- OutdoorSoCal
- Posts
- Overland Expo // La Jolla kayaking // Anza-Borrego off-road
Overland Expo // La Jolla kayaking // Anza-Borrego off-road
OutdoorSoCal Newsletter Nov 1, 2024
Chris Emery
November 01, 2024
In today’s newsletter,
Overland Expo coming to SoCal
La Jolla kayaking
First snow in Big Bear
Anza-Borrego off-road guide
News
Overland Expo is coming to SoCal
Overland Expo, the country’s largest series of overlanding events, is coming to Costa Mesa in March. The company already holds expos in Arizona, Virginia, Colorado and Arizona, and this is the first year for a SoCal event.
Kayaking the La Jolla coast
During one summer heat wave, my son and I rented a kayak and paddle from La Jolla Shores to the cliffs and sea caves near La Jolla Cove. The coolest part was finding a shark egg floating near the cove.
Bear Mountain gets first snow of the year
Bear Mountain got its first snow of the year, a light dusting that was a harbinger of winter and ski/snowboard season. Many mountain resorts in or within driving distance of Southern California are expected to open later this month or early December.
SoCal national parks offering free access for Veterans Day
November 11, Veteran's Day, is the last Free Admission Day for SoCal’s national parks in 2024. Here’s a list of SoCal national parks and monuments that will be free that day.
Another Northern California climber arrested on rape charges
Bay Area climber Jason William Crist, 38, was arrested on October 30 in Pacifica, California, facing nine felony charges linked to allegations of sexual assault and related offenses reported between 2019 and 2023. This comes after a different Nor Cal climber, Charles Barrett, was sentenced to life in prison this past summer for sexually assaulting women.
Mountain biker wants to build a 500-mile trail through the Sierra Nevada
Chris McNamara, a Tahoe-based mountain biker, is spearheading the creation of the 550-mile Sierra Camino Trail, a challenging segment of the even more ambitious 5,000-mile Orogenesis Trail that he hopes will eventually connect Cabo to Canada.
Online oddities
Man paddles a giant pumpkin for 46 miles down the Columbia River.
Upcoming Events
Arc’teryx Backcountry Academy – Mammoth
The Arc’teryx Backcountry Academy, slated to be held March 7-9, 2025, in the mountains of Mammoth, California, is a three-day program focused on mountain skills education, including touring, ski mountaineering, and avalanche safety. Registration for the clinic opens November 27, 2024.
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
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].
Gear
Gear Deals:
Jackery is offering steep discounts on its solar generator setups.
Gobi Racks is offering $200 off its vehicle racks. Not sure how long the sale lasts, but it's a good deal if you are in the market. I’ve owned one of the racks for my Jeep and they are worth a look. The promo code is 200KGND.
REI is offering up to 50% off select gear.
Guides & Videos
Pinyon Mountain Trail - Anza-Borrego
Pinyon Mountain Trail is an 8.8-mile classic off-roading route in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It is known as one of the most challenging routes in the region and features obstacles such as the Squeeze and Heart Attack Hill. The trail passes through the Pinyon Mountains in the park's center and is a one-way passage from west to east.
Wonderland of Rocks - Joshua Tree | The Wonderland of Rocks, a wild and rocky expanse within Joshua Tree National Park, is a twelve-square-mile playground of massive granite boulders, towering rock piles, and maze-like terrain. |
Black Mountain Gliderport Trail | Black Mountain Glider Port Trail in San Diego’s Black Mountain Open Space Park is a short, steep hike that brings you to a paraglider launch zone. |