All posts by danamite

camp, outdoors

Winter Camping

winter camping

Camping isn’t only a summer time thing. In California, it can be enjoyed all year long – if you have the right gear to enjoy yourself. The deserts alone are prime destinations for your winter vacation OUT of DOORS. Star gazing is great & Back Road exploration is a great way to use that SUV.

Most meteor showers occur during the colder part of the year, so winter camping is a great way to experience the full sky & not miss any of these special shooting star shows. Desert locations well away from the city are the “best dark sky” choices. Less crowds, cooler temps and maybe more clouds. desert

stargazeKELBAKER ROAD is perfect place for stargazing, rock climbing, bon fires and free overnight camping.

weather:

We are not talking about making igloo camps in the highcountry. No snow shoes, nor cross country skiing chalets. Not even much snow camping. This page is just the basics on how to tolerate chilly temps in the milder climates for California’s dry destinations.

Make sure to check road conditions & check the closest town’s forecast before you head out on your road trip.

Bring enough clothing for a variety of temperatures. LAYERS, is the best advice for clothing. You may go from shorts to winter jacket all in 10 hours.

rain & wind:

California gets most all it’s precipitation from DECEMBER to APRIL, and a lot of winds along with each storm system. So be prepared for some weather.

Big wind event – can blow old trees down, across the road – trapping you on way back in there, so be prepared for a hike out. Super strong winds (40mph+) are also big factors in these outta control wildfires, as we’ve seen in recent years with the West Redding & Paradise fires.

camping in winter months:

Great desert locations & destinations:

purple mini
More helpful links:

sleeping outdoors:

A good zero degree sleeping bag is well worth the cash you will spend on it and it will make those chilly Sierra nights bearable even in the early season. Where fold-up cots will circulate the cold air underneath you, Inflatable air mattresses can be total luxury!

Don’t throw out that old sleeping bag. Make is useful! Try placing a blanket under your air mattress & another on top for cushion & warmth…and to protect you from the cold ground temperatures that can creep up.

snow camping:
California Wilderness
National Forests
National Park
Rather book a Cabin?

camp comforts!

  • tent heaters
  • zero degree bags
  • good clothing
  • lotsa firewood

metal fire ring

Anza Borrego State Park allows you to camp along nearly any dirt back road, but requires that you use a metal fire ring to protect the soils & sandy washes from unsightly black ashes & coals.

A metal bucket like this can be found at your local hardware store. Old washing machine tubs work well too.

real heat:

Firewood Dealers all over California can sell you a way better deal than those grocery store bundles.

Make sure to bring more firewood than you think you may need. It’s better to have more than enough than to be wishing you had more.

Tent Heaters are the latest great idea to keep you super toasty even inside your tent. Not intended for overnight use. Shut it off before you go to sleep.

mrheater

inspiration, outdoors, travel

Recreate

Recreation, Re-create what?
REAL LIFE

the happy tube
the happy tube

recreate

Let’s face it! Human beings were not designed to spend long hours in front of a television or computer. It’s no surprise that 50% of Americans are overweight, with all the lounging we do. The wifi is making my brain ache & too much screen time brings on tension. This cannot be natural, nor healthy.

While computer time is crucial to working & managing a busy schedule, learning a sense of balance in your daily life is of key importance too.

recreate your reality, one trail at a time

Years ago, while living in Los Angeles, I noticed I craved to be outside as much as possible. Whether it be walking in the local park, skating on the strand, lying on the beach or watching the sunset from a mountain top, it was a calling I had to follow. My enjoyment outdoors, be it leisure or recreational, became a very important part of my lifestyle (and thus was born the dream of Total Escape).

The more we go outside & exercise, the better we feel – overall.  Enjoying wilderness & walks outdoors gives us peace of mind, naturally. The stillness we seek, in order to slow our minds & listen to our soul, is a primal one. But overall, we have learned to ignore it.

explore bodie
Bodie State Historical Park

Modern technology should give us more freedom in our lives, but instead, many find themselves strapped to devices, gadgets & insane time schedules. The more we remove ourselves from the natural earth, the less conscious of our own lives we become. Societal influences, daily doses of entertainment, video games, plus the “always online mentality” and smartphone addiction has given us a new reality (always indoors), an invasion of privacy and a sometimes, a false sense of security.

duckduckgo.com

 

Technology is here to work with us, not against us. Set the boundaries, listen to your body & set yourself free each week. No matter if you are an avid gamer, a couch potato or a hi-tech corporate workaholic, we can all benefit from more time outdoors.

