Category Archives: California

Interesting Places

Secret Cabin Found in Arcata Community Forest Park

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Arcata Community Forest Environmental Services Director Mark Andre has discovered a hidden cabin deep in a remote section of the forest. Not just some tear-down thing thrown together with locally-sourced refuse and detritus, but a real cabin made with a frame built on a concrete block foundation with a real roof and even a porch with a wooden awning.  Windows, a locked entry, and a tidy interior – complete with bed, kitchen and even a library make up the 8 x 12 building.  It’s covered outside with tarps, black lasting sheeting, and “concealing forest duff” do make the cabin difficult to see if you’re more than a few feet away from it.

All of the materials and furniture had to be carried to the site.  It’s a work made to last for awhile.

Continue reading →

Big Bear Lake, Wildlife

Mill 2 fire update

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

InciWeb is reporting that the Mill 2 fire is burning off the 38 near Bryant street off Highway 38.  They’re also reporting that a drone was flying in the area, which caused the tankers to abort their mission(s). Keep your damned drones away from the fires, idiots!

From Inciweb:

The Mill 2 Fire started in Mill Creek Canyon near State Highway 38 and Bryant Street at about 2:30 pm, east of Mentone, and north of Yucaipa.

It is reported to be approximately 35 acres in size. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Four homes are evacuated on the lower or west end of Yucaipa Ridge.

State Highway 38 is closed between Bryant Street and Lake Williams.
The fire is being managed in unified command US Forest Service and CALFIRE.

Resources responding include: 17 engines, 7 crews, 2 dozers, 5 helicopters, 2 fixed wing air tankers, air attack, DC-10 (VLAT) on order.

An Unmanned Aircraft System (drone) temporarily halted tanker operations, but operations soon resumed.

You can get the latest information on the fire HERE.

News, Wildfire

Yosemite Fire Restrictions

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

From the National Park Service:

Yosemite National Park is experiencing very high fire danger along with continued hot and dry weather patterns. Due to current and predicted fire conditions and possible active fire behavior, the park implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions until further notice.

By order of the Superintendent Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, and Section 2.13(c):

  • No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or cooking fire (including charcoal fires) within Yosemite National Park including designated Wilderness and at High Sierra Camps below 6,000 feet in elevation. Portable stoves using pressurized gas, liquid fuel, or propane are permitted as are alcohol stoves (with and without a shutoff valve) including alcohol tablet/cube stoves. “Sierra” (twig) stoves are not permitted.
  • No smoking below 6,000 feet, except within an enclosed vehicle, a building in which smoking is allowed, a campground or picnic area where wood and charcoal fires are allowed or in a designated smoking area.
  • Campfires and cooking fires may still be used in designated campgrounds in developed portions of the park in accordance with park regulations.
  • Designated Campgrounds: Upper Pines, North Pines, Lower Pines, Camp 4, Wawona, Bridalveil Creek, Hogdon Meadow, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat and Tuolumne Meadows, Yellow Pine, and Housekeeping cabins.
  • Cooking fires may still be used in designated picnic areas in developed portions of the park in accordance with park regulations.
  • Designated Picnic areas: Lembert Dome, Tenaya Lake, Yosemite Creek, Wawona, Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point, Cascade, El Capitan, Cathedral Beach, Sentinel Beach, Swinging Bridge, Church Bowl and Lower Yosemite Falls.
  • There are no administrative exemptions to this order.

Continue reading →

Adventures, National Parks, News

Google’s Vertical Street View of El Capitan

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Google, not satisfied with street views that occasionally show very interesting images, has now set their sights on the skies above places like Yosemite National Park. Specifically, El Capitan.

From Google’s Official Blog:

Today we’re launching our first-ever vertical Street View collection, giving you the opportunity to climb 3,000 feet up the world’s most famous rock wall: Yosemite’s El Capitan. To bring you this new imagery, we partnered with legendary climbers Lynn Hill, Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell. Read more about the project from Tommy Caldwell, who completed the world’s hardest climb in Yosemite in January of 2015.

Continue reading →

News, Wildlife

CSF Hosts 2nd Annual ‘California Wine, Wings & Wildlife’ Event in Sonoma

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On June 29, in the heart of California’s wine country, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) gathered members of the sportsmen’s conservation community and other supporters for the 2nd Annual ‘California Wine, Wings & Wildlife,’ western regional event.

This event offered an opportunity for Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members from the western United States and supporters of the sportsmen’s conservation community to discuss regional and federal policy priorities. It commenced with a sporting clays competition at the Wing & Barrel Ranch, followed by a wine reception and dinner.

CSF President Jeff Crane welcomed attendees. “We are fortunate to have strong supporters of the hunting and angling community in a beautiful place like Sonoma. Thank you to Members of Congress and CSF partners for joining us to discuss and celebrate the future of hunting and angling.” Crane also announced the sporting clays competition “Top Gun” shooter: Larry Turley, of Turley Wine Cellars.

Continue reading →