Earth Day, USA

With Earth Day on Thursday, April 22, right in the middle of FREE National Park Week, April 17-25, it’s a great reminder to go green on your next adventure.  Check out the travel tips by www.deluciaOutdoors.com and the Blog “30 Years in 52 Weeks.”

Experienced outdoor adventurers, the DeLucia family want to share their budget and green travel tips to encourage families to get outdoors.  The week of April 17-25 is FREE National Park Week and an ideal time to try these travel tips:

1. Carry Baby Wipes to clean without water.
2. Bring healthy snacks and sandwiches to save money and time on the road.
3. Use canteens instead of bottle water to save dollars and landfills.
4. Stay in campgrounds instead of hotels.
5. Pack out all you pack in.

Let’s go!

Saturday Cave, California

Hello, we’re the DeLucia family and we like to explore caves.  It has been a passion that has led our lives filling it with geology, beautiful scenery, physical activity and quality time.  As parents we wanted our children to share our love of the outdoors so we started them early.

Saturday cave was the perfect trip for the kids at the time.  They were small and very gung-ho so we figured we’d test how well they listened.  The cave is very small and kid friendly, the surveyed traverse of the cave is less than one thousand feet.  The hike to the cave is much more demanding than the cave itself.  We were able to spend a couple of hours in it taking pictures, video and exploring.  The cave connects to a much larger cave system in the area, but unfortunately human access to that connection is impossible due to the size.  The access to this particular area now requires a wilderness permit to be anywhere on the trail.

Our love of caving goes hand in hand with camping, backpacking and hiking.  Caves are not conveniently located to the creature amenities such as hotels or restaurants.  Everything we packed in, we packed out.  It was instinctive to us as cavers to leave the area better than we found it.

As we move forward as a “green” society, some would say our caving lifestyle has enabled us to leave a lower carbon footprint on the planet.  We just know that there is nothing better than being outdoors, loving nature and seeing caves with our family.  In celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd, let’s all vow to get out more and enjoy the scenery.

Let’s go!

Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah

Timpanogos Cave in northern Utah may be the smallest of the national monuments at only 250 acres in size.  However the monument makes up for it with an impressive elevation gain of 2,740 feet off the canyon floor.  Visitors will feel it when they walk up the trail up to the commercial cave. The hike is a gradual gain of more than 1,100 feet in elevation which can leave you feeling a bit breathless, particularly with the beautiful American Fork Canyon views along the way.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument is located high up in the Wasatch Mountains giving it a true alpine surrounding and sits at an elevation of 6,700 at the cave entrance. Compare that elevation to the visitor center located at 5,500 feet and you understand the elevation gain on the trail to the cave.

When we visited, it was in the triple digits in Utah and the only way to naturally stay cool was to be inside Timpanogos cave where it remains 45 degrees, a welcome relief.  That kind of heat can make any hike feel much longer and harder than it really is. It’s only a 1-1/2 mile long paved trail to the cave, but the 1,160 foot elevation gain feels like more when it’s 110 degrees.

Timpanogos Cave is unique as it is actually three nicely decorated caverns that have been turned into one underground system.  The cave may be small in nature, but it makes up for it with delicate helictites and anthodites and other impressive formations found in the many chambers as you can see from the pictures.

If you plan to visit Timpanogos Cave, plan on at least a three hour trip for the hike up, cave tour and hike back.  Be sure to bring water along as there are no drinking fountains on the trail or at the cave.

Cave tours and advance tickets are available daily through Oct. 4, 2009. After Oct. 4 tours will be available on the weekends of Oct. 10-11 and 17-18. The caves and cave trail close on Oct. 19, 2009 for the winter season.  But that is not a problem, you can visit Timpanogos Cave National Monument anytime, right here at www.deluciaoutdoors.com.  Or you can see the cave and the best of scenic Utah in our travel DVD “OutDoors And not…Utah” available at fine gift shops and at our online store.

Let’s go!

Shell Beach, Central California

Sea caves offer their own special charm.  One of our favorites during our Southern California Sea Cave Survey days was Shell Beach in Central California.  Situated in an affluent residential area near Pismo Beach, sits one of the most impressive sea cave littered cliffs along the Pacific Ocean.

To survey the caves we brought a cable ladder to navigate the cliffs.  Across is a massive sea stack called Shelter Cove with a sea cave that runs through it.  We surveyed that cave and the four sea caves on the cliff, including the famed Dinosaur Cave.  Local legend of how Dinosaur got is name is that in the late 1940’s the landowner H. Douglas Brown wanted to build an amusement park by the sea named Dinosaur Caves Park.  In 1948 he began constructing a huge concrete dinosaur until the locals protested and the project stopped with the removal of an unfinished headless dinosaur in 1950.

