well off the beathen path

Lake in California

2009-07-07T16:37:00.001-07:00

Camping LakeOriginally uploaded by danamightAmazing weekends in the High Sierra. Crisp, clean air, incredible mountain scenery in the alpine country. July 4th was not-so-crowded at Highland Lakes. Although all 35 campsites were filled, the nights were silent & you could hear the frogs. Very few boats on the lakes overall. Plenty people fishing. Kayaks & canoes, a dream location. Wildflowers just

Big Redwoods State Park

2009-07-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

Many qualities attract us to the west coast. For those born here they find solitude in every stream. For the newcomers, Cali is a new beginning. The extreme landscape, the diversity, the wilderness, the people, the plants. Sequoia trees of California. All parks, listed just for you.Coastal redwoods of the north coast to the giants of the Sierra Nevada.Find your redwood parks here

California Blogspot

2009-07-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

You've finally found us. About freakin time! This is my life, right here, online, on the west coast - your California. I am DanaMite & I am at your service. Literally!Been documenting the back roads of this glorious golden state for about 20 years. Now I get show you the photos and tell you about all the secret spots, deep in nature, immersed in the wilderness - where you want to be. Outdoor

Watershed Lake

2009-06-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

lake in cawatershed: mountain ridge lines dividing two drainage areas; water parting; divide. the region or area drained by a river, stream, or drainage area.Many Sierra Nevada lakes are considered watersheds, due to the heavy snow pack found in this high elevation region of Cali. To name them all would be ridiculous, since most are in remote Wilderness locales - only accessible by foot or on

Sierra Nevada Map

2009-06-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

The Sierra Nevada mountains range in elevation from 2000' - 14,494' above sea level. From rolling foothills with creek, oaks & wildflowers to tower granite peaks, alpine lakes & high country meadows of the Eastern Sierra.This one is a hot seller on Total Escape; Back in stock!

Mammoth in California

2009-06-13T22:34:00.001-07:00

Mammoth Pool ReservoirOriginally uploaded by danamightDreaming of 90 degrees and sunshine? Sick of June Gloom on the coast? Will the California mountain thunderstorms last into July? Is global warming causing season shifts & more erratic weather patterns? And what are you gonna do about it? Who wants to play on the lake?This weekend, or next?MAMMOTH POOL RESERVOIRMAMMOTH LAKES, CA

Campground State Park

2009-06-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

Imagine trying to "close" the largest State Park, the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert in San Diego County?Take action -- Californian for the Outdoors

Ward Lake, Sierra Nevada

2009-05-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

Ward LakeOriginally uploaded by danamightThis is one of those places you drive by once, looking at the scene, you say ONE DAY. I gotta get back to this spot. Well, this is the day that you start the plans to make it happen. No more procrastinating, no more excuses. It's just up the road a piece from Fresno, of all places. Yes, you read right - Fresno, the smoggy Central Valley, California; Exit

Utah Camping Right Now

2009-05-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

A fair amount of last minute inquiries on this upcoming Utah trip.3 Cali girls meeting up w/ 'hippy from the beach' Jan & 'mister white trash'Ardell way out in Moab, Utah. California group meets FRIDAY night; depart Tejon Pass/I-5 SAT May 9th AM. Please post inquiries regarding this MAY UTAH CAMP excursion here.8 nights camping back roads of Utahdrive your own rig on dirt roads; 4x4 not

California Wildlfowers

2009-04-07T21:46:00.001-07:00

Owl's Clover WildlfowerOriginally uploaded by danamightThis photo is the mighty AV, the Antelope Valley @ Hwy 138 - with the best bloom I've seen in quite a while. Purple Owl's Clover flowers are sprouting up near 110th & the power lines. The hills all around Fairmont Butte are yellow. Poppies can be found all over. The show is best outside of the Poppy Preserve, so save your cash & head off

Paradise in Wildwood

2009-03-02T10:06:00.001-08:00

wild wood ED020Originally uploaded by The WildebeestWowwie... Los Angeles area hikes, off the beaten path. This waterfall is near Thousand Oaks, CA. A great outdoorsy find for those looking to escape the traffic, smog & malls.

