Redwood trees in Southern California? I had heard that there was a grove of Sequoia sempervirens somewhere in Orange County, but had never been able to figure out where.
As it turns out, the trees are located near Brea, California off State Route 142 near Carbon Canyon Dam inside Carbon Canyon Regional Park. The park itself offers visitors activities including fishing, hiking, volleyball, picnic areas, tennis, ball fields, and playgrounds in a idyllic setting, and virtually every review is positive. From my hike through the park, to get to the trailhead, I could see it was well-maintained, had plenty of grass areas and shade trees, and is certainly worth a visit. It’s a very family-friendly park. Parking costs weekdays is $3, and I believe I read that it’s $5 on weekends, or you can save the entry fee and park on residential streets nearby.
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As the Boy Scouts – an organization that I have long admired – trundles down a path that I believe is going to end up tearing the organization apart, a new group – Trail Life USA – has emerged. The faith-based group believes that they are set to become a premiere organization for boys and young men.
Their stated goal is to “counter the ‘moral free-fall’ of the nation, and ‘raise a generation of faithful husbands, fathers, citizens and leaders.'” As they become more and more public, the group has captured attention because of their open competition with the BSA. Their mission is to “provide a robust alternative to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).”
The name of the group was chosen to avoid any political or controversial undertones.
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Geocaching is the real-world treasure hunt that’s happening right now, all around you. There are 2,189,060 active geocaches and over 6 million geocachers worldwide.
Amusing Planet posted a blog with GREAT pictures about Half Dome and the joys of hiking to the top.
The California Association of 4WD Clubs has posted details about their upcoming High Sierra Poker Run that taks place over Labor Day Weekend at the end of August: