If you’ve always wanted to help out with reforestation in our local mountains – and also want to have the title of “Supervisor” at some point in your life – you might be interested to know that the TreePeople will be hosting a Reforestation Supervisor training session this Saturday, March 20th in Calabasas.
This training will get you up to speed on the art of planting native trees and acorns and spotting and removing invasive species, and by the end of the day you’ll be ready to lead a team of volunteers in the Santa Monica Mountains.
I recently did this training for burn areas in the San Bernardino National Forest, and I can honestly say the training is fun and rewarding in and of itself, and I’m really looking forward to taking volunteers up into the mountains later this Spring. If the Santa Monica training is anything like the San Bernardino one, you’ll also get fed and plant a few sprouts yourself.
photo by Kolby Kirk
Reforestation in the Station Fire burn area is probably still a ways away, but getting your hands dirty in the Santa Monica or San Bernardino Mountains will not only make you feel great about giving something back to the forests you enjoy, but it will also mean when the Angeles does open up, you’ll be ready to lead a team in right away!
I’m in the process of adding a few new items to my OpenSky storefront, and I’m happy to announce that you’re now able to purchase a variety of CLIF Shot BLOKS directly from the Modern Hiker Shop.
In case you haven’t had the chance to try these yet, they’re lightweight gummies that act as electrolyte replacements and energy boosts. You pop a few, drink some water, and it’s like chugging a sports drink – except you don’t have to worry about mixing anything into your water or cleaning out that water container later. Obviously, these are also a lot easier and less messy than gels, too.
They come in a variety of flavors, from the traditional-tasting Mountain Berry to the caffeine boosted Cola and cramp-busting Margarita (which is really tasty!), and they keep pretty well if you don’t end up eating an entire pack on a single hike.
If you’re looking for an easy, simple energy or electrolyte replacement, these guys are probably right up your alley. I’ve used them on long backpacks in the San Bernardinos, after intense workouts, and while tramping up steep mountainsides in New Zealand. Pick up a box to keep yourself going on the trail – and to help support Modern Hiker, too!
The Adams’ Pack Station at Chantry Flats is one of the last operating pack stations in the country. It, along with most of Santa Anita Canyon, was spared during the Station Fire, but now the historic general store may be forced to close its doors by the L.A. County Health Department.
According to a recent post from NBC Los Angeles, the department has demanded the Pack Station make renovations to its food storage, plumbing, and water draining or face closure. The store not only sells Adventure Passes, ice cream and cold drinks, but it’s also a coordination center for canyon rescues, and the only supply and communications link to the Forest Service cabins in Santa Anita Canyon and the complex at Sturtevant Camp.
The renovations could cost anywhere between $5-10 thousand, which is pretty tough for a small business to absorb. The Pack Station is asking for tax-deductible donations to the Friends of the San Gabriels, which will help defray the costs.
Adams' Pack Station
I’ve definitely appreciated the Pack Station in the past – for parking, good trail tips and conversation, and more than a few of those cold drinks. If you don’t want to see this amazing piece of local history close shop, please read more about the situation and donate at the Pack Station web site.
I’m a little sorry to keep harping on Anza-Borrego here, but I really want to let LA hikers know about this little gem to our southeast. Also, the wildflowers are probably going to be pretty amazing this year, and it’s worth a trip to see them.
Here’s a PBS video on the current bloom and some future bloom predictions. A KPBS reporter heads out into the desert with a ranger, who does a good job of pointing out some of the more abundant flowers you’ll see and handing out some tips for visitors.
via San Diegan 100 Peaks, who’s been doing a really great job of keeping on top of the Anza-Borrego bloom news this year!
I’ve started to notice a few other hiking blogs pop up here in Southern California, which is a great sign that people are out there enjoying our trails. Hopefully, it won’t get crowded enough that people will have to start putting up signs like this in our forests:
That’s the phrase used by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Wildflower Report (PDF) for this week. And worry not, fellow procrastinators – because of the recent cooler temperatures, they now expect peak bloom to be the second or third week of March – so there’s still time to plan the trip south.
The Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association’s page has a few pictures of some of the early bloomers along Coyote Canyon, Henderson Canyon Road, and the Elephant Trees Trail. Definitely worth a visit if you want to get motivated for the road trip!
Internships are often a foot-in-the-door for future employment. While most of them consist of making coffee, filing papers, and generally performing the duties of an indentured servant, the Sierra Club is offering one lucky young person the chance to have what they are calling “The Best Summer Internship Ever” — and I think you’ll agree with their assessment.
Here’s what you’ll be doing for 8 weeks if you get the lucky position:
- Traveling around the country to go hiking, rafting, and more with the Sierra Club’s youth programs.
- Creating a video blog to document all the experiences.
- Getting to have your home base in San Francisco at the Sierra Club’s HQ
The intern will also earn $2,500 for the 8 week (with all expenses paid for travel) and will be outfitted with $2,000 worth of gear from The North Face and Planet Explore.
Not too shabby, right?
All you have to do is answer a few questions and upload a short video to YouTube by the end of March. The application is here, and be sure to read their FAQ before you start planning out your awesome summer.
We’re due for another minor weekend storm, which means depending on your elevation, you might be near the snow line over the next few days.
In case you were wondering what the snow line actually is, Steve Bumgardner from Yosemite Nature Notes does an excellent job of explaining the weather phenomenon’s importance to the ecosystem of Yosemite National Park … and in case you already know, just sit back and enjoy the beautiful high-def footage of Yosemite you’ve come to expect from the Nature Notes.
With a healthy dose of rain over the past few months (and a little bit more expected soon), the 2010 wildflower season is expected to be a great one – and it’s never too early to start planning those flower-peeping treks.
In Southern California, the desert wildflower blooms start in the southern end of the state and move north as the year progresses. Since so many of the displays require a bit of driving from the L.A. area, it’s in your best interest to make sure there are actually blooms worth seeing before you spend a few hours in your car.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is usually the first to bloom. This year, a recent cold snap has jeopardized some of the early flowers, but if the weather stays warm, they should recover soon. Their current wildflower report (PDF) shows a few areas of bloom, but the park expects peak bloom to occur sometime between now and the first few weeks of March. Check their wildflower web site for current updates, or visit the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association for more in-depth detail on the plants in bloom (thanks to 100 Peaks for the link).
Joshua Tree National Park usually has two blooming seasons – a March-April season for the southern, low-desert portion and another for the high-desert in the park’s northern half, which may not bloom until June! Right now, some plants are starting to bud, but blooms aren’t expected for a few more weeks. Check their Wildflower Report page for the most up to date information.
Death Valley National Park may look like a barren wasteland, but that arid valley can be home to some of the most spectacular wildflower shows on the planet. While this season won’t be as big as the 2005 bloom, Death Valley rangers are predicting a moderate bloom in late March / early April. (PDF)
Of course, wildflowers also bloom in our local mountains. Both DesertUSA and the Theodore Payne Foundation offer comprehensive predictions and weekly updates on wildflower prospects through the entire state of California, and are invaluable resources if you’re trying to time a trip for peak bloom.
Your one-stop shop for hiking in Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California. Find a trail. Download a Google Earth file. Charge your GPS' batteries, then get outside and charge yours.
Web Hosting by ReadySetConnect
