November 23, 2009 | 7:44
pm
Local knowledge and a Houdini-like performance on an eight-foot barrel helped propel Joel Centeio to victory in the Reef Hawaiian Pro surf contest at Haleiwa on Oahu's North Shore.
Centeio, 26, a Haleiwa resident, prevailed in the four-man final largely on the merit of his long tube ride, which received a score of 9.33 out of a possible 10. He won with a best-two-waves score of 14.76, and the victory makes him $20,000 richer and the early leader in the Triple Crown of Surfing series race.
That race now moves to Sunset Beach and will conclude at the fabled Banzai Pipeline.
"It's the best thing that's ever happened to me," a jubilant Centeio said, moments after emerging from the water. "It's a dream come true to win here at my home break."
Centeio defeated C.J. Hobgood, Australia's Jay Thompson and Tahiti's Alain Riou in the final after a marathon Monday session that began with the Round of 32.
Also celebrating is San Clemente's Nathan Yeomans, who by reaching the quarterfinals of the ASP World Qualifying Series contest earned enough points to qualify for the 2010 ASP World Tour. Yeomans climbed to No. 7 in the WQS standings with one contest remaining: the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach.
(The Billabong Pipeline Masters is a World Tour event and will decide this year's world champion.)
While the triumph catapulted Centeio from 131st to 51st on the WQS, he cannot qualify for the 2010 World Tour.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Joel Centeio ducks beneath the lip of a wave at Haleiwa. The subsequent barrel ride earned the surfer a score of 9.33 and helped him win the Reef Hawaiian Pro. Credit: Bernie Baker / Triple Crown of Surfing
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November 20, 2009 | 3:20
pm
A 14-year-old girl died late this morning after an accident on the slopes at Breckenridge in Colorado.
Vail Resorts, which operates Breckenridge, confirmed the news but did not release the name of the girl. The accident occurred on an intermediate trail called Spruce. The girl reportedly was wearing a helmet and might have struck a tree.
She was administered to by emergency personnel and transported to Breckenridge Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Breckenridge has issued a media release stating: "Breckenridge Ski Resort, Breckenridge Ski Patrol and the Vail Resorts family extend their deepest sympathy and support to the family and friends of the young woman."
It's the first known fatality involving a skier or snowboarder this season in Colorado, and perhaps the first nationally. Breckenridge opened Nov. 12.
-- Pete Thomas
November 18, 2009 | 2:22
pm
The first winter storm of the season is due to arrive Friday and that's welcome news for skiers, snowboarders and other winter sports enthusiasts traveling to such places as Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park for the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Here's a Wednesday afternoon alert issued by the National Weather Service:
THE FIRST WINTER STORM OF THE SEASON WILL MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA INTERIOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON...AND PERSIST OVERNIGHT. SNOW
LEVELS NEAR YOSEMITE WILL DROP TO AROUND 4,000 FEET FRIDAY NIGHT.
TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES ARE LIKELY ABOVE
5,000 FEET...WITH UP TO A FOOT POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE
TO KINGS CANYON...
November 4, 2009 | 12:30
pm
A female great white shark that had lived in the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Outer Bay exhibit since August was tagged and released today.
The young predator, which was captured off Malibu, was set free offshore beyond the southern edge of Monterey Bay. She measured 5 feet, 5 inches, and weighed 100 pounds.
It's the fifth white shark successfully released after a stay at the facility, where the sharks are intended to provide visitors with a better understanding of the apex predators and inspire support for shark conservation.
She was released because she had begun to exhibit aggressive behavior toward other sharks in the 1-million-gallon tank.
"I’ve always said that these animals will tell us when it’s time to put them back to the ocean. Now was clearly the time,” said Randy Hamilton, vice president of husbandry for the aquarium. “Her health is excellent, and we learned a lot while she was with us. Based on past experience, we have every expectation that she’ll do well after release.”
Tracking tags will enable scientists to monitor the shark's movements and habits. Previously, two of the released sharks traveled beyond Baja California's tip. The other two ventured to the Santa Barbara area.
The aquarium, with its research partners, also is part of a Juvenile White Shark Program, which involves tagging and tracking of sharks that utilize California and Mexico waters as nurseries. Real-time data and published research can be found on the Tagging of Pacific Predators website.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Great white shark is released after two months of captivity in Monterey Bay Aquarium. Credit: © Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder
October 27, 2009 | 3:41
pm
Get used to it. California's state parks, which thankfully will remain open at least well into 2010, will no longer resemble the well-kept, freely accessible facilities park-goers have grown accustomed to.
On Monday the Inland Empire district announced its cost-saving service reductions, which include weekday closures at some facilities, and reduced hours. Today all districts announced their reductions and it's more of the same throughout the 279-park system.
Here are a few examples:
--Silver Strand State Beach in San Diego will experience 50% lifeguard reductions off-season (September through February). Trash cans and fire rings will be removed from the beach and many
restrooms will be closed.
--The visitor center at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
--Popular beach parks in Orange County will reduce by half the number of trashcans on the
beach. Restroom cleaning and fire ring cleaning will be reduced by half. There will be no off-season chemical toilets and lifeguards will be limited to response by permanent staff. Trail upkeep and habitat restoration will be reduced by 50%. Educational and interpretive programs will be reduced by 25%. Irrigation will be reduced by 25%.
--Mt. San Jacinto SP campground will be closed Monday through Wednesday and backpackers--who had enjoyed free access--will be charged $5 per person.
The list goes on but precise details at many parks are not yet clear. State Parks, as of 3:30 p.m., had not yet posted full details for each region on its website, but they should be forthcoming and available under the "News Releases 2009" tab. A news release issued Tuesday afternoon contained only an example sheet and a checklist with Xs marked under various categories.
At Malibu Creek State Park, for example, there are Xs under the following categories: reduced hours, closed camps/loops, close some day use, close some restrooms, reduce cleaning, reduce trash service. These are common reductions throughout the system.
It could be worse. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had threatened to close more than 100 parks to help alleviate a severe budget deficit. But it's hardly ideal and, to be sure, some of these reductions--notably the weekday closures--will take getting used to.
-- Pete Thomas
Top and bottom images were captured recently at Malibu Creek State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains. Credit: Pete Thomas / Los Angeles Times
October 26, 2009 | 2:01
pm
Inland Empire hikers, bird enthusiasts, campers and anglers will be disappointed to learn that five popular state parks in the Southern California region will experience considerable service reductions and even weekday closures beginning Sunday.
The reductions are part of a statewide effort to save money and prevent the total closure of perhaps more than 100 parks. The Inland Empire district announced its reductions Monday. They are:
--Lake Perris State Recreation Area: Park closed to public and vehicle entry for day use and camping Tuesday and Wednesday until March 31, 2010. Park will be open for day use and camping Thursday through Monday and any holidays until March 31, 2010. Day-use hours changed to 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Starting April 1 to June 30, 2010, park will be open seven days a week with day-use hours changed to 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
--Silverwood Lake SRA: Park closed to public and vehicle entry for day use and camping every Wednesday and Thursday until March 31, 2010. The park will be open for day use and camping Friday through Tuesday and any holidays until March 31, 2010. Day-use hours changed to 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Starting April 1 to June 30, 2010, park returns to being open seven days a week with day-use hours changed to 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
--California Citrus State Historical Park: Park closed to general public and vehicle entry for day use Monday though Thursday until June 30, 2010. Park will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and any holidays until June 30, 2010. Day-use hours changed to 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Weddings and Sunkist Building rentals will still be available seven days a week through the California Citrus Non-Profit Management Corp. School tours will also still be accommodated by park volunteers on a case-by-case basis. The main park sector office located at the Citrus Park will be completely closed to the public until June 30, 2010. Business and phone operations will temporarily be transferred to Lake Perris SRA.
October 22, 2009 | 11:50
am
Bill Poole, one of the leading pioneers of San Diego's sportfishing industry and a legendary figure in the saltwater fishing community, died Wednesday night after a lengthy bout with lung cancer. He was 87.
Poole, a prolific boat builder and iconic captain, started with a barge after World War II and either built or had a hand in the construction of many of the San Diego-based long-range vessels that comprise the world's largest and most sophisticated sportfishing fleet.
