NORTH FORK — Nate Hodges has wanted to be a lumberjack since he was four or five years old. “I was a little mountain boy. When I was a kid, you couldn’t get me inside,” says the North Fork native. “My grandpa bought me my first axe when I was four and I was always out in the woods chopping ...

CALIFORNIA — Mark your calendars for the first of two 2019 Free Fishing Days in California, when anyone can try their hand at angling – no fishing license required. If you would like to fish the rest of the year, you can purchase a license online through CDFW’s website. “Free Fishing Day is a great opportunity for seasoned anglers to ...

Wild azaleas were showing off their white flowers and we caught a whiff of their scent before we saw them. This was the perfect time to see them blooming between Fish Camp and the Mariposa Grove plus got a nice workout as we wandered through Mariposa Grove to Wawona Point. Where: Sierra National Forest, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa Grove of ...

Our destination was icy Ostrander Lake, full of beautiful reflections and bordered by a snowy, rocky ledge. But we had to work for it, hiking through burned areas and up the trail through open granite in the heat. It was so worth it! Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: 12.83 Miles Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous Elevation Range: 6,998′ – 8,612′ Date: ...

We heard a rumor that some very pretty flowers were showing off on the Wawona Meadow Loop Trail, so you know where we headed. It was a short hike in cooler country and that rumor was true! Many beautiful wildflowers along the way and this one is also a good dog hike. Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: 4.21 miles Difficulty: ...

Tioga Road wasn’t open yet but those high lakes were calling me and it was well worth it to me to take the long way around to get there. Tioga Road through Yosemite National Park will soon be open but here is a sneak peek from my adventure over there June 5 and 6 this past week. So I drove ...

Stevenson Creek Falls had really been coming down the week before but would it still be roaring when I was able to see it a week later? You betcha! Where: Sierra National Forest Distance: 7.25 Miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Range: 1,182′ to 1,914′ Date: May 29, 2019 Maps: Auberry Topographic Quad, Sierra National Forest Dog Hike? Maybe We headed out ...

BASS LAKE — Hundreds of competitors and several thousand spectators converged here early Saturday morning for the annual Bass Lake Yosemite Triathlon. Organizers say this year’s event was one of the biggest ever, drawing more than 625 triathletes from across the state and around the world. Adam Mitchell, 38, a captain at Cal Fire, placed third in his age group ...

By Sal Maccarone — It is accepted knowledge that most artists function primarily from the right side of the brain. This means that sometimes they will approach a problem or challenge in ways that most people do not understand. Under a “right-brain” spell for pretty much my whole life, I know what it is like to leave others scratching their ...

BASS LAKE – The 9th annual Bass Lake Yosemite Triathlon is right around the corner on Saturday, June 1. It’s a picturesque triathlon rivaled by few, say organizers of the race, activities and festivities that take place every year in the Sierra National Forest about 20 minutes south of Yosemite National Park. Triathletes are treated to a swim in clear ...