Pre-Nomad – Subaru Vagabond

Saga of Cutting the Hair

When I moved to Southern California some 11 years ago, I began with “buzz cut” hair. Since that time, I grew out my hair quite long, observing as the curls came out. I’ve been resistant for quite a long time about ever cutting the hair. It seemed that once a certain point was reached, the hair became its own commitment. I always knew a time to cut it would come, and I had always been open that the very act of cutting it was a major move in my mind, requiring a somewhat drastic action on my part. That time has come and gone, now.

Thoughts about leaving

One thing I got asked a lot is, “Why?” Why am I going to start living out of my car? What inspired this dream, and what are my reasons for doing it?

To be honest, that is one of the hardest questions I can possibly answer. In the years and, more specifically, the months that have been leading up to this, I actually never stopped to ask myself that very question. Every time I am asked, I find myself thinking that I don’t even have an answer to give. To be completely honest, I have no idea why. I have no idea what to expect from this new lifestyle. I can discuss all of the various things that I have thought about, but not a one of those truly explains my drive to go ahead and move forward with this insane idea.

Perhaps here I can lay down several thoughts about myself–who I am and what I am all about–along with several thoughts about the future that lies ahead. The physical preparations for the future will barely be mentioned (that is for a future post), but this will touch on my psychological preparations to some vague degree.

Ending Thoughts, Future Adventure(s), and New Introductions

It is now mid-way through December, and the new year is approaching faster than ever. In strangely New Year fashion, I’m finding myself reflecting on the last year and contemplating the future. The last year has been among the most challenging and most rewarding years of my life. It has been a year of saying goodbye to past life and beginning a whole new life. A lot of awesome adventure was had throughout the year, some of which I have posted about on this blog, and others that I have excluded for one reason or another. Though it may seem, looking at my posting here, that I haven’t quite been fulfilling the adventures the last few months now, I have instead shifted focus onto planning and preparing for what is all too likely to be the greatest adventure of my life coming upon me.

Vista Nature Conservancy, Public Walking Trail (10-27-2014)

Small view I enjoyed along the trail

Location: Vista, CA
Difficulty: Easy
Hike Statistics: 1.5 to 2 miles round trip; negligible elevation change
Conditions: Day, clear sky, 72 degrees, mixed shade
Trail Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Trailhead: Brengle Terrace Park ; Wildwood Park ; Several additional points along path provide access in and out

GPX Track: Google Drive (Note: Accuracy Not Guaranteed; track maps Brengle Terrace Park to Wildwood Park and back, including some alternate routings)

Desert View Tower and Old Highway 80 (10-25-2014)

Desert View Tower

A friend invited me to go on an adventure they were planning along Old Highway 80. I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into, but decided to jump right in and see what happened.

We started the day by driving out to the Desert View Tower just into Imperial County. On the drive in, once off of Interstate 8, the area became instantly interesting, with balanced rocks, rocks with bunny faces attached to them, and even a self-described UFO recovery and repair station. The tower itself, marked by signs of a historic landmark, was at the end of the road. We joked a little about the conditions that the tower could be closed under on any given day, such as heat over 120F and dust storms, but were happy to be there on a day it was open.

Admission fees were paid inside of the tower itself, where we met the many dogs and the caretaker of the tower. It was awesome to get such great, friendly service all the way out here, and we spent some time climbing to the top of the tower to take in the views.

Indian Flats, Caliente Wilderness, to Combs Peak (09-27-2014)

Location: Indian Flats Campground, Caliente Wilderness area in Cleveland National Forest, near Warner Springs, CA; Combs Peak in Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Difficulty: Strenuous (Could be done in sections of Moderate to Difficult)
Hike Statistics: 27.2 miles, over 16,000ft of cumulative elevation change (over 8,000ft gain)
Conditions: Cold to Cool, Mixed Shade (40s-80)
Requirements: Adventure Pass if parked in Cleveland National Forest area, except Indian Flats which is a separate Fee Area; no requirements if parked in Anza Borrego Desert State Park section
Trailhead: Indian Flats Campground; 33.329945, -116.640359 Cleveland National Forest near Warner Springs, CA connection to Pacific Crest Trail near Caliente Wilderness area; 33.381567, -116.595134 Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Last Valley Road and Pacific Crest Trail junction near Combs Peak

Sierra Club 100 Peaks List: Combs, #001

GPX Track: Google Drive (Note: Accuracy Not Guaranteed)

Elevation Profile of Hike

“Big” Black Mountain (09-20-2014)

Enjoying the summit breeze

Location: “Big” Black Mountain, Cleveland National Forest, near Ramona, CA
Difficulty: Strenuous (technically possible to make easier)
Hike Statistics: 14.5 miles, over 8,000ft of cumulative elevation change (over 4000ft gain)
Conditions: Comfortable, Mixed Shade (60s-80s per forecasts)
Requirements: May need Adventure Pass, deepending on parking location
Trailhead: 33.140460, -116.850113 ; on Pamo Road in Cleveland National Forest

Sierra Club 100 Peaks List: Black #1, #44

GPX Track: Google Drive (Note: Accuracy Not Guaranteed; Only includes hike described below)

El Cajon Mountain, El Capitan Open Space Preserve (09-13-2014)

El Capitan Open Space Preserve sign at Trailhead (taken at end of my hike)

Location: El Cajon Mountain, El Capitan Open Space Preserve, Lakeside, CA
Difficulty: Strenuous (Moderate to Difficult hikes technically possible)
Hike Statistics: 11.87 miles, over 10,500ft of cumulative elevation change (over 5200ft gain)
Conditions: Pre-dawn start. Temps ranging upper 60s at the start to 100 on return. Very sparse shade on return.
Preserve Hours: 7am to roughly sunset (closing time is posted). Some parking space along road for earlier starting times (recommended in hot conditions). Preserve is closed the entire month of August due to extreme heat.
Trailhead: 32.912545, -116.884734 ; off of Wildcat Canyon Road, across from Oak Oasis Open Space Preserve

Sierra Club 100 Peaks List: El Cajon, #89

GPX Track: Google Drive (Note: Accuracy Not Guaranteed; Only includes hike described below, does not include additional trail options)

El Capitan Open Space Preserve sign at Trailhead (taken at end of my hike)

Foster Point (09-10-2014)

Foster Point sign at nigh

Location: Foster Point, Mt Laguna, CA
Difficulty: Easy
Hike Statistics: 1.4-1.5 miles round trip; about 200ft elevation change
Conditions: Night, high 50s to low 60s; Clear sky, bright moon
Requirements: National Forest Adventure Pass (Cleveland National Forest) ; Required on car to park in the area
Trailhead: 32.889452, -116.441021
GPX Track: Google Drive (Note: Accuracy Not Guaranteed; Only includes attempted drawing of route via satellite images and was not actually taken from a GPS device in any way)

Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve (09-06-2014)

View into the canyon and up Rodriguez Mountain at the start

Location: Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve, Valley Center, CA
Difficulty: Easy to Difficult
Hike Statistics: 9.2 miles, 7320.54ft elevation change (3658.69ft gain)
Conditions: 90s to 100s, Mixed shade/no shade
Preserve Hours: Friday – Monday, 8am to Sunset. Preserved closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Closed entire month of August due to extreme heat.
Trailhead: 33.216444, -116.934028
GPX Track: Google Drive (Note: Accuracy Not Guaranteed ; Only includes hike described below, does not include additional trail options seen in image below)