Among those still operating are the Royal Polaris, Polaris Supreme, Holiday, American Angler, Searcher and the Royal Star.
Poole, who was actively fishing last year, was famously quoted as saying, "It doesn't matter how much money you make, how many cars you drive or how expensive your house is -- when you step onto a boat to fish, the fish don't give a damn."
His passing leaves a deep void in the Southern California saltwater fishing community and especially in San Diego.
Said Bob Fletcher, a former captain and longtime president of the Sportfishing Assn. of California: "We lost one of the real monster pioneers in sportfishing last night. I've known him for most of my life and nobody else had that kind of impact on our industry."
Poole co-owned Fisherman's Landing, from where many of the vessels he built still run. Paul Morris, general manager of the landing, added: "I've worked with him for 42 years and he was like a father to me. He was one of these guys who would talk to the employees like they were one of the guys. He treated them like they were part of the group."
A memorial service for Poole is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 25.
-- Pete Thomas
October 22, 2009 | 10:47
am
*Updated with photos and a quote from tournament director Wayne Bisbee
The 50-foot Bottom Line caught fire and sank today off the Palmilla Hotel during the first day of the Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament off Cabo San Lucas.
The anglers and crew were rescued by neighboring anglers. No injuries were reported.
“It was miraculous no one was seriously injured,” said tournament director Wayne Bisbee, as he and the rescued anglers watched the burning vessel slowly dip below the surface aboard the committee boat. “It was a tragic and a very humbling experience.”
The annual tournament, which is the world's richest billfish competition, began a day later than scheduled because of a tropical storm. Anglers aboard 94 boats--make that 93--are competing for $2 million in prize money. The tournament will conclude Saturday.
-- Pete Thomas
Photos: Bottom Line on fire and sinking soon after the start of the Bisbee's Black and Blue Jackpot Tournament off Cabo San Lucas. Credit: Bisbee's
October 21, 2009 | 10:17
am
Tourists and residents in Cabo San Lucas are enjoying sunny skies and breathing a sigh of relief now that Tropical Storm Rick has passed the Baja California peninsula and is diminishing in strength as it approaches Mazatlan.
The storm did not cause widespread flooding or destruction in the Cabo San Lucas area but large surf generated by the storm was responsible for the death of a 16-year-old boy and for eroding portions of Medano Beach.
The port remains closed but will reopen Thursday, which will mark the beginning of the Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, which will run through Saturday. The event is the world's richest billfish tournament; anglers will compete for $3 million in prize money.
As a lasting memory, the remnants of Rick left a beautiful sunset on Tuesday night. Outposts would like to thank Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, for her reports and photos before, during and after the storm.
Now if only the marlin will cooperate!
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: A setting sun illuminates the sky above and beyond the Old Lighthouse landmark. Credit: Tracy Ehrenberg
October 20, 2009 | 9:47
am
A tropical storm warning remains in effect in Cabo San Lucas and parts of Baja California Sur. But Tropical Storm Rick, now with maximum sustained winds of only 65 mph, has altered course considerably and its center is expected to pass well to the south of the peninsula.
This has Cabo San Lucas residents breathing a sigh of relief, but there is sad news: Authorities confirmed that a 16-year-old boy was killed Monday in the pounding surf at Medano Beach, which faces the famous arches at Land's End.
Huge waves continue to pound the beach and the storm surge has reached many of its hotel patios. The Los Cabos International Airport remains open but travelers are advised to check with their carriers regarding possible delays or cancellations.
Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, says it has been raining steadily but lightly since Monday night, and there is little wind. The annual Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, which is the world's richest billfish competition, was scheduled to run Wednesday through Friday but probably will run as a two-day competition Thursday and Friday, as the port will remain closed through at least Wednesday.
Eric Brictson, owner of Gordo Banks Pangas, said today via e-mail: "The storm has really weakened, but it is still raining lightly at this time and we are out of work during a very busy time. We do assume we will be able to start operations back up on Thursday morning."
At 8 a.m. Tuesday the storm was located 200 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas and traveling in a northeasterly direction. According to the National Hurricane Center its center is expected to pass Cabo San Lucas tonight or early Wednesday on a course toward mainland Mexico.
Rainfall will be heavy and flooding is possible in some areas.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Storm watchers run from the deck at a hotel on Medano Beach as a large
wave overtakes their perch. Credit: Paul J. Richards / AFP / Getty Images
October 19, 2009 | 2:30
pm
*Updated with sharper image
Hurricane Rick continues to weaken as it approaches the Cabo San Lucas area at the tip of Baja California. The National Hurricane Center at 2 p.m. Monday issued an advisory stating that maximum sustained winds are down to about 100 mph and that Rick is now a Category 2 hurricane.
The storm is located 325 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas and its predicted course has changed since the morning forecast. The center of the storm is now expected to merely skirt Cabo San Lucas, perhaps sparing the region major damage, as it travels toward the northeast in the direction of mainland Mexico. It will pass Cabo San Lucas as a tropical storm late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
The accompanying photo was taken during the lunch hour from the Cabo San Lucas marina, where many boats have been transported to land. Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, e-mailed the photo to Outposts and said the weather, while gloomy, is eerily calm and that the size of the surf has actually dropped.
That's a cruise ship in the distance. There had been two moored outside the marina this morning, but one has left. It remains unclear whether the ship in the photo, apparently with passengers still aboard, is going to ride out the storm at anchor.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo courtesy of Pisces Sportfishing
October 19, 2009 | 8:38
am
Hurricane Rick is tracking toward southern Baja California and although it continues to weaken, the National Hurricane Center still refers to it as "a major storm," and residents and tourists throughout the region are bracing for the worst.
Rick, which on Saturday packed 180-mph winds and was the second strongest eastern North Pacific hurricane on record, is now a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. At 8 a.m. Monday its center was located 375 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas. It's expected to make landfall in that area, still as a hurricane, late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
One man reportedly was killed Sunday after being swept into the water and jetty rocks in San Jose del Cabo.
Flooding and high winds are expected. Airline travel probably will be disrupted. Plans are being made to relocate residents in vulnerable areas to shelters. Fishing fleet operators and private boat owners are still working to remove vessels from marinas or at least into sheltered areas within marinas.
In Cabo San Lucas, this includes more than 100 wealthy yacht owners entered in the Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, which was scheduled to begin Wednesday. Some have already fled toward Southern California. The three-day tournament, which offers about $3 million in prize money, might become a one-day affair on Friday -- if the storm passes quickly enough.
"Please keep your fingers crossed that Hurricane Rick does not hurt us too bad," Capt. George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing implored in a fishing report issued Monday morning. "We just had one huge noisy squall come, part of the feeder bands. Cats and dogs [are] hiding everywhere."
Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, wrote Monday on the fleet's blog: "Heavy rain fell for a while and wind picked up to about 25 mph, with some thunder and more lightning. We all thought, 'Wow, it's here already,' but this was just an isolated outer thunderstorm."
October 17, 2009 | 9:39
pm
Hurricane Rick, which as of 8 p.m. Saturday was located 295 miles southwest of Manzanillo on the Mexican mainland, is packing 180-mph winds and is predicted to make landfall on the southern Baja California peninsula at midweek.
It's the second-strongest North Pacific hurricane on record, next to Linda in 1997, and residents in the state of Baja California Sur are cautioned to closely monitor its progress. The National Hurricane Center is referring to Rick as "an extremely dangerous" Category 5 storm.
Satellite images show that Rick has continued to strengthen as it travels toward the west-northwest at 14 mph. It's expected to turn gradually toward the north Monday. It's ultimate track, if the prediction is accurate, will place it over southern Baja sometime Wednesday.
Hopefully its course will alter and spare residents and tourists a direct hit. Tourists with plans to fly to the Los Cabos and La Paz areas next week should consult their airlines about possible cancellations or delays.
The forecast does not look good for the annual Bisbee's Black & Blue Marlin Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, scheduled to begin Tuesday.
-- Pete Thomas
Map is courtesy of National Hurricane Center
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October 13, 2009 | 11:51
am
Brazil's Adriano de Souza defeated Australia's Chris Davidson in the final of the Billabong Pro Mundaka at Sopelana, Spain, to post his first ASP World Tour victory and climb into the race for the world title.
