In today’s newsletter,

• The LA fires have closed large sections of state parks and national forest

• Dune wreckers drove on Death Valley’s iconic Eureka Dunes (Can’t we have anything nice??)

• Jeep may release new EV sooner

• Encinitas Mike Hyndson rides the wave to the sky

Death Valley National Park Looking for Dune Wreckers

Driving on sand dunes is fun - but not always cool. Death Valley National Park rangers are looking for the numbskulls who illegally drove off-road on Eureka Dunes, one of the park’s most unique - and protected - natural features.

Things to see in the night sky this month

It’s desert season in Southern California, which means it’s time to look up. Here are some things you can look for in the night sky this January - planets in alignment and Mars shining bright.

SoCal Surf Legend Mike Hynson of Endless Summer Dies at 82

The man behind that iconic silhouette on the classic surf flick Endless Summer passed away earlier this month at 82. Encinitas local Mike Hynson was a pioneering figure in the surfing world. RIP Mike.

Other news

Climbing Magazine profiled Los Angeles climber Tony Sartin, 57, who passed away last year, as part of the magazine’s annual Climber’s We Lost feature.

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Utah’s attempts to sell off large swaths of public lands in the state to private interests. Phew. In unrelated Utah news, two people were killed by avalanches recently. And in even more unrelated news, Utah bans women’s climbing night.

Where better to take in the sunset at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego? My son and I went the other evening and watched the sun go down with a couple hundred people who had the same idea. Here’s a video I shot:

outdoorsocal

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With the cliffs eroding and people jamming the bluff tops every nice evening, San Diego officials are installing new barriers to prevent accidents.

Jeep may speed up the release of its all-electric Recon model. But who knows…the company is struggling.

Black Mountain Gliderport Trail