Category Archives: Outdoors

Activities, Hiking - General, National Forests, National Parks, State Parks

Hiking the Sierras

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Dick Hagerty, an Oakdale real estate developer active in community nonprofits, has written an excellent community column in the Modesto Bee about getting outdoors and hiking the Sierras.

I truly love getting outdoors, and I encourage everyone to visit the cathedrals of nature and see what something beyond your TV screen and computer monitor.  The world is a wide and wonderous place!

From the column:

It is not too late in the summer season to take a short drive up to the mountains and enjoy a day hiking through the woods and the wilderness. We just did the Panorama Trail in Yosemite this week, and despite the very strenuous ups and downs it was one of the all time greatest view treks I have ever experienced.

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Activities, Jeep, Off Roading

Sierra Trek coming up August 8!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Sierra Trek is a terrific event hosted by the California Association of 4WD Clubs, Inc.  It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year, and an event that shouldn’t be missed.  It’s taking place near Truckee in Northern California from August 8th through the 11th at Meadow Lake.

Just running Fordyce Trail with a group that knows what they’re doing is WELL worth the trip!

From the website:

Sierra Trek is the granddaddy of Cal 4 events. It is held in Northern California near Truckee. The event takes participants over the famous Fordyce Trail and the surrounding areas via SUV, ATV, modified 4×4 vehicles and dedicated trail rigs.

We are working hard to introduce new and fun activities for families that we know you will enjoy. You can still run the Fordyce trail with the confidence that the trail staff will make your adventure memorable!

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Jeep, Off Roading

Happy Birthday, Jeep!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On August 1, 1941 the legendary Jeep was born.

From Wikipedia:

The first Willys MB Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle (SUV) brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second oldest 4-wheel-drive brand. The original Jeep vehicle that first appeared as the prototype Bantam BRC became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the United States Army and Allies during World War II, as well as the postwar period. Many Jeep variants serving similar military and civilian roles have since been created in other nations.

Activities, National Forests, National Parks

Congressman McClintock Speaks on Yosemite National Park and Against the Mariposa

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

From his address to the U.S. House of Representatives, August 1, 2013:

Mr. Speaker: Yosemite Valley is a national treasure that was set aside in 1864 with the promise it would be preserved for the express purpose of “Public Use, Resort and Recreation.” Ever since, Americans have enjoyed a host of recreational opportunities and amenities as they have come to celebrate the splendor of the Valley. Now, the National Parks Service, at the urging of leftist environmental groups, is proposing eliminating many of those amenities, including bicycle and raft rentals, horseback riding rentals, gift shops, snack facilities, swimming pools, and iconic facilities including the Ice Skating Rink at Curry Village, the art center and historic stone bridges that date back to the 1920’s.

For generations, these facilities have enhanced the enjoyment of the park for millions of visitors, adding a rich variety of recreational activities amidst the breathtaking backdrop of Yosemite. But today, the very nature and purpose of Yosemite is being changed from its original promise of “Public Use, Resort, and Recreation,” to an exclusionary agenda that can best be described as, “Look, but don’t touch.”

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Activities, Geocaching

Geocaching for fun and PRIZES!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Geocaching is introducing Gear Up for Geocaching in a BIG way this August with a pretty terrific contest.  According to Geocaching.com, they’ve put together some excellent prize packages that includes treasure from Greenlayer, Camp Chef and others.

From the announcement:

Each package will include treasure from brands such as Camp Chef, Mountainsmith, Greenlayer, 7eye, MHM, Kor and Skratch Labs. We couldn’t sit out on the fun, though, so we’re also giving free one-year Geocaching Premium Memberships to each winner, to help you find more geocaches than ever. See below for a full breakdown of what you could win!

New to geocaching? No problem! Geocachers of all experience levels are welcome to participate. By filling out this form before the end of August, new and existing Geocaching members in the U.S. are eligible to enter using their Geocaching username. There is only one entry per person, and the deadline to enter is midnight on August 31. Three winners will be drawn and notified in early September. In the meantime, you can share stories or photos of your August finds on Twitter with @GoGeocaching using #GearUp or connect on Facebook. Also, you can participate in the 31 Days of Geocaching: every day you find a geocache in August, you will earn a unique calendar-style Geocaching souvenir.

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