Category Archives: National Parks

Activities, Adventures, National Parks

Yosemite – Tioga Road OPEN!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

It’s a good news/bad news situation.

Tioga Road at Yosemite National Park is open. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Tioga Road at Yosemite National Park is open.

Normally, snowplows take to the road right around tax time to begin clearing it. Clearing usually takes a couple of months – depending on snowpack – so the road generally opens sometime around the end of May, or as late as the middle of June. Because the snowpack is 50% lighter than usual, the road is opening early this year.

Tioga Road, a popular crossing of the Siera Nevada, is part of State Highway 120. From Wikipedia: Continue reading →

Conservation, National Forests, National Parks, State Parks

U.S. Forest Service Keeping Its Logo!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

When the United States Department of Agriculture released its Visual Standards Guide back in January, it contained the ominous phrase ‘agency logos are being phased out and replaced with a standardized signature model to be adopted by all USDA agencies.’

This reminded me of the Borg’s ‘you will be assimilated’ phrase from Star Trek the Next Generation.  And, given that the USDA is the same department that oversees things like the homogenization of milk, it makes absolute sense that they’d want to make sure that their employees, vehicles, websites, uniforms, etc. would all be … ‘assimilated.’

But here’s the thing.  The U.S. FOREST Service is all about forests and forestry.  The USDA’s logo is described – by the USDA themselves – as “a graphic representation of the land — the foundation of all agriculture — and the Department’s initials. The symbol’s colors — dark green and dark blue — represent the essential elements of earth, air, and water. Together these elements comprise the symbol.”

Falling back on my Southern California roots and lingo: “Dude.  Really?“

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National Forests, National Parks

National Park Week is April 20th – 28th – Free Park Admission Monday-Friday!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

April 20th through the 28th, 2013 is National Park Week!  For National Park Week 2013, get free admission to all National Parks (including your parking fees waived) weekdays from April 22-26.  Check with your local National Park (with 401 national parks, there’s bound to be one near you!) to make sure what the costs are before you jump in the car.  There’s a diclaimer on most sites: “Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.”

National Junior Ranger Day will be held on April 20th, which invites young visitors to “explore, learn and protect” our national parks, and includes being sworn in as a Junior Ranger.

For adults, April 27th is Volunteer Day, where you can help on a variety of national park projects across the nation.

You can find a nearby national park HERE.

To find National Park Week events near you, visit the NPS calendar page HERE.

The National Park Service’s National Park Week website is HERE.

The National Park Foundation (officially recognized charity of America’s National Parks) website is HERE, and their information page on National Park Week is HERE.

Conservation, National Forests, National Parks

CDFW Creates First Bighorn Sheep Herd in 25 Years

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and volunteers from around the state, have established a brand new herd of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.

During the last week in March ten 10 female and four male bighorn sheep were captured from two of the largest existing herds in the Sierra Nevada and released together at Olancha Peak near the southern end of the Sierra Nevada range in Inyo County.  The Convict Creek and Mount Gibbs herds were augmented by adding six females to those small herds.

From the press release:

“This is the first reintroduction effort of a new herd of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep since 1988,” said Tom Stephenson, CDFW bighorn recovery program leader.

Historically, Sierra bighorn were abundant throughout the Sierra Nevada; however, by the 1970s, only two herds remained. Disease spread by domestic sheep and unregulated commercial hunting are believed to have caused their demise.

“Many endangered species remain on the brink of extinction with poor prospects for recovery after they receive federal protection,” said Stephenson. “Through our conservation efforts, we have a unique opportunity to reach recovery goals for an alpine specialist that is native only to California.”

You can read the full press release HERE.

Geocaching, National Forests, National Parks, State Parks

Wilderness Land Navigation Clinic Offered By CDFW

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A two-day land navigation clinic is being offered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on May 4th & May 5th.

From the CDFW press release:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will be holding a two-day land navigation clinic as part of its Advanced Hunter Education Program. The overnight workshop will be held at the Camp Whitsett, east of Bakersfield in the Sequoia National Forest, on May 4 and 5.

This two-day clinic is designed to help students learn and practice basic navigation skills using a map, compass and GPS. There will be class work and lab exercises that develop the skills learned. The clinic will cover magnetic declination, the workings of a baseplate compass, map reading, how to stay oriented naturally, and taking bearings. Other topics covered include the use of magnetic bearings, map coordinate systems and GPS. All course materials and equipment will be provided.

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