Category Archives: California

Activities, Adventures, National Parks

The Yosemite Valley Stable is open for the summer season!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Yosemite Valley Stable offers two great rides: One up to Mirror Lake, and one up to Clark’s Point.

The Mirror Lake trip is a two hour ride that offers riders great views and many photographic vistas.  It’s a great ride for beginners.

The Clark’s Point trip is a half-day excursion.  According to the website, the trail is “uneven, and consists of many switchbacks up a steep slope, with an elevation gain of 1500 feet.  This is a strenuous ride best suited to riders in good physical condition.”  This trip includes great views of Vernal Falls. Visit the website for more information HERE.

Continue reading →

Activities, Conservation, National Forests

Lassen National Forest Celebrating Wildflowers

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

With the spring bloom of wildflowers filling the forests with color, the Lassen National Forest will be hosting a “Celebrating Wildflowers” program during National Wildflower Week from May 20th through the 24.

“Celebrating Wildflowers” is a U.S. Forest Service program that promotes the “enjoyment of the thousands of wildflowers growing on our national forests and grasslands,” and helps to educate the public about the virtues and values of native plants.

From the Lassen National Forest press release: Continue reading →

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 →

Interesting Places

Curious Traveler Visits the Integratron

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Integratron is a building – or a ‘device’ – built entirely without nails in Landers, California, near Joshua Tree.  It was designed by  aeronautic engineer George van Tassel, who finished the main structure in 1959, but left the building unfinished at the time of his death in 1978.

The story of the building of the structure and it’s funding makes for interesting reading, as does the history of its dilapidation until it was finally purchased by the Karl sisters – Joanne, Nancy, and Patty – and restored, with the upper structure finally completed in the early 21st century.  They now promote the Integratron as an “acoustically perfect structure” and state that the building is “currently being explored in the areas of Science, Architecture, Neuroacoustics, Music, Energy healing, Alternative health and Spirituality.” Continue reading →

National Forests, News, Wildfire

Fire Restrictions in place EARLY in Sequoia National Forest

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

KSEE is reporting that the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument have already implemented early fire restrictions, starting back on May 1, 2013.

From the news report:

A very dry winter has led to high fire danger much earlier than in previous years. In response to the increasing potential for wildland fire starts, Sequoia and BLM fire officials will keep these restrictions in effect until further notice.

You can read the entire news report HERE.