In today’s newsletter,

• Death in the desert

• Sea monster in La Jolla

• Yosemite inhospitality

• Look out for La Niña

And Don’t Forget the Floods…

It’s counter intuitive, but another summer danger in SoCal’s deserts is water. The deserts can get a lot of rain in August and September, which means flooding. If you do happen to be in the desert when its raining or might rain, it’s good to take some precautions, which we’ve outlined in a new article on OSC.

Yosemite’s Hospitality Company has a Reputation for Inhospitable Conditions

People like to complain about the government, but private management isn’t always a delight.

A recent Bloomberg article sheds light on troubling conditions at Yosemite National Park, where workers and guests say they have faced significant challenges under the management of a private contractor, Aramark. (You’ll need to sign up for a free account to read the article.)

Reports of neglected maintenance, safety hazards, rodent infestations, and inadequate housing paint a concerning picture of one of America's most beloved natural landmarks.

‘Sea Serpent’ Found in La Jolla Cove

If I come across a 12 foot long, 500 pound eel-looking sea monster when swimming in the ocean, I’m outta there. Fortunately, I’m not the one who found a rare oarfish near La Jolla Cove over the weekend.

The deep-sea creature, found floating by snorkelers and kayakers, marks only the 20th recorded sighting of an oar fish in California since 1901.

Scientists are curious if the recent earthquakes in the region had anything to do with the creature’s death. The oar fish will be kept at the Scripps Marine Vertebrate Collection.

La Niña Means Less Surf and Snow for SoCal

It looks like La Niña might be crashing the Southern California party this year winter, which isn’t great news for surfers and skiers and snowboarders.

With cooler Pacific waters on the way, we’re likely in for less rain, smaller surf, and sparse snow at the resorts in Southern California and other parts of the southwest.

That said, warmer and drier weather this winter could be a boon for camping, hiking and mountain biking. And Northern California, Montana, Wyoming and the Pacific Northwest could see above average snowfall.

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