Category Archives: Outdoors

Activities, Conservation, National Forests

Lassen National Forest Celebrating Wildflowers

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

With the spring bloom of wildflowers filling the forests with color, the Lassen National Forest will be hosting a “Celebrating Wildflowers” program during National Wildflower Week from May 20th through the 24.

“Celebrating Wildflowers” is a U.S. Forest Service program that promotes the “enjoyment of the thousands of wildflowers growing on our national forests and grasslands,” and helps to educate the public about the virtues and values of native plants.

From the Lassen National Forest press release: Continue reading →

Activities, Adventures, National Parks

Yosemite – Tioga Road OPEN!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

It’s a good news/bad news situation.

Tioga Road at Yosemite National Park is open. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Tioga Road at Yosemite National Park is open.

Normally, snowplows take to the road right around tax time to begin clearing it. Clearing usually takes a couple of months – depending on snowpack – so the road generally opens sometime around the end of May, or as late as the middle of June. Because the snowpack is 50% lighter than usual, the road is opening early this year.

Tioga Road, a popular crossing of the Siera Nevada, is part of State Highway 120. From Wikipedia: Continue reading →

Conservation, National Forests, National Parks, State Parks

U.S. Forest Service Keeping Its Logo!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

When the United States Department of Agriculture released its Visual Standards Guide back in January, it contained the ominous phrase ‘agency logos are being phased out and replaced with a standardized signature model to be adopted by all USDA agencies.’

This reminded me of the Borg’s ‘you will be assimilated’ phrase from Star Trek the Next Generation.  And, given that the USDA is the same department that oversees things like the homogenization of milk, it makes absolute sense that they’d want to make sure that their employees, vehicles, websites, uniforms, etc. would all be … ‘assimilated.’

But here’s the thing.  The U.S. FOREST Service is all about forests and forestry.  The USDA’s logo is described – by the USDA themselves – as “a graphic representation of the land — the foundation of all agriculture — and the Department’s initials. The symbol’s colors — dark green and dark blue — represent the essential elements of earth, air, and water. Together these elements comprise the symbol.”

Falling back on my Southern California roots and lingo: “Dude.  Really?“

Continue reading →

Conservation, Offroading - General, State Parks

Rep. Paul Cook Offers Alternative Plan to Twentynine Palms Base Expansion

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

This just in!  Representative Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) has issued a statement regarding the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center’s planned expansion in Twentynine Palms, California:

“The training of the U.S. Marine Corps is vital to the safety of the American people, and the exercises taking place on the Twentynine Palms base enable our Marine forces to defend our nation and its allies throughout the world. However, I can’t support the expansion plan offered by the Marine Corps, which would hand them ownership of Johnson Valley. Marine Corps ownership would prevent many public-space activities, including big public off-highway events like King of the Hammers, from taking place. Offroaders and other users of Johnson Valley make huge contributions to the economic well-being of the Morongo Valley, and losing that revenue during slow economic times would be devastating.

“Protecting the Marine Corps’ budget is extremely important to me, and I believe the funds set aside for purchasing this land for the Marine Corps could be put to better use.

Continue reading →

Jeep, National Forests

21st Annual Big Bear Jeep Jamboree May 9 – 11, 2013

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Jeep Jamborees are off-road adventure weekends that bring together the outdoors, down-to-earth people, and their Jeep 4x4s.

Jeep Jamboree began in 1953 when Mark A. Smith, along with a small group of friends and Rotarians were looking for a way to boost the economy of Georgetown USA. 155 people showed up for the first Jamboree, which followed the Rubicon Trail, snaking it’s way across the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern California. The next year, the manufacturer of Jeeps – Willys Motors – became involved, and the Jeep Jamboree adventure has continued ever since.

This year marks the 21st year the Big Bear Jeep Jamboree has taken place in Big Bear Lake, California.

This particular Jamboree is a “Select Jamboree”  – it includes Friday and Saturday night family style dinners (participants have the option to prepare their own meals or sample the AWESOME Big Bear restaurants for all other meals).

On Thursday, May 9th (from 5 – 7pm) MANDATORY registration will take place at the Big Bear Lake Elks Lodge (40611 Village Drive in Big Bear Lake, 909-866-6190).  Trail sign-ups will take place during registration on a first come, first served basis, so get there EARLY and register!. Remember that a vehicle check is MANDATORY PRIOR TO trail sign-ups, and there is no late registration available on Friday morning.

For further information, visit the Jeep Jamboree website HERE.

For specific information about the Big Bear Jeep Jamboree, there’s a PDF file HERE, and registration forms are HERE.