Four Mile Trail from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point has reopened. It’s usually closed from December through May because of “dangerous winter conditions,” with the last mile to the top almost NEVER opened up until May. Even though we’re experiencing a mild winter here on the west coast, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for winter conditions from Union Point to Glacier Point.
On Wednesday, January 1, 2014, Trail Life USA (TLUSA) officially launched its outdoor adventure program for boys and young men nationwide. TLUSA is a Christian scouting-like program for boys and young men ages 5-24. The program focuses on outdoor adventure, character, and leadership and is starting with approximately 500 troops in 42 states.
Trail Life USA is being birthed on the same day that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) officially implements its new membership policy of allowing “open and avowed” homosexual youth in their program. Around 60% of the new members of TLUSA are former members of the BSA and 40% have no BSA background.
Backpacker Magazine put up an EXCELLENT appetite whetting hiking guide to one of the most scenic parts of the Pacific Crest Trail.
For those who don’t know, the Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail that follows some of the highest pats of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges from Mexico to Canada, crossing Califoria, Oregon and Washington. It is 2,663 miles long, passes through 25 national forest and 7 national parks. The trail became a National Scenic Trail in 1968.
From Backpacker Magazine:
The Hike
The best section of the most scenic long trail in the country is the 203.7-mile stretch in the central Sierra from Kennedy Meadows Campground to Red’s Meadow Campground. In that span, the PCT crosses Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and the John Muir Wilderness–and never meets a single road. It’s the longest roadless span on any National Scenic Trail in the country. On the way, you’ll have a chance to summit Mt. Whitney (the Lower 48’s highest point at 14,497 feet) and experience the legendarily gentle weather of California’s central Sierra. Plan for 10 to 15 days to cross this roller coaster of subalpine and glaciated terrain.
Press Release:
Hammerking Productions, the founders of The Griffin King of The Hammers Presented by Nitto Tire, are pleased to announce that the week-long off road festival held annually in Johnson Valley, CA will be able to continue in its current location for the foreseeable future. After six years of negotiations between the United States Marine Corps, the federal government and the Off Highway Vehicle(OHV) Community, a deal has been reached to preserve the majority of the land in Johnson Valley for OHV use.
Congressman Paul Cook spearheaded the deal which allows nearly 100,000 acres of land to remain open to the public and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Marines will have access to approximately 55,000 acres of shared use land for 60 days a year to meet their training objectives, but will not retain ownership of the land the remaining 305 days a year. The proposed legislation is expected to pass the House later this week and the Senate next week before the holiday recess.
Move over Elmo. Take a hike Dora. Lightfoot is back in town – and he has a new website your kids need to check out now at tlkids.org!
In a national effort to engage children in outdoor education Tread Lightly! has re-vamped tlkids.org – a website designed to help kids learn to recreate responsibly in the outdoors.
The newly re-designed site offers fun, interactive word games, trivia, coloring pages and other activities teaching children the importance of safe and environmentally responsible outdoor recreation.
From TreadLightly!:
In a national effort to engage children in outdoor education, the nonprofit organization Tread Lightly! has re-vamped TreadLightlyKids.org—a website designed to help kids learn to recreate responsibly in the outdoors.
