Category Archives: California

National Forests, National Parks

National Parks Service 98th Anniversary – TODAY!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The National Parks Service marks its 98th anniversary today. All of the parks will be celebrating by offering FREE ADMISSION!  Get out there and visit your national parks!

From the NPS website:

It’s our birthday, and we hope you’ll visit a national park and help us celebrate! On August 25, 2014 the National Park Service turns 98 years old. We are waiving entrance fees and inviting everyone to join in the festivities taking place coast-to-coast.

Our big day, August 25, is a free-entrance day, so head to any of the country’s 401 national parks and take in the scenery, learn a little history, or simply enjoy the great outdoors.

Ninety-eight may sound old, but we’re young at heart and celebrating with everyone who shares our youthful exuberance! Parks across the country are offering loads of fun activities. Take the kids on a caving adventure, bike ride, kayak tour, hike, or island safari. Catch a campfire talk, make a painting, or witness a living history demonstration. Search the events calendar to find out what’s happening at a park near you! You can help the kids earn a free Junior Ranger badge at almost any park—just ask at the visitor center.

You can find out more about the National Park Service – and find a National Park near you – on their website HERE.

You can sign the NPS birthday card HERE.

National Forests, National Parks

Happy 70th, Smokey the Bear!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On this day in history – August 9, 1944 – Smoky the Bear made his debut appearance.  The first poster featuring the iconic jeans wearing bear was illustrated by Albert Staehle. In it Smokey sports both his modest (yet durable) pants choice as well as the well recognized campaign hat that is still worn by National Park Service personnel to this day. He is show pouring a bucket of water on a campfire, with a message below the image reading, “Smoky says – Care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires!”

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News

Happy 125th Birthday, Orange County!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Congratulations on your quasi … quenti … quadralater … err, Happy Quasquicentennial!

Yep, the county I was born in and grew up in is now way old.  Way, way old.  Here’s a bit of a look back at Orange County, California:

On this date back in 1889 Orange County was officially formed

In celebration of this event, the Orange County Board of Supervisors has approved “OC125” – the official name for the observance.

The territory known as the California Republic officially became the State of California, the 31st state in the United States of America, on September 9, 1850.

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National Parks, Wildlife

Yosemite – El Portal Fire expands to 2,100 acres

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The El Portal fire started on the afternoon of Saturday, July 26th in the Old El Portal area of Yosemite National Park. As of 6:00am on Sunday, July 27th, the fire has grown to an estimated 2,100 acres with 5% containment.

Multiple structures are threatened, one structure is reported as lost.

The Old El Portal and Foresta communities, along with the Crane Flat campground, have been evacuated.

Highway 120 (Big Oak Flat Road) is currently closed from the Highway 140 (El Portal Road) junction to Tioga Road at Crane Flat (Tioga Road is open only from Highway 120 in Groveland and Lee Vining.

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National Parks, Wildlife

Bald Eagles Expand Territories to Five of the Eight Channel Islands

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

From the National Park Service:

Bald eagles continue to expand on the California Channel Islands with the discovery of a nesting pair on San Clemente Island for the first time in over 50 years.

This discovery means that bald eagles have reestablished territories now on five of the eight Channel Islands following their disappearance from the islands in the early 1960s due primarily to DDT contaminants in the food chain.

Dr. Peter Sharpe with the Institute for Wildlife Studies who has spent 18 years dedicated to bald eagle recovery efforts said, “This news is very gratifying. I expect to see bald eagles return to all eight of the Channel Islands within a few years which will mark yet another milestone in their successful recovery.”

“This is good news for the continued recovery of the ecosystem of the Channel Islands and the Navy’s ongoing interest in protecting the environment,” said Captain Christopher E. Sund, Commanding Officer of Naval Base Coronado, which balances responsibility for operations and training with wildlife management on San Clemente Island.”It is also emblematic of the Navy’s good stewardship over many years at San Clemente Island,” he said.

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