If you’re like me, dispersed camping is one of the best parts of exploring the backcountry — find a quiet spot off the beaten path, set up camp, and enjoy some real solitude under the stars. But if you’re planning extended stays in the Angeles National Forest, there are some stay-limit rules worth knowing before you head out.
The Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument have put stay limits in place for camping, effective now through December 15, 2026. Here’s the breakdown: Continue reading
On June 21, 2008 a lightning strike ignited the Basin Complex Fire, a wildfire that swept through 162,818 acres near Big Sur, forcing evacuations, and burning most of the Ventana Wilderness area. The fire destroyed much of the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park located the western slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains, and severely damaged the Pfeiffer Falls Trail, an easy 1.5 mile out-and-back trail with views of redwoods and Pfeiffer Falls.
2020 was a difficult year for travelers, wanderers, adventurers, and explorers here in California. I did get out – sometimes with groups, sometimes furtively by myself – and was rewarded with solitude, silence, and freedom within the great cathedrals of nature that California offers from the deserts to the beaches, to the mountains and deep forests.