De Souza, who lives in Laguna Hills, became the first South American to win an ASP World Tour event.
He dominated the crumbling left-hander at the backup site of Sopelana -- poor conditions at Euskadi caused officials to seek an alternate venue -- and won with a best-two-waves score of 16.40 to 11.83.
The triumph, in the eighth of 10 World Tour competitions, propels De Souza to No. 3 in the standings and gives him an outside shot at winning his first world title.
“I don’t have words to express how happy I am right now,” De Souza
said. “I have been working so hard for this ever since winning the ASP
World Junior Championships and the ASP WQS. To finally win here in
Mundaka, where the culture is so rich and the people love surfing so
much, is an incredible thing. This is the most special day of my life.”
The race for the world title widened after Australians Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning lost in the second and third rounds, respectively. Fanning has overtaken Parkinson and leads the race by a slim margin.
Florida's C.J. Hobgood is ranked fourth. Next up is the Rip Curl Search event, scheduled Oct. 19-28 in Peniche, Portugal.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Adriano de Souza goes backside on a left-hander en route to winning the Billabong Pro Mundaka. Credit: ASP/ CI / Scholtz via Getty Images
October 13, 2009 | 11:22
am
Tropical Storm Patricia, at 11 this morning, was centered about 100 miles southeast of the tip of Baja California, and a tropical storm warning remained in effect for Cabo San Lucas and the southern portion of the peninsula.
An advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center stated that the storm was becoming less organized as it traveled to the north-northeast at about 7 mph but still had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. Patricia is expected to veer to the northwest later today and start tracking to the west by Thursday.
It will make its closest approach to Baja, southwest of Cabo San Lucas, tonight and Wednesday.
Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas, said the port is closed today despite reasonably calm seas and a mixture of clouds and sunshine. It rained earlier, and the National Hurricane Center predicted 1 to 3 inches would fall in the region.
Los Cabos Billfish Tournament is scheduled to start Wednesday.
-- Pete Thomas
Image: National Hurricane Center
October 12, 2009 | 11:03
am
Tropical storm Patricia is not expected to become a hurricane, but its center is expected to brush the tip of the Baja California peninsula near Cabo San Lucas on Tuesday afternoon. It then is expected to track to the west and weaken.
Patricia, which at 11 a.m. Monday was 245 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, will deliver heavy rain and wind gusts to about 60 knots. The Mexican government has issued a Tropical Storm watch extending north just past La Paz.
The storm will briefly interrupt fishing off Cabo, where marlin, tuna and dorado have been cooperative for anglers during the past week, according to Capt. George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing.
The annual Bisbee's Black and Blue Marlin Tournament -- the world's richest billfish competition -- is Oct. 20-24 off Cabo San Lucas.
-- Pete Thomas
Image showing predicted five-day track of Tropical Storm Patricia was issued at 11 a.m. Monday by the National Hurricane Center
October 10, 2009 | 8:52
am
The long-rumored breakaway pro surfing tour seemingly is dead now that the Assn. of Surfing Professionals has announced sweeping changes that seem to have full support of the world's top surfers.
The changes include a single ratings system, more prize money and benefits for surfers.
Brodie Carr, ASP International CEO, announced the changes today in Spain, where the Billabong Pro Mundaka is in progress. “We have just completed a period of intense discussion with the world’s best surfers and the world’s best events which culminated in the unanimous support of the ASP and the commitment to the continuation of crowning undisputed world champions, as we have done so for 30 years, for generations to come,” Carr said.
As expected, the ASP next season will implement a single rating system that will include both the ASP World Tour and the ASP World Qualifying Series tour. Also, the World Tour field will be reduced from 45 plus three wild cards to 32 plus four wild cards.
That change will be made halfway through next season to give those who qualify for next season’s World Tour enough opportunity to establish themselves in the Top 32.
A smaller World Tour field is something the top-tier surfers had been striving for.
“By trimming back the field as well as instituting the one-world rating system, we ensure the ASP World Tour continues to be the most progressive and dynamic professional surfing tour on Earth,” said Mick Fanning, a former world champion and the tour surfers' representative.
October 9, 2009 | 11:33
am
Boreal Mountain Resort on Friday opened its Castle Peak quad chairlift and became the first resort in California to open for the 2009-10 skiing and snowboarding season.
It marks the earliest opener for the Lake Tahoe-area resort. Its previous earliest opening was on Oct. 11 in 2000.
The resort is reporting a 6-to-12-inch base but the accompanying photo shows the resort, like others in the region, need a helping hand from Mother Nature to develop a genuinely wintry appearance. The lift will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, servicing one groomed trail and a terrain park with up to 10 features for snowboarders and skiers.
To celebrate, Boreal will hold its annual Jibassic Public Invitational competition Saturday and Sunday. The contest is open to "all shredders willing to throw down great tricks for cash."
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Boreal opened Friday, offering what looks to be a sparsely covered run for skiers and snowboarders. Credit: Boreal Mountain Resort
October 8, 2009 | 8:12
am
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area has reached agreement with Horizon Air to begin summer airline service to and from Los Angeles and Mammoth Yosemite Airport beginning in April.
The Mammoth Times reports and sources confirm that a deal has been signed and an official announcement will be made as early as next week.
Horizon already provides winter flights on a schedule that has grown
from one to four flights per day -- with service from LAX, Seattle,
Portland, Ore., and San Jose. Winter flight service is from Dec. 17 through
April 11. Summer service will begin April 12.
The ski area helps subsidize the winter flights, and the ski area and
Mammoth Lakes will subsidize the single daily summer flight.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: A Horizon Air turboprop plane touches down at Mammoth Yosemite Airport during a test run last October. Credit: Peatross/MMSA
October 7, 2009 | 3:01
pm
Loveland Ski Area in Colorado opened its slopes at 9 a.m. today and claims to be the first resort in North America to open for the 2009-10 winter season.
The resort boasts an 18-inch base consisting of natural and man-made snow. Skiers and snowboarders enjoyed a top-to-bottom run consisting of 1,000 vertical feet via Chair 1. First turns were made on the trails Catwalk, Mambo and Homerun, which are part of the one-mile-long run.
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. congratulated Loveland on its earliest opening in 40 years, saying, “It’s only October, but the 2009-10 snow sport season is open for business in Colorado.
"Recreation and tourism are key economic drivers and job creators in Colorado, and we’re looking forward to a great year on the slopes.”
Loveland is part of a network of resorts represented by Colorado Ski Country USA.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: A skier makes first tracks at Loveland in Colorado. The resort claims to be the first resort in North America to open for the winter season.
Credit: Jack Dempsey / Loveland
October 6, 2009 | 3:53
pm
Mountain High in Wrightwood, which helped supply water for crews fighting the Sheep Fire, began making snow Sunday night and will continue to cover its slopes whenever possible in advance of a very early opening.
John McColly, director of marketing at the resort, said it could open as early as this week.
This marks the earliest the resort has made snow and it cites advancements in technology that enable snow-making in warmer temperatures.
The resort, which consistently the first Southern California resort to open, issued a news release today stating it has spent $500,000 to improve its snow-making system. That includes two new automatic fan guns at the base of East and West resorts, and a new three-stage turbo compressor to power the system.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Man-made snow is blown onto the slopes at Mountain High. Credit: Mountain High
October 5, 2009 | 1:44
pm
The hype has begun well in advance of another round of the annual war over whaling between the Japanese and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
The former group is preparing for its impending seasonal hunt of mostly minke whales, with a quota of about 1,000 specimens it says are being killed for research purposes. The latter group is preparing for "Operation Waltzing Matilda," which will try to thwart the Japanese effort in and near the Antarctic region during its summer season.
Of course, a crew from Animal Planet will accompany Sea Shepherd and Paul Watson, its famous -- or infamous, depending on your viewpoint -- captain, to gather footage for a third season of the popular "Whale Wars" series.
But will Watson's campaign actually get underway? The Brisbane Times is reporting that Watson's police and court records are being evaluated before he's allowed to enter Australia, which is the starting point for his annual campaigns.
Specifically, Watson, who holds a U.S. passport, is being reviewed because of Sea Shepherd claims that it sank whaling ships in Norway.
Watson claims politics are behind all of this and is quoted as saying, ''I am not wanted on any warrants [and] I have never received a felony conviction.''
