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Desert camping changes // Mountain lions on night shift // Snow in them hills

OutdoorSoCal Newsletter Nov 15, 2024

Author

Chris Emery
November 15, 2024

In today’s newsletter,

  • Joshua Tree/Mojave camping changes

  • Mountain lions on the nightshift

  • SoCal mountains snow

  • Funny smelling cactus…

News

Southern California desert parks introduce camping reservations and raise fees

Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve are rolling out new reservation requirements and increased fees to address growing visitation and improve facilities.

Forecast calls for snow in SoCal mountains

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the mountains of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including the mountain resort towns of Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake, Running Springs, and Wrightwood.

The forecast calls for up to 4 inches of snow today above elevations of 5,550 feet through 10 pm tonight. The area’s ski resorts are making snow and are expected to open later this month or early December. Time to wax up the sliding devices!

Mammoth Mountain opened today after seeing significant snowfall.

La Niña is still in play for this winter, which typically means more snow in the northern part of California and a drier, warmer winter for SoCal. We’ll see.

LA mountain lions work the nightshift

Guess I’m not the only one who likes to avoid strangers in Los Angeles. A new study shows that mountain lions in the greater Los Angeles area proactively adjust their activity to avoid interacting with cyclists, hikers, joggers, and other outdoor recreationists.

This cactus smells funny…

Pot plants growing in Anza-Borrego. Photo State Park Service.

California State Parks removed over 4,600 marijuana plants being grown illegally in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It was part of a larger operation over 16 sites across the state, which resulted in the removal of over 25,500 plants and several arrests.

Upcoming Events

Dirty Thirty MTB Race - Lakeside

Dirty Thirty, a 30-mile mountain bike race (and other distances) coming up on December 1, is hosted by Quick-n-Dirty at Sycamore Canyon Gooden Ranch in Lakeside, California.

Other Upcoming Events

E-Dirty Cross MTB Race - MTB
Dec 1 - Lakeside, California

Dirty 30 MTB Race - MTB
Dec 1 - Lakeside, California

Corva Truckhaven Challenge - Off-Roading
Jan 24 - Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California

Arc’teryx Backcountry Academy - Mountaineering
March 7-9, 2025 – Mammoth

Elevation Mammoth - Ski and Snowboard
March 12, 2025 - Mammoth Mountain, California

Overland Expo SoCal - Overlanding/Off-Roading
March 15-16, 2025 - Costa Mesa, California

Sage Brush Safari - MTB
March 30, 2025 - San Diego County, California

Archipelago Ride - MTB
May 3, 2025 - San Diego, California

If you know of an outdoors-related event in or around SoCal that you’d like to share with other subscribers, email me at [email protected].

Guides

Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness

The Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness, located just southeast of Joshua Tree National Park, is a vast, rugged desert sanctuary that spans over 112,000 acres. Known for its stark beauty and geological diversity, this area draws adventurers with its steep-walled canyons, broad valleys, solitary rock formations, and vibrant desert flora.

Death Valley Camping Guide

Pick your poison. Whether you prefer the amenities of developed campgrounds, the solitude of primitive sites, or the freedom of backcountry camping, Death Valley has options to suit every type of camper.

Shark Fin Trail Loop - Alabama Hills

The Shark Fin Loop is an easy 1.7-mile trail located in the Alabama Hills, near Lone Pine, California. This loop takes hikers past the striking Shark Fin Arete, a popular rock formation for climbing, while offering stunning views of the Eastern Sierra.