You’re not more productive;
You’re more distracted.

Learn to take more breaks, more often, away from the television & computers, for health sake. Total Escape is here to show you a way. Giving you ideas & destinations, to help you create good habits & make visits to nature a part of your weekly routine. The goal is to inspire you to explore & make your dreams of travel happen with a beautiful & easy to use web site, with as minimal obnoxious banners as possible.

dayhikeforest

California Travel this Season:

visit a historic ghost town
discover the wildflower fields
pack a picnic for a day outdoors
watch a million geese, in their natural habitat
bond with forest land, and collect firewood
seek out the deep snow – with snow shoes
stargaze, well away from city lights
soak your worries away, in the hot springs

recreate your life
recreate yourself
recreate your weekend

wildflowerwalks

Find a way to let go of stress in your life on a weekly basis. If the dieting & gym routine never worked, try something else. Keep trying. Tensions of the week will dissipate as you near the county line on that open rural highway. 3pm office day dreams will be brighter as you look forward to your next day off.

auto, travel

Driving Speeds of California

Traffic Lanes & Driving Speeds

hwysaab

california freeways

# 1 lane # 2 lane # 3 lane # 4 lane
the passing lane cruising lane truck lane merging lane
speeders: 80 mph avg speed: 70 mph avg speeds: 65 mph avg speed: 55 mph

The chart above is NOT considered legal speeds, but they are kinda realistically what to expect on the FREEWAY. Interstates and busy freeways in California get cranking and CHP is usually out in force, earning revenue for the state, as well as ensuring the safety of the roads.

Senior drivers, tourists & outta state visitors be warned – the closer you get to a big urban area, the higher speeds and the more aggressive the drivers will be. More commerce, means more trucks and delivery drivers. Southern California is notorius for bad traffic jams, and the Bay Area ain’t much better – just more spread out w/ bridges. Large 18 wheeler rigs and SUVs kill with impact, so slow down a little folks.

gasoline

So much for Sammy’s “Can’t Drive 55”

Californians can’t drive anywhere near 55. Now that the laws have increased the statewide speed to 65 or 70 mph, there is no stopping ’em. Unfortunately the average speeds are increasing all over the west, as people zoom from place to place, city to city, in a never ending transient society. This leaves way more dirt roads and rural backcountry highways left to us Escapers.

TIP: Exit the rat race & take your time, for your sanity sake & safety… slow down.

On average 3500 people die on California roadways each year.
Texas has even more driving deaths, but a lot lower population. 80 mph, go figure.

Fatality Facts State by state

califrepublic

freewaybackup

where is that high speed rail?

train

California State Route (SR) =
CA Highway (Hwy)

The freeway speeds above do not apply to narrower state routes and rural county highways. Most of these are one lane blacktop in each direction and are labeled 55 mph. Maybe slower for curves, tunnels and bridges. Be alert when driving and know that cell phone service is not always abundant on the back roads. At any time you can experience: wildlife crossing, rock slides across the road, downed tree (or branches) in the roadway, stalled vehicles w/ stranded motorists, heavy rains, snow blizzard, hail, sleet, ice, or any other hazards that accompany typical backcountry travel.

snow

No Guard Rails

La Porte Snow

California Highways
California: Outside

outdoors

Avoid the Crowds

How to Avoid Tourist Crowds when Traveling California

We are sure you’ll agree: Too much of life is spent sitting in traffic jams and waiting in line. Check out the traffic page. This page is created as a warning – CALIFORNIA IS CROWDED.

bus loads

“Hell is other people.” – Jean-Paul Sartre

Bus loads of senior citizens travel in luxury motor-coaches to casinos; Airport shuttles bring sightseers to local attractions on full day excursions; Mountain bikers head to the trailheads by way of a personal automobile, a sport utility or pickup truck; 4x4s caravan to their meeting spot, in route to the trail destination. People on their daily commute to and from work, school, play. California has loads of traffic, tourism and terrain, with a massive freeway system, plus some awesome state highways. Popular destinations tend to get crowded at certain times of the year.

California Road Trips & Peak Travel Seasons

California population may be ever growing, but they’re not building any more Yosemite Parks. The migratory path westward started w/ the historic gold rush – the trend has literally lasted over 200 years!