Ironically, the Australian government is trying to persuade Japan to halt its commercial whaling effort (research notwithstanding, the meat is sold commercially). Japan, meanwhile, has been trying to persuade Australia to help prevent Sea Shepherd from disrupting its hunts and endangering the lives of its crews.
The Australian Federal Police is still reviewing seized video and ship records after last year's campaign, which was dramatic and confrontational. That investigation reportedly was prompted by complaints from Japan.
Watson had hoped to be with Sea Shepherd and its flagship vessel, Steve Irwin, this week as it begins a promotional tour of capital cities. He still plans on being along for the campaign, but it will be no waltz.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo of Capt. Paul Watson courtesy of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Note: To follow this blog on Twitter visit @latimesoutposts
September 25, 2009 | 4:51
pm
The headline atop today's news release from Sacramento is full of promise: "Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Plan to Keep State Parks Open"
The governor is quoted as saying, "This is fantastic news for all Californians."
But you might tone down your celebration. While about 100 of California's 267 state parks would be spared full closure under a plan to achieve $14.2 million in savings during the fiscal year, at least that many and possibly more could be open only partially or seasonally, and/or with restricted hours.
Also under the plan, maintenance and equipment costs would be sharply reduced and staffing would be cut.
The plan, a cooperative effort between the Department of Finance and Department of Parks and Recreation, does not restore funding to the beleaguered
state parks system and many actions outlined in the plan, to realize a one-time budget savings, were being considered anyway, along with the closures.
The California State Parks Foundation, which has figured prominently in the struggle to keep parks open, responded to the governor's plan suspiciously and placed this statement on its website: "While the Governor has found a clever way to get political cover on this issue, it’s not clear that this plan won’t actually leave Californians with just as limited access to their state parks as if they had been fully closed.
"The 'found money' here is from having less lifeguards on state beaches, not maintaining restrooms, not staffing parks for health and safety standards, etc. And you’ll see at the end of the release, a $22-million cut in next year’s budget is still on the horizon."
So while it's good that our favorite parks will remain open this year, today's news isn't all that fantastic.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: A deer wanders in a meadow at dusk in Malibu Creek State Park. Credit: Pete Thomas/Los Angeles Times
September 25, 2009 | 1:02
pm
Capt. Paul Watson and his ragtag vegan crew are about 90 days from embarking on another controversial campaign against the Japanese whaling fleet in and near the Antarctic.
But early next month, to drum up support for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's sixth such mission, Watson will guide the group's flagship vessel, Steve Irwin, on a tour of Australian ports.
The vessel will open for tours and the crew will share stories about what these campaigns entail; perhaps they'll discuss the controversial methods employed while trying to spare whales from exploding harpoons--like tossing bottle of rancid butter at the whalers.
For those who live Down Under, tour dates are as follows: Sydney–Oct. 5-12 at Circular Quay; Hobart–Oct. 16-22 at Macquarie Wharf; Fremantle–Nov. 4-Dec. 7 at C Berth.
For anyone considering joining up with Sea Shepherd, here's the job description: "No pay, long hours, hard work, dangerous conditions, extreme weather. Guaranteed: Adventure, fulfillment, and the hardest work you will ever love. The experience of a lifetime."
These campaigns have gained widespread notoriety thanks to Animal Planet and its "Whale Wars" series. The shows take viewers along for the ride as the Sea Shepherd crew hunts down the Japanese fleet and disrupts hunts that annually target about 1,000 minke whales and a small number of endangered fin whales.
The series also has served as a valuable recruitment tool for Sea Shepherd, a group that seems to be either despised or admired. Critics point out that Japan's hunts are legal and that Watson's questionable antics will get someone killed. But supporters maintain that Japan is hunting whales via a research loophole in the wording of an international moratorium on whaling, and that profit, not research, drives the whaling effort. If most of the world is against whaling, why is Japan still slaughtering the intelligent mammals?
From the sidelines, these annual confrontations are entertaining, to say the least. That's why Animal Planet jumped aboard two campaigns ago. Season 1 was boring, Season 2 was action-packed and it's anyone's guess how Season 3 will turn out, but it will not be lacking in drama.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Steve Irwin docked in Hobart, Australia. Credit: Adam Lau / Sea ShepherdNote: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts
September 22, 2009 | 2:59
pm
Things aren't going well for C.J. Hobgood as he tries to climb back in the race for the world surfing title. He fared poorly enough at last week's Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles to drop from second to fourth in the ASP World Tour rankings.
Now his quiver of surfboards he planned to use for the European homestretch leg has been stolen in France, leaving him to compete with borrowed equipment.
News of the theft is all over the Internet. Surfline reports: "Some dirty rotten scoundrel just made off with World Number Four C.J. Hobgood's entire quiver of boards for the Euro leg."
The website quotes Hobgood, who is in Hossegor, France, for the upcoming Quiksilver Pro, as saying, "They slipped in through the back sliding door that leads to the garage. They're probably in Spain or Portugal by now."
The personable Floridian is offering 1,500 Euros as a reward for anyone who can recover the boards. Surfline left an e-mail address for people who wish to leave information: localknowledge@surfline.com.
Here's hoping that either (a) someone turns in the bad guys and C.J. retrieves his boards, or (b) the incident can inspire him to triumph.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: C.J. Hobgood after a heat during the U.S. Open of Surfing earlier this summer. He's not smiling now, though, as his surfboards have been stolen. Credit:Victor Decolongon / Getty Images
September 16, 2009 | 9:44
am
It's amazing that for 77 years bass anglers have been trying to beat the catch of a 22-pound, 4-ounce bass made by George Perry on June 2, 1932, in Georgia's Montgomery Lake--and then somebody comes along and ties the record.
Japan's Manabu Kurita is that angler. He made his catch on July 2 at ancient Lake Biwa northeast of Kyoto, and it has generated quite a buzz among the passionate bass-fishing community.
But Kurita waited until this week to submit documentation for the catch to the Florida-based International Game Fish Assn. The IGFA issued a press release Tuesday afternoon stating it had received documentation via the Japan Game Fish Assn., and that it is under review. A decision regarding the submission is due within a month.
Kurita's bass measured 27.20 inches in length and an almost equal 26.77 inches in girth. It was caught on a live bluegill as the angler was trolling through a canal. The IGFA will try to verify whether all regulations were adhered to.
Beating Perry has and remains the premier aspiration among serious bass fishermen. Few thought a Japanese reservoir could produce so large a bass. Many believed and still believe the new record fish will come from a Southern California reservoir, such as Lake Dixon in Escondido or Lake Casitas near Ventura, to name just two.
For now, however, anglers will wait to see what the IGFA says about Kurita's impressive catch.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Manabu Kurita poses with 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass he caught in July in Japan. That ties the all-tackle world record, set 77 years ago in Georgia, but the world record submission must be approved by the International Game Fish Assn.
September 15, 2009 | 2:13
pm
Kelly Slater, going into the Hurley Pro, did not like his chances of climbing back into the world title picture. The nine-time world champion said winning a 10th title this year was "a distant possibility."
After all, he started the season miserably and began the Hurley contest at Lower Trestles ranked eighth and light years behind ASP World Tour points leader Joel Parkinson. There are only four World Tour events after this one.
However, Slater has watched several top surfers get eliminated from the Hurley Pro during or before the third round at the fabled San Clemente venue.
Most notable among the upset victims was Parkinson, who had won three of five contests before his visit from Australia to Southern California. Parkinson on Tuesday lost to Rob Machado, a wildcard entry who a day earlier had upstaged fourth-ranked Taj Burrow. Also losing early was sixth-ranked Bobby Martinez.
Slater, who advanced to the fourth round with a triumph over Brett Simpson, downplayed his chances again.
“You definitely think about [Parkinson’s elimination] – it’s impossible not to – but you can’t let it change the way you approach the heat,” he said. "You still have to go out there and win. That goes for the world title as well; I pretty much have to win everything from here out to put myself back in this thing.”
