By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County Right now we are in the midst of extreme, widespread drought. One telltale indication is that oak trees in Mariposa County are dropping their leaves. What should one do? You don’t need to do much, but you should avoid basic mistakes. Here are some guidelines. Avoid disturbing the ground within 6 feet of ...

Sally the Weimaraner, Fannie the Corgi and I headed up to the glacial-fed Conness Lakes in the Tioga Pass area. I have no doubt they enjoyed their adventure but I especially love to visit these magical lakes that change color before my eyes. Where: Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area, Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National ForestDistance: 9.95 Miles (includes about 2.6 ...

FROM THE EDITOR: Sal Maccarone will be taking a brief hiatus from article writing at SNO. In his absence, he has asked us to republish some of his more popular articles from the past. This week: Frank Lloyd Wright. Enjoy! Originally published February 13, 2021. By Sal Maccarone Historians study architectural style because it closely reflects the ideals and beliefs of ...

Cooler temperatures, white puffy clouds, a breeze, incredible views, marmots, blooming wildflowers and a great workout. We had a perfect day to escape the heat at home as we hiked up and around Dana Plateau in the Tioga Pass. Where: Ansel Adams Wilderness Area, Inyo National ForestDistance: 6.94 Miles (5.69 miles to the Mono Lake overlook)Difficulty: StrenuousElevation Range: 9,653′ – ...

It was hot at the house but cool and foggy along the coast. Mom was in need of a fried oyster lunch and Phil’s Fish Market makes a mean fried oyster. The obvious solution was a road trip to Moss Landing. We headed over Highway 152, 101, and toward Monterey. Between Castroville and Moss Landing, we stopped by one of ...

FROM THE EDITOR: Sal Maccarone will be taking a brief hiatus from article writing at SNO. In his absence, he has asked us to republish some of his more popular articles from the past. This week: Public Art. Enjoy! Originally published April 2, 2021.  By Sal Maccarone Art that is found residing in public places such as lobbies, civic centers, ...

Sally the Weimaraner and Fannie the Corgi loved their adventure on the 20 Lakes Loop Trail, especially the part where they got to play in the snow! Located in the Hoover Wilderness, this trail led us by beautiful lakes, small tarns and mountains still streaked with snow. Where: Inyo National Forest, Hoover WildernessDistance: 8.7 MilesDifficulty: ModerateElevation Range: 10,092′ – 10,359′Date: ...

By Don Grove North Fork – The North Fork History Group and our five partners have now produced 100 History Mysteries. Each month we ask the Sierra News Online readers to provide information we lack. We use the information we gain to help give our museums and archives more to share with the communities we serve. Thanks to our partners: ...

Views of Mono Pass, Parker Pass and Kuna Crest surrounded me as I hiked up Yosemite National Park’s Mono Pass Trail. I made a short cross country hike up above Spillway Lake, through some snow up to Helen Lake. A 20% chance of thunderstorms isn’t much of a chance but it all comes down to what cloud you are standing ...

By Sal Maccarone Technique, a French word, is loosely defined as “a procedure that is used to accomplish a task.” Now used as a noun, the word can apply to procedures specific to any profession, trade, or even to the many things that we all do in life. There is technique employed while cooking, driving, mountain climbing, bowling, and even ...