50% Increase from Last Winter

2009-02-24T20:02:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know you've heard it. America is in a recession or a depression. But that doesn't stop you from wanting to travel. Needing to get away from your daily grind.Can you expect to escape your hurried life for a weekend, for under $100? What bout a $200 limit?No seriously. You would spend that much or more just staying home & hanging out in the city. Really! Think about it. Shopping, dinner at

The Road to Joy

2009-02-16T20:45:00.001-08:00

The Road to JoyOriginally uploaded by danamightOutdoors is my passion & this stuff, these photos, these stories, my web site is my work, my art, for you to discover what I have seen. The back roads of California are alive with all flavors. My gift to you, the world. Enjoy.Green Creek California is a very special place I visited back in mid 2004. These Sierra Nevada photos have taken a while to

Walkway of Redding

2009-01-16T21:07:00.001-08:00

Walkway of ReddingOriginally uploaded by danamightMy holiday road trip to NorCal was wet, to say the least. A full week of rain & wind. Camping in the mud, not so fun. Meeting locals in Redding & Willow Creek were the highlights.Pinnacles National Monument off of Hwy 101 & King City - was my first stop, where I paid a whopping $27 to camp. The most expensive overnight in a park I can ever recall.

Brokeoff

2008-10-09T22:00:00.001-07:00

Brokeoff MoonOriginally uploaded by leapin26When you have enough time to blog, you are not living. You are not outdoors experiencing the weather. You are inside looking at a box.Just because DanaMite does not write weekly, doesn't mean she has nothing to share. Maybe she will have lots to tell, when she finally sits down to write it. For those of you who choose to travel mostly thru cyberland

North Lake Road

2008-10-04T23:36:00.000-07:00

North Lake Road #2Originally uploaded by VerPenThis is the kinda day I am talking about. Outdoors, this autumn. Now, before the snow hits. This is the kinda beauty -t hat only shows up for a few days in the back country - that you are missing. Get in the car, get outta town & explore the Eastern Sierra. BISHOP CA

Motorhome Campers

2008-10-01T22:11:00.000-07:00

It's not everyday I get to write about the other side of camping. RVing makes up a huge portion of outdoor travelers in the US, especially in the baby-boomers age group. Many want all the creature comforts & hi-speed connections, while others prefer to rough it every now & then. Part timers or full time residents of the road, these motorized homes often serve as a new lifestyle for adventure

Rock the Earth

2008-06-26T13:47:00.001-07:00

William (Will), who I met in Baja in 2005, relocated to Tahoe CA from the east coast recently. He admits California is awesome, especially the Sierra Nevada. This summer he is traveling & volunteering w/ the Rock the Earth crew. Check out their voice via the web site.

Lowest Gas Prices in CA

2008-06-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

Lowest Gas Prices in CaliforniaCalifornia Gas Prices provided by GasBuddy.comPaid $4.39 @ Flying J on the Grapevine yesterday. Only $75 to fill up the old Isuzu Amigo. Maybe this tank full can last most of the summer if I am a good girl & walk or bike to the post office daily.

Secluded Camping

2008-06-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

There are millions of people in California searching for that perfect weekend in the mountains. That secluded stream side camp with no one else around. No fees and no camp fire restrictions.These secret outdoor places do indeed exists, but they are not located in SoCal within an hours drive from your home. Nor are they in the nearest State Park Campground. These rare finds are on the back roads

How often do you camp?

2008-05-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

A question you might not hear often. But as a professional camper I get it all the time. When I was in the midst of my stressful city career, I would escape Los Angeles every chance I got, which was usually every weekend.Several times per month I would be off exploring some Sierra dirt roads, playing in the Wilderness, waiting until the last possible moment to return home (SUNDAY night 10pm).

How do you find these places?

2008-05-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

This is one of the top questions I get when discussing my travels.That rare secluded beach camp with whole sand dollars at the shore; the private wildflower meadow at the end of the dirt road in the High Sierra; the fern lined, boulder creek camp with swimming hole & a perfect hammock spot.For the past decade I have driven around the state of California (& some Baja) researching & visiting

Pine Mountain Lilac Festival

2008-05-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

Mountain Lilac in WhiteOriginally uploaded by danamightLooking for something to do - close to L.A., next weekend?It's springtime in the mountains of California. Hike, bike, picnic.California Wilderness Festivals are few & far in between. The warmth of May brings new energy as the growth cycle continues. Pine Mountain Club host yet another mountain festival, the popular Lilac Festival will be next

Sequoia Map

2008-05-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

If you are searching for maps on the mighty Sequoia region of California,we may be able to help here. First, decide what park or forest. There are up more than 6 'agencies' managing our Giant Sequoia Trees in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. See the list below w/ maps.[Big, Old, Huge Trees : The Redwoods are on the California North Coast and the oldest trees, Ancient Bristlecone Pines are on the east

How does Total Escape make money online?

2008-04-20T02:30:00.000-07:00

Total Escape receives income from a variety of sources online & off. The web site has been live for 12 full years (come OCT 2008). DanaMite's first approach was to create a 'mobile web site design' service for small lodges within California. After a 1998 direct mailing to 800 California innkeepers, I soon realized that I was ahead of my time. Most inns did not even have a web site prior to 2000.