Santa Paula Punch Bowls: Video

Just a really rad video of the Santa Paula Punch Bowls.

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Adventures in Southern California

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Emergency Kits and Bug-Out Bags

Pacific Crest Trail

Now that people are starting to take some interest in prepping, I thought I would share the contents on my emergency kit and my bug-out bags. I've had a bug-out bag since I was 15 years old. These days, I keep three separate kits. Depending on the area you live in, you should adjust the contents of your bag accordingly. These lists are intended to be a general reference with the essentials to get you started on your own customized bug-out bag. 

Small Emergency kit for hiking

Emergency  blanket, alcohol swabs, dermabond, crazyglue, matches in waterproof case,  toilet paper, purel hand sanitizer, travel size suntan lotion, flashlight/headlamp with spare batteries, glowstick,  needle and thread,  energy bars, pocket knife, few feet of rope/paracord, emergency whistle,  bandages, rain poncho, compass, water purification tablets/iodine,  powdered Gatorade individual packs

Store it in a metal thermos for boiling water in an emergency

Large kit for bugout bag

Canteen(s) and water bladder, camping stove, 4 season tent, Am/Fm radio and batteries, cell phone and charger, gloves, wool hat, jacket, extra socks/underwear, hatchet, gun/ammo, small fishing kit with line/lures/hooks, duct tape, gauze/Band-Aids/bandages, Neosporin, advil/Tylenol, small travel size toiletries including toothbrush, toothbrush, all-purpose bath soap, lighter, map of evacuation route, energy bars, vitamins

Car kit

Jumper cables, spare tire, fix-a flat, jack, tire iron, large warm blanket, small propane stove, can opener, plastic fork and knife, camping mess kit, flask of alcohol, laundry detergent, extra matches, large jug of water, inflatable mattress, extra dried food: crackers/canned tuna, beef jerky, salt/pepper, energy bars, powdered Gatorade, vitamins, gas mask with NATO filter, potassium iodide for radiation poisoning, small Army field manual, disposable coverall suit, a weapon to defend yourself (gun, sword, or a large knife). 

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Don't Eat the Wild Mushrooms

Don't Eat the Wild Mushrooms!

Have you ever seen one of those survival shows where the host eats a handful of wild mushrooms to stay alive? Are you tempted to try it yourself?  What you don't see when you watch these shows is the botany expert with the PHD in biology behind the camera carrying his trusty encyclopedia of edible plants.  To the untrained eye, many types of mushrooms and plants are indistinguishable. One bad mushroom might be all it takes to kill you on an empty stomach. If you're ever lost in a forest for  a few days, you are much better off eating bugs. Earthworms, termites, grasshoppers, and crickets are all completely edible and high in protein. Most people can go for a week or two without food anyway. I could probably go for two months on body fat alone, and that's not a joke. When in doubt, its better to tough it out for a day or two  and avoid the plant or mushroom that could potentially kill you. No matter what anyone on TV tells you, stay away from the wild mushrooms.

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Family-Gets-Sick-From-Poisonous-Yard-Mushrooms--174410621.html

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Monrovia Canyon Falls

Monrovia Canyon Falls

Monrovia Canyon Falls is definitely worth a visit. The hike to the falls is less than 2 miles round-trip and suitable for hikers of any ability. The falls are probably around 40 feet tall, but they’re fed by a spring so you can visit in the middle of summer and not be disappointed. I would definitely recommend doing Monrovia Canyon Falls during the week to avoid the large crowds and the LA “hikers”. I put "hikers" in quotation marks because I'm always a bit skeptical about anyone on the trail sporting a Raiders football Jersey, a teardrop tattoo, or a switchblade. The last time we made this hike, we had the place to ourselves and it was gloriously peaceful. Nothing ruins a hike faster than a gaggle of screaming teenagers drinking Coors Light and blasting Nickleback from a set of blown-out iPod speakers. You probably won’t be able to make a whole day of Monrovia Canyon, but you can easily see Monrovia Falls in the morning and then drive 5 miles west on the 210 and hit Hermit Falls and Sturtevant Falls in the little town of Sierra Madre. From the 210 Freeway in Monrovia, exit Myrtle Avenue, drive through Old Town Monrovia to Foothill Blvd, turn right, go two lights to Canyon Blvd, turn left, drive through residential area for about 1 mile staying to the right, turn right into Canyon Park at the 3-foot-tall sign. To avoid the $5.00 parking fee or to hike after hours, drive to the intersection of Canyon Drive and Ridgeside Drive (approximately 100 yards short of the Canyon Park three-foot tall monument sign). The park entrance is about half a mile from here. You can find parking just below this intersection along Canyon Drive. Pay careful attention to any ‘no parking signs’. Be aware that the curbside parking fills early on most weekend mornings.

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