While it might seem that way, it's not exactly true. A victory at Trestles would, at the very least, give Slater a sporting chance. And that's usually all he needs.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Kelly Slater, reigning nine-time ASP world champion, goes airborne during fourth-round heat against Brett Simpson. Slater won the heat to advance to round four of the Hurley Pro. Credit: © ASP/ CI/ ROWLAND via GETTY IMAGES
September 9, 2009 | 2:27
pm
Another chapter of the saga involving wolf hunting in Idaho and Montana -- the first hunts since the animals were removed from the endangered species list in those states last April -- appears to have closed with a federal judge ruling the controversial hunts can continue. The ruling was made Tuesday evening in Montana.
After the delisting, Idaho authorized a harvest quota of 220 wolves for its inaugural season. Montana authorized a per-season quota of 75 wolves.
Idaho's season opened last week despite fierce opposition. Montana's hunt is scheduled to begin next week. On Tuesday evening, a Montana federal court denied a preliminary injunction requested by Defenders of Wildlife and other plaintiffs that had sued to halt the hunts and challenge the delisting.
Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife, posted this statement Sept. 1: "The heavy-handed wolf hunt beginning today in Idaho, together with the hunt planned to begin September 15th in Montana, puts the recovery of the Northern Rockies population of wolves at risk and demonstrates precisely the kind of irresponsible state management that should have precluded taking the wolf off the endangered species list at this point in time."
Safari Club International is among groups defending the wolf delisting in Idaho and Montana, while supporting hunts as critical tools of species management. SCI President Larry Rudolph said Wednesday in a news release:
“SCI continues to lead the way for the hunting community in efforts to keep the recovered wolves of the Rocky Mountains where they belong – off the endangered species list. The states can and will effectively manage the wolf, as demonstrated by their establishing reasonable and well-regulated wolf hunts."
The fight is far from over, however, as the judge's ruling is only temporary and there are many more chapters before this story ends. Please stay tuned.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo of gray wolf courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Related: Idaho wolf hunter harassed and compared to Michael Vick
Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts
September 9, 2009 | 11:50
am
The Hurley Pro forecast in a nutshell: OK surf at the beginning of a contest that starts Sunday at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, followed by a substantial drop Tuesday and Wednesday, and a building swell toward the end of next week.
The early forecast is courtesy of Surfline, which is monitoring a storm off Antarctica and will have a clearer picture in a few days.
Sean Collins at Surfline anticipates the swell building the afternoon of Sept. 17, which bodes well for the final two days of the ASP World Tour contest -- the only World Tour contest on the U.S. mainland. The last day of the competition window is Sept. 19.
Here's another forecast sure to please the top competitors: Big money will flow.
The Hurley Pro will announce later today that it will set ASP records by offering an overall purse of $400,000 and a first-prize enticement of $100,000. (The recent U.S. Open awarded $100,000 to the winner but a smaller overall purse.)
Said contest director Pat O'Connell: "We don't do a lot of big surf events, but the ones we do, we want to make sure it's the best experience possible for the athletes and fans. Having this elevated prize purse adds to the excitement both on the beach and in the water, so it's worth it for us."
The Hurley Pro features the world's top 45 surfers and three wild cards: Brett Simpson, Rob Machado and World Junior Champion Kai Barger. Simpson, who lives in Huntington Beach and hopes to qualify for the 2010 World Tour, won the U.S. Open.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Australia's Taj Burrow goes airborne during the 2008 Boost Mobile Pro, now named the Hurley Pro. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los
Angeles Times
Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts
September 3, 2009 | 5:18
pm
Cabo San Lucas anglers wasted little time getting back into the swing of things in the wake of Hurricane Jimena, which is now a tropical depression far up the Baja California peninsula.
Fishing wasn't great Thursday, the first day boats were sent out since the storm began to arrive last weekend. But most anglers aboard the few boats that were sent out were able to catch yellowfin tuna, according to reports. And some of the tuna were behemoths.
Pictured above are Tony and Steve Clement, left to right, from Los Gatos and San Louis Obispo, with a 120-pound tuna they caught aboard Bill Collector after a 45-minute fight. Bill Collector, a 32-foot Cabo sportfisher, is booked through Pisces Sportfishing.
Meanwhile, mid-Baja towns such as Mulege, Santa Rosalia, Loreto and Ciudad Constitucion, have begun to dig out after being ravaged by Jimena. The storm tore roofs from houses, downed power lines and caused extensive flooding. At least one death has been reported.
For them, things also will get back to normal. But it will require a lot more time and effort.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo courtesy of Pisces Sportfishing
September 3, 2009 | 1:11
pm
Baja Bush Pilots has been monitoring the damage caused by hurricane/tropical storm Jimena in northern Baja California Sur. The situation, as reported earlier Thursday
on Outposts, is bleak for many residents and disheartening for Baja aficionados who have grown fond of the region and its people.
Here's the midday update from the Bush Pilots, based not only on flyovers but reports from residents --before phone service went out, and in one instance a ham radio -- and members close to the situation:
-- Matancitas (Lopez Mateos): Almost 90% of structures are down or severely damaged. No water, power or telephone service.
-- Ciudad Constitucion: Most roofs are gone; severe damage to 70% of the buildings. No water, power or telephone service.
-- Loreto: No power or telephone service. Lines are down, trees are down. Buildings are damaged. The airport is closed.
-- Mulege: No water, power or telephone service. Water crested three feet above the bridge. Water was 2 feet deep in the fire station, which would mean that almost the entire town was flooded. There have been reports of loss of life. (Outposts has learned at least one man has died, according to authorities.)
-- Punta Chivato: One person indicates that the wind was over 100 mph before the indicator broke. Damage to almost everything. We should hear about the condition of the strip sometime today.
-- Santa Rosalia: Wall of water came down the canyon and through the town, washed cars, etc., into the ocean.
Based on these reports, mid-Baja would seem to be disaster central. The Red Cross will have its hands full over the next several days. And a team from the U.S. Aid Disaster Assistance humanitarian group reportedly is in the area. Hopefully, the worst has passed.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Residents look at lamp posts knocked down by Hurricane Jimena in
Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur. Credit: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images
September 3, 2009 | 9:37
am
Tropical storm Jimena, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, is weakening but causing extensive flooding in the Mulege and Santa Rosalia areas on the eastern coast of Baja California. Nearby Loreto reportedly is without electricity because of a damaged power station.
Jimena made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane near San Carlos in the Magdalena Bay area, then swept across the peninsula to Santa Rosalia and Mulege, whose riverbanks have swelled. The popular surf destination San Juanico (Scorpion Bay) on the Pacific coast also has received extensive damage.
These areas have fared worse than Cabo San Lucas fared. Just a few days ago, that resort city at Land's End was bracing for a Category 5 hurricane.
Cabo San Lucas, East Cape and La Paz escaped with no major damage. In
fact, sport-fishing boats and even a few dive boats from these areas embarked Thursday for the first time since the storm
began to make its presence felt last weekend.
Reports from Mulege, however, indicate extensive flooding. A new hospital's floors are under water. A bridge leading into Mulege is damaged. And at least one person, an elderly man, has died.
Farther south, in the wake of Jimena, damage is still being assessed. In the Pacific port city of San Carlos, five commercial fishing boats were damaged or sunk. One of the vessels that sunk was the Ensenada, with 300 tons of tuna and other fish in its hold.
Jimena is expected to become a tropical depression later today, according to the National Hurricane Center. But rainfall will be significant as the storm tracks back across the peninsula toward the Pacific.
Meanwhile, on the southerly horizon, another disturbance has emerged (pictured). The yellow coloring implies there is less than a 30% chance it will develop into a tropical cyclone. That's good, because the region could use a respite.
-- Pete Thomas
Graphic: National Hurricane Center
Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimesoutposts
September 2, 2009 | 9:49
am
With Hurricane Jimena now well to the north, the official storm warning has been lifted from the Cabo San Lucas area and most people are discovering how fortunate they were.
(A hurricane warning remains in effect from Agua Blanca to Punta Abreojos on the west coast of Baja California, and from La Paz to Mulege on the east coast of the peninsula.)
"Everything is back to normal, the sea is calm, no wind, no rain, only minor damage like a few trees down," Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager at Pisces Sportfishing, said via e-mail.
The accompanying image was captured Wednesday at sunrise by Mark Rayor, owner of Vista Sea Sport, at the East Cape, 100 miles north of Cabo San Lucas along the Sea of Cortez.
