Musings
Last Adventurer
#preservethegood

As you’ve seen above, #preservethegood could mean anything – it could mean helping someone in a time of need; it could be picking up trash on a trail, or a wilderness area; it could be educating people on leave no trace principles; it could be making a difference in any way you want; and it could be just about anything you want as long as you are focused in keeping the magic and the unique positive things in this world and this life. In terms of tangible things, I encourage you, my readers and followers to use the hashtag when you post a photo of something amazing; or when you’re talking about something exceptional you – or someone else has done to improve the world. I look forward to seeing how all of you end up preserving the good in 2015, and you can rest assured that as always, I will keep preserving the good where I find it as well, because as Plato says, “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” 

#preservethegood
Hiking, State Parks
Last Adventurer
Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls

As I mentioned previously, Waimea Canyon is a site that is most definitely one of the “must-view” locations on Kauai, and in the world; and as I also mentioned, the best way to experience it is to hike it. While there are many great hikes through the canyon, the best hike in my book is the Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls. It is the best hike to me because at four miles roundtrip, it is accessible, it has stunning views of the canyon from inside the canyon, and it ends at the top Waipoo Falls. It also allows the hiker the chance to swim in a waterfall, which is a once in a lifetime experience.

Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls

Strange Spots

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Volcanic Tablelands Petroglyphs

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Volcanic Tablelands Petroglyphs

In the case of the Volcanic Tablelands petroglyphs, my decision on whether to provide directions was fairly easy. The Volcanic Tablelands are an area outside of Bishop, California that was formed over 700,000 ago by the Long Valley caldera. In more recent times, the Paiute-Shoshone Indians resided here and created a great deal of rock art – petroglyphs – throughout the Tablelands. Although there are petroglyphs throughout the area, there are a number of large – and stunning groupings in certain specific areas. Even though this land is public land – managed by the Bureau of Land Management – and a protected area, it is a large area that cannot adequately be patrolled by the BLM.

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Mystery Mine, Panamint Mountains

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Mystery Mine, Panamint Mountains

One of the many things that I like about Death Valley National Park is its enormous expanse of open terrain. Its enormous swath of desert and mountain wilderness ensures that you will have solitude to appreciate the park's many amazing geologic features; and it also ensures that you will have the opportunity to have an adventure, and if you're lucky, the chance to discover things that have been lost. For example, earlier this year, when thepeakseeker and I were attempting the Shorty's Well Route (Trip Report here) to the top of Telescope Peak, we came across an abandoned mine. While abandoned mines are common in Death Valley due to the park's mining history, the location of this mine was unexpected. We had backpacked into the Panamint Mountains from the Badwater Basin; and had passed Shorty's Well, and Shorty's Mine. From the mine, we had followed a foot trail which had gradually become steeper deep into the mountains. At the end of the first day of backpacking, we had traveled ten miles from the nearest "road"; and were truly off the grid.

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Lava Tube

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Lava Tube

While the entirety of the Eastern part of California is full of amazing places to adventure in, one of my favorite spots is the Mojave National Preserve. Like Death Valley, Mojave National Preserve has a number of different types of desert terrain – dunes, slot canyons, and long lost underground springs. It also has an area that can only be described as one thing and one thing only: a volcanic wasteland. 

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Waikanaloa Wet Cave

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Waikanaloa Wet Cave

Haena State Park in Kauai has a number of attractions, including the notorious Kalalau Trail. It also has a number of attractions that don't require as much effort, including Ke'e Beach, and the "wet" and "dry" caves - Waikanaloa and Maniniholo. Both of these caves are located immediately off of the main road; but only Maniniholo can be explored on foot.  Although Waikanaloa is a sea cave it is full of fresh water, and is fed by an underground spring. Despite its pristine appearance, swimming in Waikanaloa is not recommended, as the water is contaminated with leptospirosis, a dangerous bacteria. Finally, both Waikanaloa and Maniniholo each have interesting mythological backgrounds, which you can read about here. 

Glass Beach Cemetery, Kauai

Glass Beach Cemetery, Kauai

If you like strange spots like Glass Beach, but think that Glass Beach is too mainstream for you, I have another strange and lost spot for you: the old McBryde Sugar Company Cemetery; or, as the Internet knows it the “Japanese cemetery” of Glass Beach. When I was exploring Glass Beach and looking at the various items I could find, I couldn’t help but notice that the hill above the beach had some unmistakable headstones planted on it

Glass Beach, Kauai

Glass Beach, Kauai

Kauai is known as the “garden island” of Hawaii for a reason: it has a plethora of amazing natural features for its residents, and for visitors. It also has one spot that radiates with an unnatural unintentional man-made beauty: Glass Beach. This beach is a little off the beaten path (but not by much), and will probably never be on any list of Kauai’s top beaches, due to its proximity to various industrial facilities. Nevertheless, if you like to visit strange or unique spots like me, Glass Beach is a spot that is worth a visit. The beach is in close proximity to the industrial area of Port Allen, and during the early twentieth century, was used as a dumping area for various items, including a fair amount of glass.

Leonard Knight, 1931-2014

Salvation Mountain, 2010

Yesterday was a sad day for fans of folk art, as Leonard Knight passed away at the age of 82. Chances are that you don't know who Leonard Knight is, as his name was not a household name. But, chances also are that you know his work, which is one of the largest free-standing folk art projects in the United States and perhaps, the world - Salvation Mountain. Salvation Mountain is many things to many people - but what it is and what is was is art. And as art, it was Leonard's life's work, and his way of spreading his message - "God is Love". While Salvation Mountain was Leonard's life's work, the truth of the matter is that for the last two years, the mountain was out of his care, as he had been placed in a convalescent home.

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While friends of the mountain have stepped up to continue Leonard's work - and his dream, the desert is an inhospitable place, and I for one, wonder, how much longer the mountain will last, especially now that Leonard is gone. I for one, would highly recommend that any of my readers interested in Salvation Mountain plan a trip sooner rather than later, in order that they may see the mountain as it was, and as Leonard intended it to be. I'll always remember meeting Leonard for the last time in 2010, when above all else, I was impressed by his humble demeanor and love for all. Even though it was late in the day, and he was covered with the blood of Salvation Mountain - paint and plaster, he took the time to greet all of us, discuss life, his work, the desert, and his faith without reservation. To me, you could ask no more of any artist than an honest discussion of their work, which he provided not just to me; but to all on a daily basis with much love, and clearly, the desert around Niland will not be the same without him. 

Directions: If you're headed out to Salvation Mountain, navigate yourself to Niland, California, and head East. The Mountain is located a short distance from the town, and is on the outskirts of Slab City. Also, if you are are headed out to Niland, be sure you visit the water towers above Salvation Mountain, as they feature some interesting art as well.