Writing

I am a special character…

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Public Service Announcement:

I’ve decided I’m going to continue to use the ’em dash’ character — the character that idiots think is a hallmark and “proof” of AI writing, instead of what it actually is, “a mark for emphatic pauses, abrupt changes in thought, or asides” as defined by the Chicago Manual of Style — so that people think I’m artificially intelligent rather than actually intelligent.

That way, there’s no expectation that I’ll have to display my intellectual brilliance or perfection to those who clearly do not deserve to bask in my greater glory.

Activities, Adventures, Outdoors, Overlanding, Subaru

Subaru Returns as Title Sponsor for Overland Expo In Costa Mesa, March 14–15

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

As the popularity of overlanding continues to grow, Subaru’s presence celebrates owners’ love of outdoor adventure and the camaraderie it builds.

Subaru of America, Inc. is returning as the title sponsor of the 2026 Overland Expo, bringing an expanded Camp Subaru experience to Costa Mesa, California, where Subaru is set to showcase its adventure-ready SUVs, hands-on off-road workshops, record live podcasts, feature music, and offer owner-focused programming.

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Activities, Hikes, National Forests, Outdoors, U.S. Forest Service

Mount Baldy Trail Closures Extended — What Hikers Need To Know

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Forest managers restrict summit approaches after heavy snow and rescue operations — check official alerts before heading into the San Gabriels.

Mount Baldy is close enough to the city that people treat it like a day hike, which is why the latest extended closure matters. When winter turns the ridgelines to ice, the mountain stops being a fairly strenuous stroll and becomes a treacherous mountaineering adventure that can kill the underprepared and the overconfident.

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California, National Forests, Outdoors, Recreation & Responsible Use, U.S. Forest Service

Tahoe Trails: E-Bikes, New Connectors, and Upgraded Trailheads

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Forest Service signs off on new e-bike branches, restroom-equipped parking and wayfinding. Construction slated for June 2026.

Lake Tahoe is about to change the way people get around on two electric-powered wheels. In early January 2026, the U.S. Forest Service finalized a basin-wide plan that expands where e-bikes can go and ties loose ends in the trail network across the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The agency incorporated community input into route selection and environmental analysis, resulting in a mapped program with new access and infrastructure.

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California, Conservation, Outdoors, State Parks

NoraBella Becomes Part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park — a 153-Acre Expansion Announced Today

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

California State Parks purchases the NoraBella parcel for $2.415 million, adding ridged forest and creeks to California’s oldest state park.

The acquisition — the park’s first acreage addition since Little Basin in 2011 — is a strategic move in the broader Reimagining Big Basin effort born out of the 2020 CZU wildfire. Planners see NoraBella as a natural approach to rebuilding a visitor experience: space for a welcome area at Saddle Mountain, room for shuttle access that keeps parking and buildings away from the most sensitive old-growth trees, and sites for operations that let the core groves heal while still welcoming visitors. California State Parks is advancing a facilities plan, general plan amendment, and environmental review to guide rebuilding. Continue reading →