Category Archives: California

National Parks, News

Rockfall Closes Trail to Rancheria Falls in Yosemite National Park

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A rockfall in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park has closed the trail to Rancheria Falls east of Wapama Falls.

According to the National Park Service, at approximately 1:30 p.m. on March 31, a large rockfall occurred from the cliff just east of Wapama Falls above the Hetch Hetchy reservoir. The trail was closed just east of the Wapama Creek footbridges for safety purposes.  Boulders are preventing access beyond Wapama Falls to park visitors.  No visitors were injured in the rockfall.

Roughly 16,000 tons of rock fell from approximately 500 feet above the base of the cliff. Rock debris hit the slope below the cliff, breaking into numerous boulders, crushing trees, and creating a small dust cloud. Fresh boulders completely covered the slope, and many boulders tumbled into the reservoir. Roughly 400 feet of the Rancheria Falls Trail was destroyed in the main impact area.

Hikers can still access Wapama Falls starting from O’Shaughnessy Dam. The trail to Rancheria Falls just after Wapama Falls will be closed until further notice.

Wildlife

California officials take down aggressive mountain lion in Orange County

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

 

On March 30th Mission Viejo resident Madison Smith and her two children were out for an afternoon walk on Borrego Trail when a mountain lion began acting aggressively towards them. The big cat stalked the group and came within about 6 feet of her 5-year-old son, which is easy pouncing distance for a full-sized mountain lion.

Luckily, there was another hiker on the trail who began shouting at the lion and throwing rocks at it. This allowed the family to get away.

After a call to 911, Orange County Sheriff deputies and a California Department of Fish and Wildlife game warden located the big 1-year old, 60-lb mountain lion some bushes just a few feet off Borrego Trail at about 5 p.m. Sunday. According to reports, they attempted to scare the animal away, but the big cat wasn’t in the mood. It began acting aggressively towards the officers, showing no fear whatsoever. The DFW game warden was forced to put the animal down.

Continue reading →

News

The Owens Valley Committee

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Owens Valley Committee is a non-profit citizen action group dedicated to the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of Owens Valley natural resources, especially water. The Committee monitors compliance with and implementation of water management agreements, educates the public, encourages participation in local government, and advocates an inclusive and open decision-making process.

Owens Valley Committee WEBSITE

Owens Valley Committee FACEBOOK

This is a great video that introduces the Owens Valley Committee and the issues facing the Owens Valley.

 

Continue reading →

Big Bear Lake

Time Bandits Ship Sinks

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

There’s a little (no pun intended) secret about the 1/3 scale 16th century Spanish galleon replica that tours Big bear Lake: it was the tiny ship used in the Terry Gilliam film Time Bandits, which featured a cast of men of diminutive size.

During this latest (and, so far this year’s only) storm which brought snow to the San Bernardino Mountains and caused some people to get all wound up and and start calling it a ‘class 1 hurricane’ the Time Bandit ship was sunk.  Maybe it was the high winds, the rain, or the snow.  At this point, the only thing known is that the 27-ton ship is sitting on the bottom of Davy Jone’s locker.  Okay, Big Bear Lake can’t really qualify as his locker … maybe it’s more like Davy Jone’s Smallish Cupboard.

Continue reading →

News

Happy Birthday Ansel Adams!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Shamelessly borrowed from Wikipedia:

Ansel Easton Adams (February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984) was an American photographer and conservationist. His black-and-white landscape photographs of the American West, especially Yosemite National Park, have been widely reproduced on calendars, posters, and in books.

“Once destroyed, nature’s beauty cannot be repurchased at any price.” – Ansel Adams

Continue reading →