Author Archives: Shawn E. Bell

National Forests

Will the judgement against Adventure Pass Fees cause problems for our local National Forests? #AdventurePassFees

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

In 1996 Congress authorized national forests through the Federal Lands Recreation Act (REA) to enact recreation fees that would generate revenue which would be funneled directly into forest maintenance plans. As the federal budget has continued to hack and slash at service for America (yet, oddly continues to provide billions in aid to people who don’t like us) the U.S. Forest Service has been sorely pressed to come up with funding to make investments to infrastructure and do necessary repairs – especially to those forests that butt up against urban areas and which see heavy traffic.

Many forests adopted the fees and began programs like the Adventure Pass program, which charged forest visitors for access to the lands which, by law, we’re supposed to have free access to.

A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Forest Service can no longer charge visitors who just want to hike or bike on federal land. The USFS can only charge people for the use of amenities – bathrooms, developed parking lots, campgrounds, and picnic tables.

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National Forests, National Parks

Yosemite – Invasion of the Drones

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Yosemite has been invaded by drones.  Small, unmanned machines that fly through the air capturing some pretty epic footage of one of America’s great National Parks.  The National Park Service is none too keen on the GoPro shuttles, and has claimed that they’re illegal:

“…Yosemite National Park advises visitors that the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) are prohibited within park boundaries due to regulations outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Specifically, the use of drones within the park boundaries is illegal under all circumstances. Thirty Six CFR 2.17(a)(3) states, “delivering or retrieving a person or object by parachute, helicopter, or other airborne means, except in emergencies involving public safety or serious property loss, or pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit” is illegal. This applies to drones of all shapes and sizes…”

While I’m not a big fan of having my visit interrupted by a noisy little robot, I’m not so sure that HOW Yosemite is going about it is correct.  I blame the NPS – the same guys who shut Americans out of America’s National Parks last year – and their lack of legal experience.

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National Forests

Portrait of a Giant Sequoia… #NGM

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Imagine if you will, taking a picture of a tree.  Get every branch from the base to the tip in the picture.

Sounds easy, right?

Now imagine that the tree is 3,200 years old, 247 feet tall, has two billion needles and is continuing to grow even as you look at it.  All of a sudden, that little iPhone you’ve got in your pocket just isn’t going to cut it.

The Giant Sequoias only grow in Northern California, and they only grow in one tiny little area: the western slope of the Sierra Nevada.  One of the oldest and largest trees growing there is the President.  It’s 247 feet tall, sports a 27 foot diameter trunk (which is svelte compared to two of other local trees), and has the largest crown of any of the Giant Sequoias in the grove.

So how hard can it be to take a picture of a tree?  It’s not like it’s going to wander off or anything, right?  Well, this particular tree is so massive that it’s never been photographed in it’s entirety.  Ever.

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Jeep

Jeep Owners Go Topless May 17th, 2014!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

All Things Jeep is getting geared up for the 7th Annual Go Topless Day coming up on May 17th.  From the website:

Go Topless Day is when we celebrate the love, spirit, and sense of fun & adventure that comes with owning a Jeep.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

  • TAKE THE TOP OFF YOUR JEEP. This one requires no explanation. Even if your top won’t come off, please join the festivities.
  • Join JEEP CLUBS GOING TOPLESS We are enlisting Clubs and Organizations worldwide in joining us and celebrate Go Topless day with picnics, trail runs, trail clean-ups and social events. We’ll update this list at the beginning of February!

If you are in the New England area, you can Join ALL THINGS JEEP and the Ocean State Jeepsters at our East Coast flagship event in Massachusetts. For more information on the MA GTD event, please e-mail GTD@allthingsjeep.com

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Warbirds

CAF AirPower Tour Ready To Hit The West Coast!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Commemorative Air Force’s iconic Boeing B-29 Superfortress returns to California and the Northwest U.S. this summer. It will be FIFI’s first visit in almost 20 years to many locations which include over 15 cities in Arizona, California, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Colorado.Highlighting the tour will be FIFI’s return to Boeing Field in Seattle. The B-29 is one of 1,100 produced at the Boeing Renton facility and the only B-29 in the world that still flies.

The year 2014 marks FIFI’s 40th year of flight with the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The airplane, rescued and restored by the CAF in the early 1970s, is a regular feature at airports and airshows all across the country. In fact, the B-29 Squadron of the CAF was the first group to begin touring historic war birds in 1974. Now, 40 years later, FIFI still barnstorms the country from coast to coast bringing the sights, sounds and smells of World War II aviation history to audiences across the United States.

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