Category Archives: National Forests

Goals, National Forests, National Parks

No Mount Whitney This Year…

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Color me disappointed.  Just got the email today:

Lottery Results – Mt Whitney Lottery 2013

Dear Customer,

We are sorry to inform you that your application to Mt Whitney Lottery 2013 was not successful.

Results for Lottery Application # 6-xxxxxxx – Unsuccessful.

All remaining dates for the 2013 season will be available for web reservations beginning on April 1, 2013 through the www.recreation.gov website on a “First Come First Serve” basis. Any canceled space will return to the web calendar at random times. There is no waitlist for canceled space.

Thank you for using www.recreation.gov

Well, there’s always next year; it’s not like the mountain is going anywhere.  John Muir is famously quoted as saying “The mountains are calling and I must go.”  Apparently, for me, the mountains could not be reached for comment.

Hiking - General, National Forests, National Parks

Lottery for Half Dome Cables Day Use Permits Now Open!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

While there are up to 300 hikers allowed on the Half Dome cables per day, there are far MORE people who want to hike the route. The permit lottery is now open. If you want to hike Half Dome, sign up at www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777.

You can also sign up for the two-day-in-advance permits through www.recreation.gov.

From the press release:

Hiking to the top of Half Dome is one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park. The iconic granite monolith, at 8,842 feet above sea level, attracts people from all over the world who attempt to climb to the summit. Most visitors ascend Half Dome via the cables, which are typically in place from mid-May through mid-October. Most visitors begin and end their hike at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. This is an approximately 17 mile round-trip journey.

Remember: Permits Required Seven Days Per Week to Hike Half Dome Cables. Continue reading →

Hiking - General, National Forests, State Parks

Hiking the Beautiful USA

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

REI has posted an infographic displaying a US National Scenic Trails Map, Packing Tips and Trivia

Yes, I know that REI is a retailer, and this is (obviously) a bit of free advertising from them that they’re encouraging visitors to share (the “Add this infographic to your website by copying the code below” bit on the REI website was kinda a give away), but getting outside is a GOOD thing!

REI – Recreational Equipment Inc. – was founded by Lloyd and Mary Anderson back in 1938 when they couldn’t find any good quality climbing gear for reasonable prices locally. It all started with an Akadem Pickel ice axe that was imported from Austria. From there, it’s become one of the largest private sporting goods and outdoor gear retailer in the U.S., opening 6 stores a year and boasting sales that exceed 1.8 billion a year.

From the REI website:

Plan a fun and safe hiking trip with a little help from this REI infographic. Our illustrated map gives you a bird’s-eye view of the United States’ 11 National Scenic Trails which measure more than 18,753 miles combined. You’ll also find tips on what to bring and trail trivia. Outfit yourself with hiking gear from REI before you hit the trail.

You can get the full-size infographic HERE.

You can visit REI HERE.

Conservation, National Forests, National Parks

Think Outside – Planning Your National Parks Visits

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

It’s never too late to start planning on turning off the television, shutting down the computer, and getting your butt outside.

The United States National Park Service is the federal agency that manages all of our national parks. The agency was created in August, 1916, through a campaign by Stephen Mather, J. Horace McFarland and journalist Robert Sterling Yard as part of the United States Department of the Interior. It was created through an act of Congress, signed by President Woodrow Wilson, known as the National Park Service Organic Act which mandated that an agency be created “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

The National Park System has grown from one million acres of wilderness known as Yellowstone National Park back in 1872, to include over 18 million acres in almost 400 national parks today. To quote the National Park Service, we are truly owners of the world’s greatest collection of nature, history and culture through our National Parks System. Continue reading →

Conservation, National Forests, State Parks

Mountain Section of Bald Eagle Count for TODAY – CANCELLED!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Just got up this morning, and saw that the mountain areas portion Bald Eagle Count scheduled for today has been cancelled due to snow and road conditions.

The affected areas are:

  • Big Bear Lake
  • Lake Hemet
  • Lake Gregory
  • Lake Arrowhead

The Bald Eagle Count will still take place at Lake Silverwood and Lake Perris.

While I’m somewhat disappointed, I realize that not everyone has a nice, comfy Hemi-powered 4×4 with heated seats, cup warmers and slush mats.  I pity them … even though I only get a whopping 9 MPG in my Man Car.

You can read my original post about the Bald Eagle Count HERE.

You can read the cancellation notice (that only went out yesterday – even though we knew there was a heck of a storm coming in all week) from the Forest Service HERE.