Category Archives: State Parks

State Parks

Anza-Borrego, a Park Dealing With a Drought on Top of a Drought

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Lisa Morehouse has posted a great article about the Anza Borrego Desert State Park over at KQED.org‘s website. From the post:

A desert is, by definition, dry. But even a desert can have a drought, complete with impacts for native flora and fauna on the one hand and for the humans who live and visit on the other.Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s biggest state park by far, is in the third straight year of drier-than-usual weather. The long dry spell has had a visible impact. The lack of rain has muted Anza-Borrego’s wildflower bloom, the one event every year that brings a crowd of visitors to the community of Borrego Springs and other desert destinations.

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State Parks

Mount Diablo camp spigots go dry during drought

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A hat top to Dennis Cuff of the Contra Costa Times, who reports that campground visitors at the Mount Diablo State Park are roughing it in a new way: There is no tap water in campgrounds and most park areas because of the drought.

“A third consecutive dry year in California has depleted springs that supply water for most drinking fountains, faucets, flush toilets and showers in the 20,000-acre state park above Danville and Walnut Creek.”

The California State Park page for Mount Diablo states:

With perhaps the worst drought that California has ever seen Mount Diablo is suffering from a severe water shortage. Most of the water in the park is produced through a series of springs that is fed to various water tanks, treated, tested and then is ready for the public to use. However, with the lack of rain the springs on the mountain have been reduced to a trickle.

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Day Hikes, Goals, National Forests, National Parks, State Parks

Revised Goal: SoCal Six Pack of Peaks

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Since I didn’t win the Mount Whitney Lottery this year, I’ve opted for a different goal.  This goal is actually a series of goals, and will – in theory – help me to train better to get my fat ass into shape to conquer the formidable peak that Mount Whitney is.

There is a series of day hikes known as the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks.

The hikes are all day hikes, so – in theory – I should be able to drive out to the trailhead, throw on my Keens, grab my trekking poles, toss on my CamelBak, and go for a walk. In practice, these are all all-day hikes ranging in distance from 10.4 miles to 17.3 miles. Some have snow that sticks around ’til June, others are over exposed areas that you just don’t want to hike on during the hot summer months without bringing a water sherpa along with you.

I’ve done a bit of research, and think I can put the hikes in an order that will allow me to hike from ‘easiest’ (relatively speaking) to ‘hardest.’  None of the hikes is particularly easy (I’ve already done some of them; I’ve hiked San Jacinto several times, for example, which is supposed to be the most strenuous of the hikes – although only once up Marion Trail; I took the tram the rest of the time).

So. In order, here are the heavy-duty hikes I’m going to accomplish this year:

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State Parks

Ocotillo Wells SVRA seeks input on Draft Planning Alternatives

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Comments due by March 10!

California State Parks has launched a comprehensive update of the General Plan for Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). As part of the update, Draft Planning Alternatives have been developed to illustrate different scenarios for how Ocotillo Wells SVRA may be managed over the long-term.

California State Parks is gathering public input to help identify which combination of options best serves the public’s interest in Ocotillo Wells SVRA’s future. The Preferred Planning Alternative ultimately identified for the General Plan Update process may be one of the alternatives or a combination of features from more than one alternative.

Learn about the Draft Planning Alternatives for the General Plan Update and submit your feedback via their Online Input Forum. HERE.

State Parks

California’s state parks are great places to …

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Today the California State Parks Foundation launched a new campaign: “California State Parks are Great Places to …” This week the focus is on great places to walk among giants!

How would you fill in the blank? The possibilities are endless! Share your own “Great Places” photos and stories on the CSPF website HERE.

You can visit, join, and support the California State Parks Foundation HERE.