Rayor said the wind never exceeded 25 mph. "I'm not complaining because we've had our share of bad storms," he added. "But on normal bad days we've had stronger winds than this, and the surf pounds as hard."
Rayor is sending a dive boat out Thursday. Cabo San Lucas and East Cape fleets willl send fishing boats out Thursday.
September 1, 2009 | 8:41
pm
This just in from the National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Jimena is now opposite the Baja California Peninsula, 90 miles west-northwest of Cabo San Lucas.
The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, is traveling to the west-northwest at 13 mph. The center of the storm is expected to make landfall at Magdalena Bay early Wednesday.
I don't have much new information since the last report but L.A. Times correspondent Ken Ellingwood's story on the hurricane has been posted on the company website.
Clearly, wind and rain have become major issues in and around Cabo San Lucas. The accompanying images, captured late Tuesday afternoon, are provided by Glenn Ehrenberg, son of Marco and Tracy Ehrenberg, who run Pisces Sportfishing.
The top photo shows the tidal surge Medano Beach (Playa el Medano), where popular on-the-sand-restaurants such as the Office and Mango Deck enjoy robust business on calmer days.
Below are some fallen trees, showing how powerful hurricane-force winds can be.
Outposts will attempt to assess the damage in the tourist areas of Baja California Sur on Wednesday morning.
-- Pete Thomas
September 1, 2009 | 3:57
pm
Hurricane Jimena has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm with 125-mph winds as it approaches Baja California.
Because it will pass well to the west of Cabo San Lucas, it probably will not cause major damage to well-built structures in that sprawling resort city at Baja's tip.
Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing, said from her home on the Pacific side of the peninsula that winds had not surpassed 50 mph as of 3 p.m.
"I've been calmly cooking lunch in the kitchen, and there's nothing flying around or anything," Ehrenberg said, adding that the television, Internet and telephone were still working.
Ehrenberg did not downplay the seriousness of the storm, citing the potential for flood and wind damage in areas where poorer people live and homes aren't well situated or well constructed.
Thirty miles away in San Jose del Cabo, electricity was intermittent. "Skies are not as dark as earlier, though is some directions you can see it is raining hard," said Eric Brictson, who runs the Gordo Banks Pangas fishing business. "Surf is 15 to 20 feet. The waves are already coming up into the panga launch ramp area and by now that might already be unusable without major repair work.
"Streets are a mess and we will definitely have a lot of cleaning to do when the system moves further north."
Flooding reportedly has made portions of the highway leading to the East Cape region and La Paz impassable. But aside from street flooding, those regions have not been especially hard hit.
Mark Rayor, who runs a scuba center and charters a fishing boat out of Buena Vista, described the storm so far as "a few puffs of wind and and about 4 inches of rain."
In fact, some are already looking beyond the storm to brighter days ahead. "We expect to have our fleet fishing again starting on Thursday," said Eddie Dalmau, a spokesman for Van Wormer Resorts in the East Cape area.
That might be overly optimistic -- the storm's center is still 100 miles southwest of the peninsula -- but time will tell. To be sure, it ought to be an interesting and perhaps very noisy night.
-- Pete Thomas
Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center
Photo: Waves generated by Hurricane Jimena crash on the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Glenn Ehrenberg
September 1, 2009 | 2:08
pm
Jeff Maurer, a biologist who worked for Yosemite National Park, died Sunday as a result of a climbing accident, the park announced Tuesday. He was 47.
Maurer fell while attempting to climb the Third Pillar, a difficult rock-climbing route on Mount Dana. He had worked at Yosemite for three years and before that was an employee at the Yosemite Institute. He also taught at UC Davis and was involved in numerous research projects.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident," Dave Uberuaga, acting park superintendent, said in a news release. "This is a huge loss to the Yosemite National Park and National Park Service family. Our deepest condolences go out to Jeff’s loved ones."
Funeral arrangements are pending. Condolences to the family can be sent to:
The Maurer Family, c/o Peter Maurer, 3460 Coon Hollow Rd., Placerville, Calif., 95667
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Jeff Maurer sits atop Stately Pleasure Dome in Tuolumne Meadows within Yosemite National Park. Credit: Colleen Kamoroff
September 1, 2009 | 12:38
pm
Hurricane Jimena is weakening slightly as it approaches Baja California, but it remains a Category 4 storm and though its center is 100 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, it is beginning to wreak considerable havoc there and throughout the state of Baja California Sur.
Visiting tourists -- many of them fishermen and surfers -- who chose to stay and ride out the storm are doing so indoors. Some resorts have boarded their windows. Streets are flooded, and rain is torrential at times. The Los Cabos airport was closed at last check, and flight service has been disrupted. Those with scheduled flights over the next few days are urged to consult their carrier.
"The weather is steadily deteriorating," Eric Brictson, owner of
Gordo Banks Pangas in San Jose del Cabo, said Tuesday morning via e-mail. "Winds are now starting to gust out of the east and rainfall has been steady to extremely hard. Have not even been down to check the beach today, I hear that the surf is near 20 feet. We are bracing for the worse yet to come, probably this evening. I am sure there will be some heavy flood damage."
Hotel guests are certainly faring better than inland residents, particularly the poor who live in areas prone to flooding. Thousands reportedly have been evacuated to shelters.
At the East Cape north of Cabo San Lucas on the Sea of Cortez, well beyond of Jimena's projected path, hotel owners and guests are in wait-and-see mode. Gary Barnes-Webb, foreman at the Rancho Leonero Resort, said he sent some guests home before the storm made its presence felt, but about 20 guests remain.
September 1, 2009 | 9:06
am
At 8 a.m. today, the center of Hurricane Jimena, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, was 140 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas and churning toward the Baja California peninsula at about 12 mph.
The accompanying image was captured just after 8 a.m. from the area of the old lighthouse at Cabo Falso on the Pacific side of the peninsula north of Cabo San Lucas.
Rain comes and goes and wave heights are steadily increasing. Cabo San Lucas is no longer in the projected path of the hurricane. Neither are any of the towns and fishing resorts along the Sea of Cortez to and slightly beyond La Paz.
The center of the storm is predicted to brush Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side early Wednesday and make landfall north of that port city later in the day.
The Mexican government has extended a hurricane warning northward on the Pacific side of the peninsula from Cabo San Lucas to Punta Abreojos, and along the gulf side to Mulege.
Rainfall is expected to total between 5 to 10 inches in most areas and possibly 15 inches in isolated areas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Jimena has subtly changed course a few times over the past few days. Outposts will provide updates as warranted.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Waves generated by Hurricane Jimena crash beyond Cabo Falso on the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula. Credit: Glenn Ehrenberg
Note: To follow this blog on Twitter please visit @latimes.com
August 31, 2009 | 2:43
pm
*Updated with new forecast that places Cabo San Lucas outside the hurricane's cone, or projected path
Above is a 2 p.m. Monday view from
the webcam stationed at
Pisces Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas, overlooking the marina and its entrance. (Note: webcam might not be working during the storm.)
You can see how many boats have been removed from their slips, and how calm the area is a day before the arrival to the region of Hurricane Jimena, a Category 5 storm expected to skirt Cabo and much of Baja California Sur before making landfall 150 miles to the north Wednesday morning.
Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of the fishing fleet, states on the the company blog: "From all the hype on TV you would think we were about to get swept of the face of the earth. Not to be flippant, but getting overly anxious about tropical weather at this time of year is pointless."
That might be partially true, and Ehrenberg has been through dozens of hurricanes, so she should know. To be sure, Jimena's track appears to have shifted subtly enough to alleviate concerns of widespread wind-caused damage in Cabo and in fishing villages on the Sea of Cortez side of the peninsula, stretching to about La Paz.
However, it's an unusually large storm for the Eastern Pacific, with maximum sustained winds of about 155 mph, and it has steadily intensified over the past 24 hours. (The National Hurricane Center's 2 p.m. update listed Jimena
as a Category 4 storm, but the Mexican Navy has since classified it as a
Category 5 disturbance.)
Rainfall amounts in the southern half of Baja California Sur and in parts of western Mexico will range from 5-10 inches, possibly much more in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center.
And the storm's track is somewhat uncertain, so in this case, perhaps, the hype is warranted.
