In today’s newsletter,

• National Parks are gold mines for the locals

• Bozos in the wild

• SoCal’s Olympic surf champ

• New Ikon Pass resort in California

Caroline Marks, SoCal’s Olympic surf champ: “That was probably the best moment of my life.”

After winning gold this summer in the Olympics, next month Caroline Marks will defend her WSL world title at her home break, Lower Trestles, in San Clemente. Of the Olympic win, she told Surfer Magazine “That was probably the best moment of my life.”

Ikon Pass now covers Sierra at Tahoe

For die-hard skiers and snowboarders in SoCal, the Ikon Pass offers a (relatively) affordable way to ride at multiple resorts within driving distance. The most recent mountain resort to accept Ikon Pass holders with no blackout dates is Sierra at Tahoe, a ski area located south of Lake Tahoe that traces its history back to the 1800s.

Not a promotion, but FYI, other resorts covered by the pass are Big Bear Mountain Resort, Snow Valley, June Mountain, Mammoth Mountain, and Palisades Tahoe

Ocean Beach Pier is dead; long live the new Ocean Beach Pier

The city of San Diego has determined that repairing the existing Ocean Beach Pier, which dates to 1966, isn’t feasible and will need to be replaced entirely.

That means the pier will stay closed to the public for the foreseeable future. Ocean Beach’s hula hoopers, yogis, surfers, and random sketchy people will be happy to know that new concepts for the pier are already in the works.

Bozos in the wild

Two geniuses were caught pushing large ancient rock formations over the edge of a cliff near the Redstone Dunes Trail at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada. At least the German doofuses caught shooting paintballs in Joshua Tree didn’t cause permanent damage.

Labor Day weekend gonna be warm and sunny

The long weekend is shaping up to be a warm one. The deserts are still so hot that cars keep catching fire.

Strange discovery unearthed in Mojave Desert

A mysterious chest adorned with Nazi SS symbols was found by two treasure hunters in the California desert. Is this some elaborate hoax, or did someone stumble upon a piece of dark history? My BS detector is buzzing.

National Parks get much-needed $100 million gift

If I had millions of dollars to give away, I might give it to the National Parks. But someone beat me to it. The Lilly Endowment has given the National Park Foundation a $100 million grant to preserve and enhance the nation’s national park sites, including California’s iconic Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Death Valley. National parks have been

Just dolphins jumping 👇

This is why I’m not moving to Texas…as if I needed a reason.

LABOR DAY SALES

Hope everybody has adventures planned for the long weekend. If not, there’s always gear shopping…