A locked gate has been blocking the Backbone Trail (BBT) at the west end of Etz Meloy Motorway since mid-October. This interupts a very popular mountain bike ride from the parking area on Encinal Canyon Road to the Mishe Mokwa Trailhead, covering the two newest singletrack sections of the Backbone Read more…
Twice in the past week at the request of the State Parks trails maintenance department, a group of about 8 volunteers from the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council headed into Point Mugu State Park to begin cleanup and repair of the trails after the Springs Fire swept through just over Read more…
Rescuers have had to evacuate another hiker who fell and became injured in the local mountains. It’s the third incident this month. Source of this article: The Thousand Oaks Acorn, April 18, 2013 About 5:45 p.m. April 14, personnel from the Malibu Search and Rescue Team, Los Angeles County Fire Read more…
Rim of the Valley study now in fifth year Source of this article: The Thousand Oaks Acorn, April 18, 2013 The mountains encircling the Conejo and Simi valleys may soon become part of the U.S. National Park Service. The Conejo Mountain area, Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains make up Read more…
Some of Yosemite’s much-loved amenities, including swimming pools, bike rentals and a skating rink, would be jettisoned under a plan to restore the Merced River corridor to a more natural state. Source of this article: The Los Angeles Times, April 14, 2013 The majestic landscape of Yosemite National Park — Read more…
Vandals are using social media to get others to join in. Rattlesnake Canyon and Barker Dam are temporarily closed. Source of this article: The Los Angeles Times, April 13, 2013 JOSHUA TREE — Along the saw-toothed ridge of Rattlesnake Canyon, crude graffiti invades the crevices that offered shade to nomadic Read more…
The plan would improve access and boost security in joint management by the Forest Service and Park Service of the area, which provides 70% of L.A. County’s open space. Source of this article: The Los Angeles Times, April 11, 2013 Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday recommended designation of the Read more…
Volunteer program will take a hit Source of this article: The Thousand Oaks Acorn, April 4, 2013 Now that the government sequester is officially in effect, some public agencies are feeling the squeeze. Sequestration is the automatic spending cut imposed by Congress and the Obama administration that hits a multitude of Read more…
A new National Park Service report for 2011 shows that the 650,000 visitors to national park lands in the Santa Monica Mountains spent $26 million in the surrounding community. This spending supported 350 local jobs. Source of this article: The Thousand Oaks Acorn, March 28, 2013 The report only studied Read more…
Species deemed harmful by NPS Source of this article: The Thousand Oaks Acorn, March 28, 2013 Gary Haynes strolls on the grounds of Peter Strauss Ranch in rural Agoura about three times a week, enjoying the scenery, wildlife and the sweet smell of the towering eucalyptus trees on the property Read more…