Diane's Big Adventures (and News)

How to dehydrate sweet potatoes (and other starchy things)

I make my own backpacking food. I eat a paleo diet, too and I often go cookless. I learned how to do this on my trip to the Winds from some CDT Thru-hikers. One of my staples is dehydrated sweet po More...

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PCT - Cottonwood bridge to Tehachapi

When you hike the PCT, never mutter under your breath, "Thank God I never have to hike this section again" because you never know. I have now hiked this little segment in the desert three times! Trai More...

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Return to Ocean View (for the last time?)

Trailhacker and I hiked up to Ocean View once more to work on the trail. We saw this baby rattlesnake along the way. This picture makes him look full-size. He could have fit in the palm of my hand wit More...

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Ocean View Trail Again - Presidents Weekend

Trailhacker and I returned to Divide Peak and the Ocean View trail over Presidents Day weekend. We've been getting really lucky with nice, warm weekends with cold, rainy and snowy periods in between. More...

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Ocean View Trail near Divide Peak

This weekend Trailhacker and I went a'hackin' on the Ocean View trail which is an abandoned trail near Divide Peak. You can get more info on this area in Bryan Conant's Dick Smith Wilderness map. On More...

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Franklin Trail

Franklin Trail would be a trail in Carpinteria if it existed anymore. It currently does not exist but may exist soon in the future. People are working on it. Franklin Trail actually does exist, but o More...

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Jesusita Trail Exploration

Today Trailhacker and I did something we don't normally do: went on a random, unplanned exploratory hike on Jesusita Trail. Normally we just hike for exercise and we just stay on the trail. It was re More...

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Mission Pine trip

Thanksgiving weekend, Friday through Sunday, we went on a hike to the Mission Pine area. The first day we hiked to Mission Pine Basin. We met a couple of guys but saw nobody else the entire trip. The More...

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Cold Springs Trail after the little fire

Today we hiked up Cold Springs Trail to see where the little fire was. It was in the area where it gets rocky and exposed between the powerlines and the eucalyptus trees. Only a small section burned. More...

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Dabney Cabin hike

Yesterday we hiked in the blaring sun to Dabney Cabin. Manzana Creek was mostly dry everywhere. There were pockets of water in very shady areas. From Horseshoe camp we decided to forgo the trail and More...