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Tidepooling Nirvana // Electric surfboard // Bear crashes snowboarder

OutdoorSoCal Newsletter Dec 12, 2024

Author

Chris Emery
December 12, 2024

In today’s newsletter,

  • King Tides arrive in SoCal

  • Malibu burns

  • Bear crashes snowboarder

  • New electric surfboard

News

Tide pools at Crystal Cove State Park

King Tides Make for Optimal Tidepooling in SoCal

Southern California will experience the final king tides of 2024 this weekend (Dec 13-15), with extreme tidal swings making for rare conditions during low tide. I put together a guide with more info on the king tides and good places to go tidepooling in SoCal.

Franklin Fire Burning in Santa Monica Mountains

The Franklin Fire in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Malibu has burned over 4,000 acres and is only partially contained. The fire has mostly burned open spaces but has also damaged homes. The area is home to the Backbone Trail, a long-distance trail stretching 67 miles through the Santa Monica Mountains.

That Time a Bear Crashed into a Snowboarder

Last winter, a snowboarder and bear collided at Heavenly Resort, which was caught on video by another rider.

This Electric Surfboard Can Go 37 MPH - and Costs $25K

My friends already give me crap for owning an electric mountain bike, but if money was no object, I’d be tempted by this $25k electric surfboard from LIND. Then again, if I had $25k to blow, I could get a hell of a nice new electric mountain bike…

Other News

The Cholla Cactus Garden and 49 Palms Trail in Joshua Tree National Park will be temporarily closed for maintenance through March 2025. The Cholla Cactus Garden is closed indefinitely, while the 49 Palms Trail will be closed Monday through Thursday.

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

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

Andreas Canyon Trail - Near Palm Springs

Located within the Indian Canyons Preserve near Palm Springs, the Andreas Canyon Trail is a scenic and relatively short hike offering a blend of desert landscape and lush palm oases.

Bayside Trail – Cabrillo National Monument

The Bayside Trail at Cabrillo National Monument is a 2.5-mile, easy out-and-back hike with sweeping views of San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

San Gabriel Canyon OHV Area

The San Gabriel Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area and Obstacle Course, located 11 miles north of Azusa, that includes a training area with simulated off-road features.

Crystal Lake Campground – San Gabriel Mountains

Crystal Lake Campground is a developed campground located in the San Gabriel Mountains within the Angeles National Forest.