(Note: The 5 p.m. Monday update from the National Hurricane Center shows Cabo San Lucas o be outside the hurricane's cone, or projected path. Outposts will post a separate update Tuesday morning.)
-- Pete Thomas
August 31, 2009 | 1:06
pm
*Updated at 4:45 p.m. to reflect road closure information
As of noon Monday, the Big Meadow fire within Yosemite National Park had consumed nearly 5,000 acres but was 55% contained and crews were making enough progress that some of the air tankers being used to help battle the blaze were sent to Southern California, where a far more volatile situation exists.
The west end of Tioga Road has been closed to through traffic from White Wolf to Crane Flat Gas Station because of poor visibility, and it remains unclear when it will reopen. Tuolumne Meadows to White Wolf is still accessible from the east end of the park via U.S. 395.
Many hiking trails and campsites remain closed. No structures have been lost.
Meanwhile, many are asking the question: How did this prescribed burn, which was supposed to involve only 91 acres, get away from a National Park Service team that routinely carries out controlled burns? (None of those 91 acres actually burned; that's how quickly this fire changed direction and got out of hand.)
An interagency review panel will address the issue in a week or two, park spokesman Scott Gediman said.
Gediman added that prescribed burns sometimes leap beyond designated boundaries but no one at the park could recall a runaway fire of this magnitude.
Regardless, the park has no plans to abandon its prescribed-burn program, and that's understandable. Fires are beneficial in that they allow forests to regenerate by removing old growth. Since Yosemite and other national parks must suppress many naturally-sparked fires to protect lives and structures, prescribed burns in designated areas help accomplish regeneration while preventing fuel buildup that could eventually lead to larger and potentially more devastating wildfires.
The review panel will probably raise the issue of timing. The temperature exceeded 100 degrees when the fire began last Wednesday. The park addresses this issue, in part, on its website, but it fails to answer why the team could not have waited for slightly cooler temperatures.
Outposts will continue to monitor the situation.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: The Big Meadow fire as viewed last Wednesday. Credit: National Parks Service
Related:
California forest and park roads, campsites shut by wildfires: Where to find updates
Yosemite National Park Big Meadow Fire update
Yosemite National Park wildfire continues to grow
August 31, 2009 | 9:22
am
*Updated with new forecast that places Cabo San Lucas outside the hurricane's cone, or projected path
As Southern Californians continue to deal with fire and smoke, residents and tourists in Baja California Sur are bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Jimena, an intense storm that might cause widespread flooding and damage.
The 8 a.m. Monday advisory from the National Hurricane Center positioned the eye of the storm 355 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas. It's traveling to the northwest with maximum sustained winds of about 145 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane. It will make landfall in the Magdalena Bay area late Tuesday or very early Wednesday.
The government of Mexico has issued a Hurricane Warning for the southern half of the state. That means hurricane conditions are likely within the next 24 hours.
Beachfront hotels are shoring up and fishing fleet crews from Cabo San Lucas to La Paz have been pulling boats from the water or moving them to safer areas. Many guests at Rancho Leonero Resort on the East Cape flew home before their scheduled departure dates. Guests at nearby Hotel Punta Colorada were moved to Hotel Palmas de Cortez. Both are Van Wormer Resorts properties.
Tracy Ehrenberg, general manager of Pisces Sportfishing in Cabo San Lucas, said Monday morning that seas were calm and the port was still open. In fact, Pisces has two charters today. Ehrenberg expects the typical chaos in advance of a hurricane -- long lines at gas stations, etc. -- to ensue throughout the day.
Mark Rayor, who runs Vista Sea Sport in Buena Vista in the East Cape, took delivery of a Cabo 35 fishing boat Friday in La Paz. A day after he drove the boat south to the East Cape, he drove it back to the protected harbor in La Paz. "The people I bought it from told me it was a lucky boat," he said. "I'm hoping they were right."
If there's a silver lining, the region is drought-stricken and parched, and Jimena is already delivering showers. Said Eric Brictson, owner of Gordo Banks Pangas: "It has been a while since we have been hit, so this could be the one one that finally brings some much-needed rainfall."
(Note: The 5 p.m. Monday update from the National Hurricane Center shows Cabo San
Lucas and fishing resorts on the Sea of Cortez to about La Paz to be
outside the hurricane's cone, or projected path. That is subject to
change, however. Outposts will post a separate update Tuesday morning.)
--Pete Thomas
Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center
Photo: In the calm before the storm, fishermen in the East Cape display the day's catch of dorado, or mahi-mahi. Credit: Van Wormer Resorts
August 30, 2009 | 8:19
am
*Update: Jimena has strengthened since this report was posted. As of 8 p.m. Sunday it had sustained winds of 145 mph. Also, it's now expected to make landfall south of Magdalena Bay. A separate item with further updates will be posted by mid-morning Monday.
If you've scheduled a fishing trip to Cabo San Lucas early this week, bring your umbrella and plan on spending time indoors.
Hurricane Jimena, off mainland Mexico, has intensified overnight and is classified as a Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of about 135 mph. At 8 a.m. Sunday its center was located 515 miles south-southeast of Cabo and was tracking to the northwest (see graphic below) at about 9 mph.
The National Hurricane Center predicts it will skirt the Baja California peninsula before making landfall Tuesday night in the Magdalena Bay area. It will deliver plenty of much-needed rain, but might also cause extensive flooding.
The region desperately needs rain. Cattle are perishing and some residents in Los Cabos and throughout Baja California Sur are being given running water only once or twice a week. (Running water is not an issue for hotel guests.)
The storm might also lead to temporary port closures. Eric Bricston, who runs Gordo Banks Pangas out of San Jose del Cabo, said via e-mail: "This storm does look dangerous and most likely on Monday morning we will have to haul all of the pangas [skiffs] out of the marina docking area up to the houses. A lot of heavy work, but it is better to be safe than sorry."
That's a common refrain at this time of year.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo of the famous arch off Cabo San Lucas is by Geraldine Wilkins
Graphic is courtesy of the National Hurricane Center
August 28, 2009 | 9:31
am
A commenter named Jeff accused me of being overly dramatic after I posted an item Wednesday referring to this as the hellish season in Southern California after the Morris fire broke out.
Two days later, four wildfires are burning in Southern California and people are being encouraged to stay indoors because of smoke and sweltering temperatures.
There's plenty of drama to go around. Firefighters are experiencing it first-hand. So are people who live near the fires, some of them now staying in shelters. So are wild animals, some with nowhere to run.
In fact, the fire in the Rancho Palos Verdes area, now 35% contained, is charring not only hiking trails but game trails. It last burned four years ago and local resident Donna McLaughlin recalled hiking in its aftermath and discovering charred rabbits and snakes.
"This fire is a lot worse than the 2005 fire, so I am sure more wildlife has been affected," McLaughlin said after a Friday morning hike on the McBride Trail, which has not been touched by fire.
The fire, however, has burned part of a nature reserve in the Portguese Bend area. That area is one of only a few remaining areas where the California gnatcatcher is found.
Two years ago I interviewed Terri Stewart, a Department of Fish and Game biologist, who said many small animals cannot outrun major wildfires and also succumb to smoke. But a surprising number of animals do survive by burrowing or holding over in small areas passed over by flames.
She added that raptors will swoop down and prey on these charred critters in a fire's aftermath. Or to use her words, they will "have a field day."
How's that for drama?
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: A helicopter drops water on the Rancho Palos Verdes fire. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times
August 27, 2009 | 12:45
pm
Mike Perham this morning sailed his 50-foot racing yacht into British waters and, after a nine-month voyage, became the youngest person to have circled the planet alone in a sailboat.
“I’ve made it, I’ve made my dream come true and it feels amazing," he told the Times of London.
Perham, 17, breaks a record set six weeks ago by Zac Sunderland of Thousand Oaks. Sunderland still holds the distinction of being the first person to accomplish the feat before turning 18.
Like Sunderland, Perham overcame angry seas, gale-force winds and severe technical difficulties that resulted in long delays in exotic ports.
Like Sunderland, Perham left when he was 16 and turned 17 in the Indian Ocean. Perham owns the record because he's a few months younger than Sunderland.
However, three younger sailors are aspiring to claim the record -- all girls.