Sixty years later, development talk of Shell Beach continues with present plans by the city of Pismo Beach to create Dinosaur Caves Park complete with restrooms, playground, gazebos, observation telescope, amphitheater and learning center along Shell Beach Road.

Both Don and I have always been more attuned to natural settings and this is what we are happy to present of Shell Beach.  When you watch our slide show you will see our actual survey being conducted.  Pay close attention to the photos along the sea mount, Shelter Cove, and you will see the survey tape stretched across as we did the land survey to tie in the sea caves to the map.  There were no fences then to block our views.  No aid of handrails to make it easy to climb down the cliffs to get to the sea caves.  It’s as exhilarating a view as you can get along the California central coast.  To us, it was a pretty and challenging spot that we needed to time according to the tide charts for the most negative tides to survey safely.  That meant we were usually there closer to the Christmas season.

During our survey our friend Pete joined us.  It was his first time ever in California and first time seeing the ocean.  He was so enamored he just remained standing way out on a rock mound and didn’t head our warning when the waves picked up.  A huge swell came in and Pete got knocked over by a big wave.  He was okay, to our relief.

We used to stop at Shell Beach to survey the sea caves, on the way to Avila Beach to survey those sea caves as well.  That was the mission of the Southern California Sea Cave Survey team in the 1980s when we were part of the original members. The SCSCS  mission was to survey the sea caves along the coast and islands of California.

­­With the new development plans for the park, these slides of the sea cave survey of Shell Beach will become more historic as it reveals how nature intended it to look.

Let’s go!

Solstice Canyon, California

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

The History:  (reprinted from posted sign in slideshow)

Walk Through A Blueprint

Since age 16, Missouri native Fred Roberts wanted to own a ranch.  His California grocery chain, Roberts Public Market, supplied a means to that dream.  In 1931, Fred and his wife Florence began to purchase Solstice Canyon parcels from various landowners.  Enchanted by the canyon’s beauty, they hired renowned African-American architect Paul R. Williams to build a home in 1952.  Williams used stone, water, and plants to add drama.  His interior and exterior design unified the natural landscape with the comforts of home.

The history of this favorite homestead site included many fires, so Fred insisted that fire protection be incorporated into the design.  The visually striking pools supplied water for an elaborate pump system to protect the home from fires.  However, the pumps and pipes were not maintained after Fred’s death and the home was lost in the 1982 Dayton Canyon Fire.  The surviving features provide a unique opportunity to walk through a blueprint of a Paul R. Williams design.

Our Hike:

We have been to Solstice Canyon a few times, this slide show was from August.  It’s an easy hour drive from Los Angeles to forest seclusion.  The story of the area is well told above, but it doesn’t tell you about the parking issues.  Come early and avoid Sunday morning.  We like this hike because it’s an easy 1.2 mile road to the burnt ruins of the old Roberts house.  There’s not too much left except a few walls and the foundation.  Along the way we encountered the Tropical Terrace and a plethora of life, from deer, tadpoles, frogs, big orange dragonflies, lizards and birds. You can even smell sulfur from the stream that runs on the property.

The site has beautiful vegetation, the old landscaping now mixed with the natural fauna.  Tucked away to the right of the home is an outside chapel with a Madonna and child.  Climbing up pass the home is an old fort house with ledges and sitting areas.  We found a beautiful homemade wall ornament reflecting the characters of the previous owners, with a horseshoe centered with handprints and tile.  Bouldering above you’ll find a nice swimming hole and a cliff wall for high diving and flat rock for laying out.  If you climb down instead you can actually find some shelter caves next to the waterfall complete with orange flowstone.  If you go into the caves expect to get muddy but have a great time.  At the very end of our hike we saw a hawk which was a cool way to end our walk in Solstice Canyon.

Let’s go!

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

In 1872 Yellowstone National Park became America’s first national park.  The park is so large it spans between three states, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, but Wyoming is considered its home.  There are many reasons to visit including the iconic Old Faithful, numerous geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Yellowstone contains one-half of the world’s hydrothermal features, with more than 10,000 beautifully colored hydrothermal features and 300 geysers in the park.  Patience is key to enjoying the most popular geyser in the world, Old Faithful, which gets its name for its continual spouting that can be reliable.  A sign is posted with estimated times for eruptions, which is spectacular to watch and always a great crowd pleaser.

