Category Archives: National Forests

National Forests, News

Nestle pumping water out of the San Bernardino Forest without a valid permit

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Nestle Waters North America – the bottler of Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water (one of my absolute favorites bottled waters; yes, I am a water snob!) – is in a bit of trouble over their water extraction operation in the San Bernardino National Forest.  It appears that during California’s current environmentalist caused drought catastrophe, Nestle has been pumping out water under permits that may have expired as far back as 1988.

Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water, which takes its name from a natural rock formation in the San Bernardino Mountains that’s shaped like a giant arrowhead, is a brand of drinking water that is sold primarily in the western United States, including California, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest.  The company was acquired by Nestlé in 1987 – a year before the oldest permit expired.

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Hiking - General, National Forests

Update on the fundraiser to save Sturtevant Camp

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Last weekend was a great fundraiser to help save the historic Sturtevant Camp.  KCET did a follow up, titled “Friends of the San Gabriels Mount Fundraising Efforts to Save Historic Sturtevant Camp”

From the article:

Sturtevant Camp — which contains the country’s oldest surviving USFS Ranger Station in its original location and a historic main lodge built as the open-air Swiss Dining Pavilion in 1897 with all original wood — is the last of five resorts that once flourished in Big Santa Anita Canyon but has since been lost to floods and fire (including Hoegee’s Camp, Robert’s Camp, and Fern Lodge). There was at one point over 200 cabins just like the ones at Sturtevant. But despite its historic significance, Sturtevant has never received landmark status. Although Angeles National Forest is protected from being developed, there’s nothing preventing Sturtevant’s structures from being demolished or languishing in disuse.

You can read the entire article HERE.

Day Hikes, National Forests

fundraiser at the historic Sturtevant Camp

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Friends of Echo Mountain have posted on Facebook about a fundraiser this Sunday, January 25.  From Facebook:

Busy Sunday? There will be a fundraiser at the historic Sturtevant Camp in the Santa Anita canyon area. The camp is located approximately 4 miles from the chantry flat station. It is a easy to moderate hike through some beautiful woods. Come see the last of the great hike-in resorts! They will be serving a light lunch. Your donations are also tax-deductable! The pack train will leave Chantry at 7:30.

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National Forests, National Parks

Yosemite Proposed Entrance Fee and Campground Fee Increases

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The 50 percent fee increase, which would take effect Jan. 1, is part of a new Obama administration proposal to raise fees at 130 of America’s 401 national parks.  Why close the parks when it’s so much easier just to price them out of the reach of Americans who already support them through taxes?

30 Day Public Engagement Period Begins Today

Yosemite National Park is proposing to increase entrance fees into the park.  The single vehicle entrance fee would change from $20 to $30 for a seven day pass.  The park’s annual pass would increase from $40 to $60.  The current rate of $10 per individual or motorcycle would increase to $15 for an individual and $25 per motorcycle.  Interagency Passes, which are honored at all federally managed land units, are not affected by the proposed fee increase and will remain at $80 for the regular pass, $10 for the Senior Pass and free for the Access and Military passes.  The current park entrance fees have been in place since 1997, when a seven day pass was increased from $5 to $20 per vehicle.  According to the U.S. Bureau of labor and Statistics, $20 in 1997 is equivalent to $29.64 in 2014.  This fee change will allow Yosemite to maintain consistent revenue while adjusting accordingly for inflation.

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Activities, Conservation, National Forests

Inyo National Forest, Eastern Sierra Four Wheel Drive Club Partner for Recreation and Resource Protection

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Volunteers from the Eastern Sierra Four Wheel Drive Club have been lending elbow grease to maintaining and repairing established system roads on the Inyo National Forest.

The club, working on their weekends, provides maintenance for OHV road and trails under the direction of the Inyo National Forest. Their efforts augment the work done by forest staff in ensuring that a high-quality experience can be found on the forest’s OHV system roads.

“The club tries to have fun on these outings, mixing the volunteer work with an opportunity for club members to have an outing and enjoy the beautiful Inyo National Forest,” said Mike Johnston, president of the Eastern Sierra Four Wheel Drive Club. “The result is increased sense of stewardship for areas that many of us already know and love through recreational activities.”

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