Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [45]
Snorkelers will find mask, snorkel and fin rentals widely available from concessionaires near the respective snorkeling sites (around $25 for the lot). Think you’ll be taking the plunge more than twice? Buy your own set – it’s cheaper. When heading out, don’t go alone, don’t touch anything and don’t forget the sunblock!
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Yes, there is hiking in them thar hills. Just plough through www.etreking.com for ideas, trail descriptions and handy tips on exploring SoCal’s mountains.
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WHALE-WATCHING
Every summer 15,000 gray whales feed in the arctic waters between Alaska and Siberia, and every October they start moving south down the Pacific Coast of Canada and the US to sheltered lagoons in the Gulf of California off Baja California. While there, the pregnant whales give birth to calves weighing up to 2500lb (who go on to live up to 50 years, grow to 50ft in length and weigh up to 45 tons). Around mid-March these whales turn around and head back to the Arctic. Luckily for us, during their 12,000-mile round-trip, the whales pass just off the California coast.
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HIKING
Got wanderlust? With fabulous scenery throughout, Southern California is perfect for exploring on foot. This is true no matter whether you’ve got your heart set on peak-bagging 10,000-footers, trekking through cacti groves, hiking among fragrant pines or simply going for a walk on the beach accompanied by the booming surf. Wherever you go, expect encounters with an entire cast of furry, feathered and flippered friends. Keep an eye out for lizards darting among the rocks, porpoises pirouetting offshore or eagles plummeting through the sky for prey. In spring and early summer, a painter’s palette worth of wildflowers decorates leafy meadows, shaggy hillsides and damp forest floors.
The best trails are in the jaw-dropping scenery of national and state parks, national forests, wilderness areas and other public lands. You’ll find the gamut of routes, from easy strolls negotiable by wheelchairs and baby strollers to more extreme, multiday backpacking routes through rugged wilderness.
There are bulletin boards showing trail maps and other information about the area at most major trailheads. Parks and national forests almost always have a visitor center or ranger station with clued-in staff happy to offer route suggestions and trail-specific tips. They also hand out or sell trail maps, which may be necessary depending on the length and difficulty of your hike. Look for contact information in the destination chapters throughout this book. For preliminary research, check out www.fs.fed.us/r5, the website of the United States Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Southwest Region.
Safety
Pick a hike that matches your time frame and the physical ability of the least-fit member in your group. Before heading out, seek local advice on trails, equipment and weather by calling or stopping at a ranger station, visitor center or local sports shop. Pay attention on the trail and be aware of potential dangers. Even a minor injury such as a twisted ankle can be life-threatening if you’re alone. Always let someone know where you’re going and how long you plan to be gone. Use the sign-in boards at trailheads or ranger stations. Carry a cell phone, but don’t rely on it: service is spotty or nonexistent in many areas. Weather can be unpredictable, so carry adequate clothing and equipment. Afternoon summer thunderstorms, for instance, are quite common in the deserts. Always carry water, snack food and an extra layer of clothing and/or a raincoat.
Look out for western poison oak in forests throughout California, especially below 5000ft elevation. It’s a shrub