This is a continuation of Two days in Death Valley in February 2012. Morning in the Panamint Valley was cold and very clear. After an unbelievably starry night, the dawn was gradual and brilliant. The best reason for going to sleep soon after dark is to be able to enjoy a very gradual dawn. The […]

Part 1 of Two Days in Death Valley in February 2012 Sometimes places are so close and accessible they become a less urgent destination. Death Valley has been that way for me. Jeanne has been in the US for eight years and has been there five times, where I’ve lived here all of my life, […]

We’re always impressed when we run into people who’ve managed to build a career around their passion. On a recent ski trip to Mammoth, we tried out Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery, a concierge ski rental service. Black Tie takes reservations for outfitting their customers with ski equipment at the time and place of the […]

We love to find new hikes in Los Angeles, and this time we made a late decision to hike Mount Lowe, a 1,708 m (5,603) peak just north of the more-famous Mount Wilson and stepped onto the Sunset Ridge Trail at 2pm. The sky was ominous but the forecast called for clouds and not rain, […]