Make sure you plan your trip & book your lodging or campgrounds well in advance. In this west coast world of tourism, 3-6 months is not unheard of. The more popular the locale, the more people want that perfect weather month and the further in advance you should reserve. Remember a good portion of these mountains destinations are closed half the year for winter snow.

There’s nothing worse than planning a trip, only to fight traffic on your way outta town, stand in long lines & see way too many tourists running about. Enjoying nature shouldn’t have to include thousands of other people. Try these helpful tips for avoiding the crowds. Get more solitude & relaxation out of your vacation. Check our Fairs, Festivals, & Events list to know when certain towns & areas will be busiest.

california maps

With California population near 40 million people it’s a wonder we don’t kill each other faster. Slow down on the freeways and enjoy the back roads with Total Escape. Statistics show: One outta 8 Americans lives in California!

This staggering large population is ever growing and expanding. College students, retirees, world-travelers and young families flock here, bring relatives and friends to migrate west… ever since the gold mining boom of 1849.

Still we are cranking out babies and building more communities in California. Add a huge tourism industry that brings in millions of outta state folks for conventions & outdoor vacations.
4x4 roads

Although Cali is a huge regional paradise to explore, it is amazing that locals can find any secret refuge for weekends or week-long fishing trips. With vast deserts, mountains and countryside, half the golden state land could be easily considered public land, park, wildlife refuge or neighborhood open space preserve. Total Escape has this back roads thing covered. Getting you out in the boonies to relax, in nature, is exactly what this site is for.

more nature, less people

desert campgroundTry out new areas! If you’ve never heard of it, chances are most people haven’t either. Go ahead, explore a little. California is a really big state.

California’s Busy Season

Summer is definitely the tourist season in California. All the out-of-staters coming in to see the amazing Golden State: the recreation & the sights it has to offer. Summertime is the busiest time to visit the well-known areas such as:

National Parks
State Parks & Beaches
National Forests
Coastal Towns
Mountain Regions
Lakes in California

Best time to plan trips to avoid summer crowds is –

Before Memorial Day (last weekend in May)
After Labor Day (first weekend in Sept.)

Plan your trip to overnight in the National Forest lands adjacent to a National Park . You can still enjoy nature and scenic attractions without having to sleep with the masses in the expensive campgrounds, which take camping reservations a year in advance.

Plenty of secluded primitive camping & small campgrounds are available in the NFS. California State Parks are very abundant too, often less crowded during the week days and non holiday weekends.

Winter can be the busiest time to visit these areas:

snowdesert towns (with spa resorts)
mountain resorts (with skiing)

Off Seasons

Catalina Island
Off Season = November and April

Grand Canyon
Off season = November and April

North Rim Grand Cyn
Closes for winter. October – April

South Rim Grand Cyn
Open all year. Off season = November and March

Sierra Nevada Mountains
Off season = November – March

Sequoia NP – Open all year long
Kings Canyon NP – Open all year long

West side Sierra foothills
Hwy 168 – Shaver Lake
Hwy 108 – Sonora Pass
Hwy 4 – Ebbets Pass
Off season = November – March

Gold Country – Hwy 49
Off season = January – March

Eastern Sierra
US Hwy 395 – Mammoth
Off season = November – April

best time yosemite

Yosemite NP
Yosemite Valley – Open all year long. Parking limited.
Off season = November and March

Christmas in Yosemite Valley via Amtrak train is spectacular way to see the park in its full winter wonderland bliss.

High-country / Tuolumne Meadows
Hwy 120 – Tioga Pass
Closes in the winter months: November – May

traffictown

book a lodge

Better Book It – Below is a list of some super popular California destinations that have pretty limited accommodations. Tight quarters, limited capacity. Total Escape recommends you book early if you wanna spot at one of these prime places, especially in summer or winter months.

Big Bear Lake
Big Sur Coast
Cambria
Carmel
Catalina Island
Gold Country
Joshua Tree
Kings Canyon NP
La Jolla, San Diego
Lake Tahoe
Mammoth Lakes
Monterey
Mill Valley, Mount Tamalpais
Palm Springs
Point Reyes
San Francisco
Sequoia NP
Yosemite Valley

rivercamps
Mokelumne River, Central Sierra

 

We all have things that annoy us. Campers Beware