Ventana Wilderness to Reopen May 1

April 26, 2009

img160

Time to head back to the woods!

The Forest Service is silent, of course, but reliable sources report that the currently closed portion of the Los Padres National Forest (which includes the Ventana Wilderness) is set to reopen on May 1. Read the rest of this entry »


A Visit to La Cueva Pintada

April 25, 2009

dsc00996

The army hasn’t allowed the public to visit La Cueva Pintada (on Fort Hunter Liggett) in something like 10 years, so when the San Antonio Valley Historical Association succeeded in navigating the bureaucratic maze and getting permission for a public tour a lot of people jumped at the opportunity. Read the rest of this entry »


Forest Service Website Hacked

April 20, 2009

We’ve heard from some people wondering why our links to the Los Padres National Forest Current Conditions page and other Forest Service pages aren’t working. The reason appears to be that the Forest Service has been victimized by hackers Read the rest of this entry »


Fire Near Pfeiffer Beach

April 19, 2009

6:45PM April 19, 2009

It’s been a hot day and, sure enough, the CHP is receiving reports of a fire burning near Pfeiffer Beach. Firefighters and air support are reported to be on the way …. Read the rest of this entry »


Garland Park Wildflowers

April 18, 2009

Here’s a little of what we saw today ….

dsc00872

Sky Lupine (Lupinus nanus) and Coast Goldfields (Lasthenia californica) share a meadow. Read the rest of this entry »


Charges Against MIRA Caretaker Dropped

April 17, 2009

The Monterey County District Attorney has dropped all charges against Ivan Eberle, the caretaker at the MIRA observatory on Chews Ridge. Eberle had been charged with battery on a firefighter and interference with a firefighter in the line of duty (see earlier post for details). Read the rest of this entry »


Public Officials Endure Fort Ord Dunes State Park Grand Opening

April 15, 2009

dsc00854

The Ribbon Cutting – Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado tries to wipe the sand out of his eyes while Supervisors Dave Potter and Jane Parker grin and bear it. As a squadron of other dignitaries attempt to form a wind break, California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman and Representative Sam Farr attack the ribbon with scissors big and small. Read the rest of this entry »


Debris Flow in Pfeiffer Creek Closes Highway

April 7, 2009

10:00PM April 7

Today’s rain set off a debris flow in Pfeiffer Creek. The flow may have put some water into the Big Sur Lodge. The highway is completely blocked and is expected to remain closed until sometime tomorrow. The Big Sur CATS site has posted some pictures. Read the rest of this entry »


Pinnacles Wildflowers

April 5, 2009

The sun is out and the flowers are blooming at Pinnacles National Monument.

Here’s a little of what we saw today …

dsc00772

This is a field of Tufted Poppies (Eschscholzia caespitosa).

(For a closer look, click on a picture to bring up a higher resolution image, then use your browser to zoom in) Read the rest of this entry »


9 Months After the Fire – Photos Taken When the Ground was Hot Compared to Photos Taken Yesterday

April 3, 2009

dsc00663

Stinging Lupine (Lupinus hirsutissimus) becomes the first plant to recolonize a severely burned slope. Read the rest of this entry »