2020 was a difficult year for travelers, wanderers, adventurers, and explorers here in California. I did get out – sometimes with groups, sometimes furtively by myself – and was rewarded with solitude, silence, and freedom within the great cathedrals of nature that California offers from the deserts to the beaches, to the mountains and deep forests.
As with any exploration, it’s all about knowledge and preparedness. My hardware set is pretty solid – if I can’t get out of a jamb, I can call someone to come and find me – but this year my software set has been a bit lacking.
The U.S. Forest Service has announced that it is expanding its very successful 
In a show of gratitude to the brave men and women who selflessly served our country in uniform, the United States Forest Service announced today that it will offer U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families fee-free access to the national forests and grasslands that they manage.
It’s coming up THIS SATURDAY!
This year marks the second year of National Forest Week, which is a week-long celebration of our national forest and grasslands. The program was started in 2019 by the National Forest Foundation, which is a congressionally chartered non-profit parter to the U.S. Forest Service. National Forest Week happens the second week in July every year.