There is also the abundant wild life.  The park is home to grizzly bears, wolves, bison, elk and prairie dogs.  It’s impossible to drive through the park without seeing impressive animals, such as buffalo roaming.  Even parking at the lodge, we had to wait for a moose to pass so we could exit the car.  Although the animals may seem friendly and approachable, remember they are still wild, and plenty of space should be given to them for safety.

Majestic mountains frame meadows, valleys and lakes making Yellowstone one of the most scenic national parks in the USA.  All it takes is one visit to understand how this rich land became the first designated park for conservation and preservation.  Whether you are there to backpack, hike, swim, fish, or geyser gaze; plan to spend a few days to cover the vast area.  Guaranteed, you will never forget your visit.

Let’s go!

Subway Cave, Northern California

Subway Cave is a huge lava tube with borehole walking passage that is ideal for all ages to enjoy.  It is located off Highway 89 in Lassen National Forest.  The gentle passages can be easily explored with flashlights.  Cavers always have at least 3 light sources.

As you can see from the map at the entrance, Subway extends about 1300 feet meaning you will encounter total darkness in the passages.   That is because Subway is the largest accessible lava tube in the area, formed during a lava flow about 2000 years ago that covered the Hat Creek valley.  When hot lava flows, the top begins to cool into rock.  The hot lava continues to pour through, creating a large drain in essence, leaving a crust of lava that becomes a cave.  The roof of Subway Cave can range between 8-24 feet thick of lava rock.

The cave temperature averages a cool 46 degrees all year round.  Admission is free for Subway Cave and there are self-guided trail signs throughout.  Plan to visit late May – October when the cave is open.  It is closed during the winter.

Take a look at our slide show from a recent trip to Subway Cave and you will see how we take our pictures.  We even have video of this process.   The photos show how large and beautiful this lava tube really is.

Let’s go!

Jot Dean Cave, Northern California

Don and I have been going to Jot Dean Cave for so long that we even have a picture of the signage when it was once called Jot Dean Ice Cave.  We prefer the old name ourselves.  That is because the old lava tube is still filled with surprises, including an ice wall with a small room behind it filled with ice crystals.  For years the cave was naturally closed due to frozen ice blocking the entrance.  Now you can crawl in and explore the cave, but be warned, you will most likely get a little wet from belly-crawling.

As you can see from our recent slide show, the cave has major ice formations.   Be sure to grab something warm to wear as you venture into the cave.  It is a great way to stay cool on a hot day.  Plus make sure your shoes have good traction.  It’s very easy to slip on the ice floor of Jot Dean Cave.  But if you enter prepared, you will have the time of your life.

Let’s go!

Avila Beach, Central California

Located on the central California coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco is Avila Beach.  The town is known for its three piers and restaurants, but to us Avila is a great place for sea caving and the primary reason we go there.

The steep cliffs at the ocean provide stunning scenery and are littered with sea caves and crashing waves.  We had to plan our sea cave surveying on the most negative tide days for safety purposes, otherwise it could be a very aggressive undertaking.

Most people are content to just stare down at the sea cliffs and enjoy the beauty.  We went into the sea caves and explored, photographed and measured to survey and create maps.  Take a look at the slide show and you can awe at the wonderment inside the sea caves without getting splashed by a wave.

Let’s go!

Mountain Home State Forest, California

One of the more challenging caves is located at 6232 feet elevation in Mountain Home State Forest in California.  We have always referred to it as a climbers cave with its multiple rope drops in a wet, cold environment that has the reputation of giving cavers hypothermia.  The extreme climate and vertical topography has lead to tightly controlled access by the park system.  Cavers must go through a permit system and rigorous gear checks prior to entering the cave.  Two people must also stand watch at the entrance in case of complications in the cave.  The entrance is a culvert in the middle of a collapsed sinkhole with a 15 foot steel ladder.  Several steep climbs lead to the first rope drop.

Don and I were on the survey team for this cave that took a total of three trips and 19 cavers to complete.  Total surveyed traverse was 621.6m, 2041 feet with a total depth of -126.3m, 415 feet.  The most significant aspect of the cave is The Mountain Room, one of the largest underground rooms in California.  This room also has beautiful white flowstone and a large white angel wing which you can see in the slideshow.

Outside on the surface in the area we parked, there is a convenient giant sequoia tree which we used as a dressing room to suit up for a caving trip.  The cave is freezing and challenging but I always couldn’t wait to get in.

Let’s go!