National Parks, Wildfire

Meadow Fire in Yosemite

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Meadow Fire is burning in the greater Little Yosemite Valley area and is at 400 acres.

All trails from the top of Nevada Fall to Merced Lake, including trails leading to that area, are closed. Additionally, the trail from Sunrise Lakes Trailhead to Sunrise Lakes and Sunrise Lakes High Sierra Camp, and the trails from the camp to the trail along the Merced River east of Little Yosemite Valley, are closed.

Currently, four type 1 helicopters, three type 3 helicopters, three air tankers, one air attack, six hotshot crews, and other resources are assigned to the fire.

Continue reading →

Interesting Places

California on Vimeo

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A GORGEOUS time-lapse of our beautiful state like you’ve probably never seen it. It took four years to put this together; “The average clip took 1-3 hours to film and another 3-10 hours to edit. Several cuts are from clips more than 24 hours long. I shot 423 clips over four years to make this, but the majority of the 67 clips ultimately used were shot in the last 12 months.” – Hal Bergman

Take four minutes and watch this awesome video!

National Forests

Scoping begins on revised forest plans for Inyo, Sequoia & Sierra National Forests

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Scoping workshops this month, comments due by September 29

The U.S. Forest Service today announced a 30-day public scoping period to start the National Environmental Policy Act process for revising forest plans on the Inyo, Sequoia and Sierra National Forests. The scoping period begins August 29, 2014 with the publishing of the Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register.

The Inyo, Sequoia and Sierra are three of eight national forests selected as “early adopters,” meaning they will be the first forests to revise their land management plans under the 2012 Forest Service Planning Rule.  The planning rule provides the framework for Forest Service land management plans on national forests across the nation.

These three forest plan revisions will be completed through the development of one environmental impact statement (EIS). The final EIS will result in three separate Records of Decision and three separate forest plans.  Forest Supervisors are the responsible officials for making decisions on their specific forest plans.

Continue reading →

National Forests, National Parks

National Parks Service 98th Anniversary – TODAY!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The National Parks Service marks its 98th anniversary today. All of the parks will be celebrating by offering FREE ADMISSION!  Get out there and visit your national parks!

From the NPS website:

It’s our birthday, and we hope you’ll visit a national park and help us celebrate! On August 25, 2014 the National Park Service turns 98 years old. We are waiving entrance fees and inviting everyone to join in the festivities taking place coast-to-coast.

Our big day, August 25, is a free-entrance day, so head to any of the country’s 401 national parks and take in the scenery, learn a little history, or simply enjoy the great outdoors.

Ninety-eight may sound old, but we’re young at heart and celebrating with everyone who shares our youthful exuberance! Parks across the country are offering loads of fun activities. Take the kids on a caving adventure, bike ride, kayak tour, hike, or island safari. Catch a campfire talk, make a painting, or witness a living history demonstration. Search the events calendar to find out what’s happening at a park near you! You can help the kids earn a free Junior Ranger badge at almost any park—just ask at the visitor center.

You can find out more about the National Park Service – and find a National Park near you – on their website HERE.

You can sign the NPS birthday card HERE.

National Forests, National Parks

Happy 70th, Smokey the Bear!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On this day in history – August 9, 1944 – Smoky the Bear made his debut appearance.  The first poster featuring the iconic jeans wearing bear was illustrated by Albert Staehle. In it Smokey sports both his modest (yet durable) pants choice as well as the well recognized campaign hat that is still worn by National Park Service personnel to this day. He is show pouring a bucket of water on a campfire, with a message below the image reading, “Smoky says – Care will prevent 9 out of 10 forest fires!”

Continue reading →