December 8th, 2010

The Grotto Trail

My Name is Jason Hill and my hiking partner is, my son, Nishan Hill.

Hiking Partner

For some time now I have been thinking of activities that I could share with my son, but it had to be something we could both do and that we could both enjoy ourselves while we are doing it. I recently received the book Day Hikes Around Ventura County: 82 Great Hikes from my wife, and thought this is the great activity I have been searching for that could give my son and I something to do together.

Before this I was not much of a hiker, I always thought there are so many more activities you could be doing than hiking. So with an open mind, we have set off to do a hike each week until we finish the book. To accompany the hikes, I have decided to write a corresponding blog to remember the day and the memories my son and I made during each hike. Check it out if you dare at Hills Climbing Hills, who knows you might like it.

Today’s hike takes us, just North of Malibu California, to the Circle X Ranch and the wonderful Grotto Trail.

Unfortunately there was no water in the creek at the beginning of the trail, because this would have been an awesome 20 foot waterfall.

After some minor rock climbing we made it to the grotto.

I am starting to realize that this hiking thing is not as bad as I thought it was.
You can read about our previous hikes and continue to join my son and I as explore Mother Nature and all of her beauty at
Hills Climbing Hills.

Thank you Scott
and
Happy Hiking
hillsclimbinghills.blogspot.com

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December 3rd, 2010

Mountain View

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November 25th, 2010

Climbing Kilimanjaro for Others

Please read Stacey’s story and help send her to Kilimanjaro for charity:

I’ve been struggling with my weight for well over 12 years. I find going to the gym to be incredibly boring. When I discovered hiking a whole new door opened! It was great exercise, peaceful, invigorating and hours would pass before I would even realize it. This was how I was going to get in shape for good! Then I was approached by my cousin, Kara Richardson Whitley, asking if I’d be interested in joining her on her third and final trek up Mt Kilimanjaro. She has climbed up Mt Kilimanjaro twice before in the name of getting in shape and raising money for charity.

“Some people live their whole life thinking about
doing something to help someone else but never
get around to it.” It’s my time!

I’m excited to announce that in February I will be climbing up Mt Kilimanjaro as part of a celebrity weight loss Kilimanjaro trek. The journey will be filmed for a television series. 

Each one of the trek participants (Muhammad Ali’s daughter Khaliah Ali, former Biggest Losers Heba Salama and Ed Brantley, Author Kara Richardson Whitley and more) have famously struggled with his or her weight and are taking on the challenge up Africa’s highest peak to get in shape and raise money for charity.

In addition to getting in shape I’ve committed to raising $5,000 for Global Alliance for Africa. GAA (Tax Exempt ID E-9940-2068-02), helps children orphaned/abandoned as a result of AIDs/HIV.

To help me get to my fundraising goal I’ve partnered with a really cool t-shirt company called “I am”. They custom designed this super cool Hiking & AIDs ribbon t-shirt w/the tag line “See you on top”. $5 of every shirt purchased will go to Global Alliance for Africa! If you like one of the other shirts simply put climb4health in the promo code and $4 will go to GAA.

World Aids Day is December 1st…Click here to get your t-shirt now!
Don’t want a t-shirt?  Click here to make a donation directly to Global Alliance for Africa.   100% tax deductible!


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November 22nd, 2010

Ranger Shelton Johnson Talks About Oprah

In this short video National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson talks about Oprah visiting Yosemite National Park. I reviewed the novel Gloryland by Ranger Johnson last year, but didn’t know that he was the reason Oprah went to the park. I don’t watch much TV but I recorded Oprah’s visit to Yosemite because I love the park and I recently bought an RV. I was surprised to see Ranger Johnson and it warmed my heart when I realized she visited thanks to a letter he had written her. Please watch the video. It will make you think.

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November 15th, 2010

History of Eddie Bauer


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November 12th, 2010

Winter Water Bottle Freeze Up Tip

Now that winter is upon us it’s time to think about how we’ll stay warm
on cold nights. Here’s a little thing I like to do to keep my feet warm and to keep my water bottle from freezing over night. Before you go to bed warm water just before it boils and pour it into your water bottle. Make sure it cools off enough so it doesn’t melt your bottle or burn you. Screw the lid/cap on tight, dry the outside of the bottle, and place the bottle at your feet in your sleeping bag. It’ll keep your feet warm for a few hours, and in the morning you’ll have water that isn’t frozen.
The other option is to go south for the winter :)

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November 8th, 2010

Let the Rving Adventure Begin

I love camping, and I love traveling, but now that I have two boys under three getting out has become more difficult. Not that we don’t travel and hike anymore, we just have to plan more carefully, budget for higher expenses, and not hike as far as we used to. Since my wife and I met over a decade ago we’ve been dreaming about owning a motorhome. Now that dream is a reality. We just bought a great RV with low miles and everything our family needs to explore North America.

With the RV and an Internet connection I’ll be able to venture to more places and create more hiking trail reports for you. My wife is a professional photographer and that means we’ll be able to bring you beautiful images to compliment my reviews. Owning an RV is an economical way for us to see more of our world, to grow closer as a family, and to reach more trails. Until now hikes far from home had to include airfare, hotels, eating out, and other travel expenses. Now, with our RV we can explore at a much lower cost and ease, and we get to return to our own bed each night no matter where we are.

If you’re an RV owner please share with others how RVing has improved your outdoor experiences.

RV for Hiking

Our Family Ready for New Adventures


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October 27th, 2010

127 Hours Contest

Contest for Movie Based on the True Story of Aron Ralston

If you’re like me you were shocked when you first heard about the guy that cut off his own arm to save his life after being trapped under a bolder in a Utah canyon. We soon learned more  about Aron Ralston and the accident that trapped him for five days. To save his own life Ralston cut off him own arm with a pocket knife. The story is an amazing one that produced a best-selling book by Ralston. Now there’s a movie opening in select theatres November 5th staring James Franco as Aron Ralston.

There’s a contest called 127 Defining Moments where you can enter your own life changing story that occurred in the great outdoors. Outside Magazine will select 126 winners and ten will receive grand prizes. All 126 winners will get prizes from Eddie Bauer First Ascent, Sierra Designs, Larabar, and CamelBak. View the movie trailer below and don’t forget to enter the contest.

Enter the Contest


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October 26th, 2010

Take a Kid Hiking

Too often we get busy and forget to do the little things that make a huge difference in the lives of our children and other children we love.  The fall is a great time to go hiking.  In many parts of the world the leaves are changing and the temperature is perfect.  There are few bugs and other critters to work around too if that’s something that bothers you.

Take a kid hiking and camping and you’ll create positive memories they’ll never forget.

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October 21st, 2010

Hiking Blogs

Send Your Favorite Blogs for Our 2011 List of Best Hiking Blogs

Soon I’ll be creating my list of the best hiking blogs for 2011. Of course this list is really based on what hiking blogs stood out in 2010, but I feel if they did well in 2010 they’ll be great in 2011.

Comment with your favorite hiking blog.  It can be your own site as I enjoy sharing other sites with my readers.  Input and reviews from other bloggers and outdoor webmasters has been the highlight of my site this past year, and I hope it will continue.

There is no real science (analytics, rankings, etc.) for this review.  It’s mostly based on my spider sense (gut) and personal taste.  I enjoy sites with beautiful images, good reviews, and tips based on personal experience. If you have something to share online let me know. Even if your site doesn’t make the list I am always open to good trip reports.

Thanks,
Scott Thompson

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