Laura Dekker, 13, wants to embark on a two-year expedition, but social workers in the Netherlands, where she lives with her single father, have taken legal action to try to stop her and are trying to make her a ward of the court.
Jessica Watson, 16, of Australia is in sea trials for a late-September launch in a 34-foot vessel named Pink Lady. Abby Sunderland, Zac's sister, also is in sea trials and hopes to launch in November. Abby turns 16 in October. Watson and Sunderland will attempt nonstop, unassisted voyages.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Mike Perham holds flares as he celebrates arriving at the finish,
off Lizard Point in Cornwall, England. Credit: Associated Press
August 27, 2009 | 12:34
pm
A record 3.2 million viewers tuned into the season finale of Animal Planet's "Whale Wars" series last Friday night and, to no one's surprise, the network announced there will be a third season.
The second season of "Whale Wars," which profiles the exploits of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as it campaigns against Japanese whalers in the Antarctic, was Animal Planet's second-best performing series in network history. The shows were viewed in an average of 779,000 homes.
The series pits an unwilling subject -- Japanese whalers -- versus Capt. Paul Watson and a ragtag vegan crew that engages in disruptive techniques such as tossing bottles of rancid butter (butyric acid) aboard the whaling vessels. Last season there were collisions and numerous other dicey situations.
Japan's annual whaling effort is legal, thanks to a loophole in the wording of an international moratorium. The primary targets are minke whales, which are not endangered. Japan's
Institute of Cetacean Research has labeled Watson and his crew terrorists.
This winter's campaign (summer in the Antarctic) is called "Operation Waltzing Matilda" and will be an escalated effort sure to further rile the Japanese but please the show's producers.
Said Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet: “It’s been terrific to see the success of this groundbreaking series, and its growth creatively and with audiences from the first to the second season. I'm proud to be able to announce the third."
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: The Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin collides with the stern of a Japanese harpoon whaling ship in the Antarctic during last season's campaign. Credit: Sea Shepherd
August 26, 2009 | 4:28
pm
**Updated to reflect reopening of the hotel on Friday
*Updated with news about the hotel closure
At least sixty guests at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park had to be evacuated Wednesday afternoon because of a rockslide, one of a series of slides or falls that began in the morning.
Many more guests were outside during the slide that prompted evacuation. The hotel was closed, and following a geologic evaluation of the situation is now
scheduled to reopen at 4 p.m. Friday, contingent on no further
rockslide activity. Until then, guests are being housed at other
lodging facilities.
Park ranger Erik Skindrud said there were no reports of injuries, but one vehicle sustained moderate damage when a large rock smashed through its windshield in the hotel parking lot. Two other vehicles sustained minor damage.
Some rocks were "as large as microwave ovens," Skindrud said. The slide occurred along the south rim of Yosemite Valley in an area known as the Royal Arches.
--Pete Thomas
Photo: A plume of
dust rises at Yosemite National Park after Wednesday's rockslide. Credit: Erik Skindrud / National Park Service
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August 26, 2009 | 9:56
am
A fire is burning out of control in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa. Smoke fills the L.A. Basin and has fanned out over the Pacific, visible as a reddish-brown haze on the horizon. A red-flag warning is in effect through Friday.
After an unseasonably cool August, the heat is on and so leap the flames as they devour dense, tinder-dry brush. Consider this, then, the beginning of the most hellish time of year in Southern California: the fire season, fueled by arsonists, searing heat and Santa Ana winds.
It's my least favorite period, even though I live at the beach and am not close to fire corridors, because I do get the smoke and have no air conditioner to insulate myself from the motionless, hot, eye-stinging, ash-laden air that hovers over the coast during these episodes.
This is when firefighters earn their salaries, and they are underpaid for what they go through. The Morris fire above the San Gabriel Valley is just the start, and so far it has included a forced evacuation of campers, the aerial rescue of an 18-member Boy Scout troop and voluntary evacuations at other campgrounds and a nearby mobile home park.
The end is not in sight. The fire was only 10% contained at last check, and the forecast calls for temperatures exceeding 100 degrees and low humidity. Before this fire is extinguished, another could easily spring up elsewhere.
To be sure, this is the time of year hikers, bikers, campers and anyone else entering the wilderness should exercise extreme caution and also keep eyes peeled for suspicious activity, because one less fire could save lives and property.
Here's hoping the Morris fire is the last major fire in the Southland. It's wishful thinking, I know.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Smoke from the Morris fire fills the sky. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times
August 25, 2009 | 4:15
pm
Two grizzlies at Montana's Glacier National Park were killed by park officials last week — one, unfortunately, unintentionally.
Glacier National Park issued a press release today clarifying that the death of a male grizzly bear cub on Aug. 17 was attributed to a tranquilizer dart injection it received at the time its 17-year-old mother was being "humanely dispatched" (National Park-speak for "killed") for becoming too habituated to humans. A second cub, a female, was captured and will be transferred to the Bronx Zoo. Shown below is park officials transferring the cub to a larger trap.
The mother and yearling cubs had repeatedly been seen this summer hanging around the backcountry campground at Oldman Lake in the park's Two Medicine region, and their removal came after two separate incidents in which they approached humans "in a non-defensive situation," said the Park Service.
The mother bear had a number of run-ins with humans dating back to 2004, and the Park Service repeatedly used noise, Karelian Bear Dogs and other non-lethal methods to keep her away from humans. The park service began tracking her about five days before she was killed.
August 21, 2009 | 4:03
pm
Is there any wild place that isn't going to pot?
Yosemite National Park is the latest in a list of popular outdoor destinations to report discovery and eradication of illegal marijuana farms.
(If the photo looks familiar, it was used earlier this week to illustrate a similar occurrence in Mono County. That followed discoveries and eradication efforts in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Both discoveries prompted warnings for hikers to exercise caution and report suspicious activities.)
Yosemite rangers and National Park Service Agents, with assistance from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, eradicated 4,735 marijuana plants valued at nearly $19 million from within the park on Thursday.
They found and removed nearly 400 pounds of fertilizer, 3,000 feet of irrigation hose and 200 pounds of human trash. The trash posed a threat to wildlife, especially bears, which are easily habituated to garbage. Park officials did not disclose the location of the discovery.
“Yesterday’s operation reaffirms our commitment that Yosemite remains safe for visitors, that the park will not accept these incursions, and organized growers will not profit from these activities”, Chief ranger Steve Shackelton said in a news release.
Presumably, this "abuse of public property" was the work of Mexican drug trafficking operations. Hikers who stumble into these areas are urged to leave as quickly as possible and report to the nearest authorities
-- Pete Thomas
Photo of pot plants by the Associated Press
August 18, 2009 | 4:59
pm
Zac Sunderland is still basking in the spotlight after becoming the youngest person, on July 16, to sail around the world alone.
(The 17-year-old from Thousand Oaks flew to Sacramento on Monday to meet Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.)
Now it's Abby Sunderland's turn to try to circumnavigate the planet in a sailboat by herself (picture at right) -- that is, if she can land a major sponsor and secure an Open 40 sailboat designed for fast cruising.
If that happens quickly enough, she will embark in November on her own quest to become the youngest person to accomplish this remarkable feat. She turns 16 on Oct. 19 and plans a nonstop, unassisted voyage that's expected to last about six months.
(Zac's voyage, on a 36-foot boat, lasted 13 months and included many stops, both planned and unplanned.)
"I've been wanting to do this since I was 13, and when I was 13 there was nobody doing this," Abby told the Associated Press. "So it's kind of like right as I'm about to finally get to do it, all these other kids start popping up doing it."
There was Zac, and there is England's Mike Perham, who is a few months younger than Zac, closing in on the finish of his around-the-world adventure. And there is Australia's Jessica Watson, 16, about to embark on what she hopes will be a nonstop, unassisted journey aboard a 34-foot boat.
Laurence and Marianne Sunderland received a lot of criticism -- and support -- for allowing their oldest son to go off on such a potentially dangerous adventure. They'll hear the same criticism -- perhaps even stronger -- once word spreads of Abby's planned journey.
But Zac proved more than capable and Abby, likewise, is an accomplished sailor with a shipwright for a father. So she's to be commended for her bravery and adventurous spirit, and hopefully she'll be blessed with the same good fortune enjoyed by her brother.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo courtesy of Abby Sunderland
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