I’m Back… I Hope
This site was off line for about 24 hours for what I’ll euphemistically refer to as “technical problems.” I think the issues have now been resolved.
February 2008
Stalking Horsetail Falls
Although I’ve been going to Yosemite regularly since I was perhaps five years old (and I’m not going to say how long ago that was… ;-) I’ve never managed to see the February marvel of Horsetail Fall at sunset. Horsetail is a seasonal waterfall near the east end of the face of El Capitan. During [...]
All Dried Up?
Thanks to Tom at Fluid Flow for referencing this story on his blog…
Lake Mead May Go Dry by 2021:
The disappearance of the manmade lake would create a tidal wave of ill effects for the southwestern U.S. The lake provides water for large cities like Los Angeles and Las Vegas, as well as for several agricultural [...]
California’s Seasonal Transformation
In a decent rain year - unlike last year! - the seasons overlap in California. On a day like today it is a little bit of winter, spring, summer, and fall all rolled together.
I did a short midday hike at Calero Park this afternoon, climbing up onto a ridge that I frequently visit. For the [...]
State says many drivers change oil too often
An article in SF Gate (”State says many drivers change oil too often”) reports what many of us have thought for quite awhile: there is no real advantage in changing our engine oil more often than recommended by the manufacturer (note: not the dealer) and there are considerable environmental costs in doing so.
An excerpt:
Like many [...]
Bay Area Waterfalls
An SFGate Tom Stienstra article describes a number of SF Bay Area waterfalls worth a visit.
OK, this is really outside
I like to think of myself as an outside kinda’ guy. But my brother has outdone me. This morning he shared a photo of a moose that wandered into his back yard. Hey, I saw an opossum in my yard once, so there! :-)
Bixby Bridge, Surf and Fog
Bixby Bridge, Surf and Fog. Big Sur Coastline, California. February 9, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.
A photo. I went to Point Lobos this morning, but arrived before the gates opened. Rather than sit in my car for a half hour I drove south on Highway 1. This was my reward. :-)
Are Americans Afraid of the Outdoors?
An article in Scientific American poses the question.
Americans have been visiting national parks and other natural reserves less and less since 1987, new research confirms. Outdoor pursuits, ranging from camping to hunting, have entered a persistent and growing decline.
“Folks are going out into nature much less and decreasingly every year,” says conservation ecologist Patricia [...]
Mel Cotton
Tom Mangan of Two-Heel Drive notes that Mel Cotton passed away recently. (”RIP, Mel Cotton“)
That won’t mean much to people from outside the Santa Clara Valley, or even to folks from the Valley who have come to think of REI as the One and Only Outdoor Store in the area. But the Mel Cotton’s store [...]