Photo Friday – February 27, 2014

It’s the end of another work week, which means we’re all itching to find a new trail, lace up our boots, and hit the trails. Fortunately for Southern California, it looks like we’re going to get a little rain over the next few days. That doesn’t mean you can’t go hiking, it just means you…

Sports Jackets vs. Blazers vs. Suit Jackets: What’s the Difference?

Sports jackets. Suit jackets. Blazers. Most men use these terms interchangeably, as do many men’s clothing retailers. Because of this, the differences between these three classic menswear pieces ends up being a mystery. Are these jackets really all that different? (Yes, they are!) And why should a man even care to take the time to learn […]

Hiking Lower Doane Valley and French Valley

If you are looking to take a vacation from the dry, shrubby, bouldery interior of San Diego County, but you do not have several days to travel to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the cool forests of Lower Doane and French Valleys will provide the ultimate getaway. These pine-rimmed meadows bordered by a spring-fed creek are…

Manvotional: The Joys and Difficulties of Making Friends in Adulthood

“Friendship” From At Large, 1908 By Arthur Christopher Benson Some philosophers have devoted time and thought to tracing backwards all our emotions to their primal origin; and it is undoubtedly true that in the intensest and most passionate relationships of life—the love of a man for a woman, or a mother for a child—there is […]

Photo Friday – February 20, 2014

If you’re looking out your office windows counting down the seconds until you get to enjoy a proper weekend, it’s time for another Modern Hiker Photo Friday. We start things off this week with Saina Kamula, who shared this great wildflower shot from Bear Canyon on the way to Switzer Falls. The flowers are popping…

Hiking Amir’s Garden

You’ve likely seen Amir’s Garden in Griffith Park before but not known what it was – a strangely forested ridge amidst the otherwise dry Southern California landscape. Today, the five acre plot of land stands as a peaceful, shaded oasis amidst Griffith Park – a favorite of hikers and equestrians alike – but the garden…

How to Avoid Giving a Backhanded Compliment

A friend of mine told me about a compliment she received the other day from a co-worker. “Bridget,” he said to her, “you look like you’ve lost a lot of weight! You’ve still got a ways to go, but keep it up!” The colleague clearly intended for the comment to come off as praise, but […]

Intro to Barbell Training With Mark Rippetoe [VIDEO]

At Art of Manliness, we believe every man should be strong. Mark Rippetoe has been helping men (and women) get stronger with barbell training for over 30 years. His book, Starting Strength, has become the bible of strength training for hundreds of thousands of individuals. I’ve been following Mark’s program for only a few weeks now, and have […]

Mountain House Dehydrated Food Giveaway

In the 1960s, the U.S. military was looking to develop an individual ration that would be lighter than the old C and K rations, and taste better too. A company called Oregon Freeze Dry won the bid and to this day they continue to provide freeze-dried meals to U.S. Special Forces and other branches of […]

Photo Friday – February 6, 2015

It’s (hopefully) your last day of meetings and work-type responsibilities before you can finally get outside to enjoy some nature time … which means you’re due for a dose of reader-submitted images in our Photo Friday. We’re starting things out from the highest point inside Los Angeles city limits – Mount Lukens. No matter which…

CaliParks Connects Parks with People

As it has been since time memorial, it’s all the rage to complain about the kids today. I’m sure you’ve read an exhausting number of articles, opinions, and “think pieces” about these darned Millennials. We (I was born in 1981, which sometimes puts me in the “ancient” category of the generation, i.e. I ‘get’ Twitter…

How to Develop the Situational Awareness of Jason Bourne

There’s a scene at the beginning of The Bourne Identity where the film’s protagonist is sitting in a diner, trying to figure out who he is and why he has a bunch of passports and a gun stashed in a safety deposit box. Bourne also notices that he, well, notices things that other people don’t. […]

Hike Lost Horse Mine in Joshua Tree National Park

Lost Horse Mine is a hardy relic of the California Gold Rush era and one of the best preserved mines found in Joshua Tree National Park. The history of the mine dates back to Johnny Lang, a rancher who bought the claim for $1000 in 1890. This mine was very successful, producing more than 10,000…