Conduct your own training session in the Tehachapi. Embrace your solitude and immerse yourself in a lush green wilderness. Keep a wary eye open for bears on a food run. Soak up ice cold exhilaration in moss-covered swimming holes.
All aboard for a weekend escape to Tehachapi
“Folks might want me to say that the famed train loop is the thing. And it is stirring to see: long, noisy trains emerging from the tunnel, lumbering, then “spiraling” or “lapping” upon themselves. The costumed guides at the Tehachapi Depot Museum helped explain this engineering marvel of the 1800s. But I was equally entranced by the self-guided wind-farm driving tour. At the start, the smallish wind towers are early models, then the tour progresses to spinning behemoths dotting the hillsides.” Los Angeles Times · Sara Lessley
This Olympic National Park Rainforest is one of the quietest places on Earth
“Olympic National Park—in particular the Hoh Rainforest, one of the emerald gems of the U.S. national park system. The Hoh Rainforest is tucked deep within a glacial river valley less than 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It sits in the shadow of Mount Olympus, the 7,980-foot peak that gives the park its name, and is a solid half-day drive from bustling Seattle. In addition to the lush biodiversity you’d expect from a temperate rainforest, that remote quality makes Hoh one of the quietest places anywhere on Earth, almost completely free of any human noise pollution. Immersing yourself in this lush, green world can be a peaceful forest bathing experience or a challenging excursion into the wilderness. However you choose to enjoy it, you’ll find peace and quiet abounds.” The Dyrt
Take the plunge in these California swimming holes to keep your cool
“Natural Bridges is a swimming hole in the Sierra foothills. This summertime hot spot near the Tuolumne-Calaveras county line rewards hikers with a swim in ice-cold Coyote Creek through a moss-covered cave. The Natural Bridges parking area is between Columbia State Historic Park and the wineries of Murphys. The round-trip hike is about two miles but make sure to pack plenty of water because the return back to the car is all uphill. Info: Natural Bridges, bit.ly/natrualbridges” By MIKE MORRIS
Drivers Should Keep an Eye Out for Bears on Tahoe Roads
“Lake Tahoe’s thriving bear population is very active and many of them are getting hit by cars. Bears have been out looking for food following their winter slumber. It is also mating season and the time when juvenile bears are venturing off on their own for the first time. All of this activity can put them in the path of moving cars and these collisions are not uncommon. ‘Some years it just spikes up to the point where there’s 50 or 60. Some years, more normal would be maybe 25,’ said Ann Bryant, the executive director of the BEAR League.” Dennis Shanahan
North America’s best national parks day hikes
“If you have limited time in the Grand Canyon, you can’t do much better than this beautiful hike. The wide and well-maintained corridor trail offers shady rest-houses and stretches along a delightful creek. At the trailhead, the canyon beckons in all its glory. If you suffer vertigo, look to the left for a while – the first five minutes are the hardest. Highlights include two tunnels, Native American pictographs and the visual reward of the dramatically broad Tonto Platform. Continuing down the Bright Angel adds difficulty but brings you to the shady oasis of Indian Garden. For an even more challenging and very exposed hike to expansive views of the inner gorge, cross Tonto Platform along a spur trail to reach Plateau Point. It’s a popular destination for strong day hikers, but the long, exposed stretch can be searingly hot.” Lonely Planet Michele Falzone / Getty Images
“Most people associate the Pacific Northwest with a lush region that receives large amounts of rain during the winter months, with wonderful summer days. But the Northwest has a variety of climate regions, from the Pacific Coast to the valley and, once over the mountains, a desert region — all within a few hours drive of each other. There is enough to keep the outdoor enthusiast busy.” Map – Wikitravel
“A new state park designated underwater trail at Emerald Bay State Park at Lake Tahoe includes the largest collection of sunken boats in America. California State Parks will open an underwater trail to four sites in Emerald Bay that will lead visitors to a boat graveyard from the 1920s and ’30s — and provide those in boats with a chance to peer down into the lake for a glimpse. State park divers have found two large barges and 12 recreational boats, including a vintage 27-foot launch, said Denise Jaffe, associate state archaeologist with the California State Parks and a scuba diver who helped develop the project. This collection is the largest, most diverse group of sunken small watercraft of their type, in their original location, known to exist in the nation, Jaffe said. The underwater shipwreck route will be named the “Emerald Bay Maritime Heritage Trail.”Tom Stienstra sfchronicle.com Photo: Mylana Haydu, Center for Underwater Science, Indiana University
“Tahoe just got a truckload of fresh powder—tis the season for snowmobile treks, chilly swims, mountain-view skydiving, spicy coffees, and icy seafood.
“For over 50 years, Jack’s Surfboards has been an Orange County icon and Southern California favorite for surfboards, wetsuits, clothing, footwear and accessories. Being voted as Orange County’s #1 surf shop year after year is a testament to Jack’s dedication to offering the largest and newest selections for men, women and children. Jack’s Surfboards flagship store in Huntington Beach is a destination spot for surfers and surf fans from all over the world. The huge 10,000 square foot surf shop is located just steps away from the Huntington Beach pier on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street. Jack’s Surfboards also has six other coastal Orange County locations that offers the same extensive selection and excellent customer service.” Visit Huntington Beach – Surf City USA.
“For Vail Resorts’ part, the new-for-2019-20 Keystone Plus Pass replaces the Keystone A-Basin Pass and offers unlimited holiday-restricted skiing at Keystone, unlimited late-season days at Breckenridge (after April 1), five holiday-restricted days at Crested Butte, and 10 (up from six) Buddy Tickets when purchased prior to the April deadline for $369, $259 for kids. Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer for Vail Resorts, said that while they’re pleased to offer an option for skiing from mid-October through Memorial Day at a great price, “we want to thank Arapahoe Basin for their partnership for over 20 years. We are disappointed but given the success they have had and their recent investments into the resort, we respect that this is the right time for them to move in a different direction.”