beanie is very simple, with a k2 p2 around for the brim and a straight stockinette stitch for the rest. I knit it on circular needles, which are my new favorite thing.

Simple Knit Beanie

Here's what you will need:

-1 pair of US size 8 circular needles (16")
-3.5 ounces of medium weight yarn (something soft and warm so it won't make your forehead itchy)
-1 set of US size 8 DPNs

I used this pattern with a few of my own adjustments. I found that subtracting 2" from the brim wasn't quite enough for a nice, tight fit. I have started subtracting 2.5"-3", depending on the bulkiness of the yarn. I also make the brim 5"-6" thick. Luckily, this is a forgiving pattern and it doesn't take long to churn one out. It's easy to develop a feel for sizing the beanie after you make one or two.

After knitting a few of these for myself, my boyfriend and my sister, I got to try them out in Joshua Tree. It got down to right around freezing both times I have used it and I am very satisfied. The tight knit kept my head warm through the day and all night. My only takeaway is to use a VERY soft yarn, as a little bit of wear can make the beanie scratchy and itchier than initially anticipated.

Happy knitting!