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Mt Baldy trails controversy // Jeep Wrangler redo // Christmas surf

OutdoorSoCal Newsletter Dec 23, 2024

Author

Chris Emery
December 23, 2024

In today’s newsletter,

  • Mt Baldy trail closures spark controversy

  • Jeep brings back automatic transmission for Wranglers

  • Congress gets something useful done

  • Christmas surf for SoCal

News

Devil’s Backbone Trail is one of the routes currently closed due in the wake of the Bridge Fire.

Mount Baldy Trails Closed Through 2025, Sparking Controversy

In the wake of the September Bridge Fire in the San Bernardino Mountains, the U.S. Forest Service has closed popular hiking paths until December 2025. The closure of trails that weren’t damaged by the fire and the length of the closure period has some locals and hikers up in arms.

Jeep Brings Back Automatic Transmission for Wranglers

When Jeep announced earlier this year that they were discontinuing the automatic transmission in 2025 Wranglers, it seemed like a strange move. My guess was that it was preparation for going all-electric, but it seemed premature. Turns out it was. Jeep has reversed course and will in fact continue offering automatics — but at a price.

US Congress Passes EXPLORE Act, A Major Win for Outdoors Enthusiasts

In a significant (and rare) bipartisan achievement for outdoor enthusiasts, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act cleared its final hurdle in Congress this week. Among other things, the bill protects rock climbing access and helps to identify and create long-distance bike trails.

SoCal Surfers Get Waves for Christmas

Southern California breaks will continue to see sizable surf through Christmas Day, with waves reaching up to 10 feet in places. On the downside, it could rain and get windy.

The forecast is more mixed for Southern California’s ski areas, with wind and rain forecast at lower elevations and a bit of snow possible above 8,000 feet of elevation and possibly dropping to 6,500 feet. Things are looking better in the Sierras, with Mammoth Mountain expecting 3 inches of snow between now and Christmas Day.

And for our last bits of news, people are moving back to California (maybe Texas wasn’t all it was cracked to be..), but a man from Virginia will not be moving here after he was killed by a bear falling from a tree.

Upcoming Events

Quadrantids Meteor Shower Will Be Visible from SoCal

The Quadrantids meteor shower, one of the year’s most intense, will peak on the nights of January 2-3, 2025. While the peak is relatively short-lived, it offers a spectacular celestial show, with the potential for up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.

Other Upcoming Events

Family Camping Anza-Borrego
January 17-19, 2025 - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

CORVA Truckhaven Challenge
Jan 25, 2025 – Thermal

Banff Mountain Film Festival
Jan 24-25, 2025 – San Luis Obispo

Lake Perris Spartan Race
Jan 25-26, 2025 – Perris

Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari - Off-Roading
March 7-9, 2025 – Mammoth

Banff Mountain Film Festival
Feb 21-22, 2025 – Redlands

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

Burton Mystery Series Banked Slalom - Snowboarding
March 8, 2025 - Bear Mountain, Big Bear Lake

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

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

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

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

China Ranch Trail - Mojave Desert

The China Ranch Trail is a 3-mile loop near Tecopa, California, in the Mojave Desert, offering a moderate hike through the stunning Amargosa Canyon. Beginning and ending at China Ranch Date Farm, the trail features mild grades and hard-packed gravel, making it accessible for most hikers.

Orocopia Mountain Wilderness

Located just to the south of Joshua Tree National Park, the Orocopia Mountains Wilderness is an often-overlooked gem in the vast desert landscape of the Sonoran Desert.

Lark Canyon OHV Area

The Lark Canyon OHV Area, located in McCain Valley, in the mountains of east county San Diego, California, features a network of trails designed primarily for motorcycles and narrow ATVs

Tumco Historic Mine Ghost Town

Nestled in the remote Cargo Muchacho Mountains of Imperial County, California, Tumco Historic Mine Ghost Town offers a rare glimpse into the region’s early mining history.