Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, California, releases its 2011 workshop schedule

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, California, has posted its 2011 workshop schedule on its website.

The first clinic is a duck hunt on Jan. 15 in Williams. Limited to 10 participants, the California nonprofit's president, Susan Herrgesell, recommends that those interested in attending this workshop should register soon.

Other clinics include fly-fishing, pheasant hunting, whitewater rafting, shooting and ATV/dirt-bike riding. The organization's popular multi-course workshop will take place from Oct. 7 to 9 at Wonder Valley Ranch in Fresno County.

For both the novice and the expert, these one-, two- or three-day workshops feature hands-on training with top-of-the-line equipment as well as knowledgeable and encouraging instructors and include classroom time, equipment overviews, safety and field instruction.

Registration can be completed either online on the BOW-California website or by printing and mailing a registration form.

-- Kelly Burgess
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Photo: Fly-fishing workshop attendees practice casting before heading to the water. Credit: BOW, California

Bomber floating eyewear helps you hold onto your glasses

I've come across some sunglasses which may prevent me from ever losing a pair again.

The Bomber line of sun- and safety-glasses includes models that come with a patented foam lining, which makes the glasses buoyant. The foam also provides a snug fit, helping hold them in place while keeping perspiration (and sunscreen) away from your eyes.

World Champion jet ski racer Tommy "the Bomber" Bonacci designed the floating eyewear when trying to solve the problem of his glasses falling off and sinking. Bonacci discovered the flotation foam also provided that snug fit, which prevents the glasses from blowing off when turning your head on a jet ski, boat, bike or motorcycle. Bonacci soon had people around the world asking him for a pair of these durable and stylish sunglasses.

Lightweight and comfortable, Bomber eyewear is affordable enough to own more than one pair. In fact, I have numerous -- clear safety for the shooting range; floating polarized which I keep in my tacklebox for fishing, and another polarized pair for driving and everyday use.

With prices ranging from $7.95 to $34.95, glasses can be purchased via the Bomber website or at more than 500 dealers nationwide.

-- Kelly Burgess

twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Bomber "D-Bombs" in matte black. Credit: Bomber eyewear

Forest service boosting patrol efforts to catch snowmobile trespassers

Inyo National Forest officers will be adding aerial patrols in their effort to catch snowmobilers riding in off-limit areas this winter.

The airplane patrols will be added to monitor designated Wilderness and Research Natural areas, which have been prohibited to motorized vehicle access since the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964.

Riding in closed areas is both a federal and state offense, punishable by fines up to $5,000, six months in jail and possible seizure of snowmobiles.

Areas that will be heavily patrolled include Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes Basin and Obsidian Dome and Shady Rest cross-country ski trails.

Many major winter trailheads and launching points have maps showing the restricted areas. However, since it is each rider's responsibility to know where closed and restricted areas and their boundaries are, it is strongly suggested that riders check with local ranger stations or visitor centers, or obtain a free Winter Recreation trail map at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A boundary-marking sign forbids use of motorized vehicles and equipment. Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

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Mexico's drug war violence prompts BLM warning for Imperial Sand Dunes visitors

Talk about joining the bandwagon late. The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday issued a news release cautioning the public to beware in border areas because of violence attributed to Mexico's drug cartels and their illegal activity.

It pertains to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, which skirts the border in Imperial County, and basically implores people to exercise common sense while visiting the popular off-road recreation destination.

The BLM reminds: Cellphone service is limited at best; do not pick up hitchhikers; keep valuables in sight; and do not make contact with people who appear to be in distress. "People in distress may ask for food, water and other assistance," the news release states. "Do not make contact. Report the location of the distressed people to the nearest BLM or other law enforcement authority."

This is an interesting request. It makes sense if one is to assume anyone appearing in distress is in fact a criminal seeking victims. In fact, that might be the case. But what if a person who appears in distress really is, and you ride off, and he or she dies in the sand, how would you feel?

Again, common sense and an increased level of wariness -- not to be confused with paranoia -- should serve off-roaders well enough, especially if they ride with others.

To read up on all sorts of issues related to the drug war, click here.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: U.S. Border Patrol agent patrols the fence at Imperial Sand Dunes on an all-terrain vehicle. Credit: Don Bartletti/Los Angeles Times

Jeremy Lusk funeral no longer open to public; will be shown on webcast

**Update with publicist's clarification

Because of overcrowding concerns, only family, friends and industry associates will be allowed inside Revival Christian Fellowship church in Menifee, Calif., for Jeremy Lusk's funeral service at 1 p.m. Monday.

However, fans of the freestyle motocross star, who died Tuesday from injuries suffered during a crash at a competition in Costa Rica, can watch the Lusk service online.

Here's the brief announcement issued Saturday night by Metal Mulisha's publicist:

"Due to the outpouring of love, affection, admiration and sentiment regarding Jeremy, please note that funeral services will be webcast simultaneously.

"Limited church capacity mandates that only family, friends and industry associates attend, please."

On Sunday afternoon, Cheryl Lynch, the publicist, clarified that no invitations have been issued and that if people were friends of Jeremy and/or worked with him in some capacity they're urged to attend. Lynch added, "Many, many people around the world are mourning his passing and having this webcast it is our hope that many more will feel part of this most difficult task of saying goodbye."

--Pete Thomas

Photo: Jeremy Lusk. Credit: Metal Mulisha

Rosarito Beach hoping for continued calm on the drug-violence front

News item: There are strong indications that the two largest drug gangs in the Mexican state of Sinaloa have called a truce, as reported today in the Los Angeles Times.

The number of drug-related killings has reportedly decreased by two-thirds from the frightening December level in what has long been considered the center of Mexican drug trafficking.

Reaction: Could this have anything to do with what seems a lull in drug-related violence in northern Baja California; a quietude that might help Rosarito Beach and Ensenada lure more tourists back for some surfing, fishing, Baja-style lobster, shopping or wine country tours?

Sadly, the best possible scenario for these tourist destinations is that a) the drug gang leaders call a truce, or b) that one powerful drug lord solidifies power and can avoid being arrested.

After all, drugs flowed across the border with minimal violence before Francisco Javier Arellano-Felix was nabbed while fishing off Baja in 2006. Since then, the bloody battle for control over the trade has been unrelenting.

Perhaps, though, the cartel leaders are working things out. They certainly cannot keep the pace of murders up to 2008 levels: about 5,600 nationwide and 689 in Baja. That'd be counterproductive from a business standpoint, and the bosses realize that.

However, the rate of killings remains disturbing in the border town of Ciudad Juarez across from El Paso. At least eight murders occurred there during the last week alone.

But it will be interesting to see how things play out in light of developments in Sinaloa, and how severely it will continue to affect tourism. Hopefully for the sake of those in Mexico whose livelihoods depend on U.S. dollars, the murder rate will subside and tourist numbers will rise.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo credit: Rosarito Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Levi LaVallee's double-back-flip on a snowmobile: pre-X Games video

Perhaps the most intense moments during the Winter X Games in Aspen were those preceding Levi LaVallee's attempt to double- back-flip his 450-pound snowmobile during the "Next-Trick" or best-trick competition.

Why?

Because very real consequences for under-rotating were  becoming paralyzed or dying.

Fortunately, the Red Bull snowmobiler athlete did not under-rotate and land upside down. Unfortunately, he over-rotated slightly and was bounced from his seat upon impact, so the gold medal went to Dane Ferguson or his trick, called a "Twist Off."

But Levi did land on his feet and celebrated, with both arms raised, his survival and becoming the first person to pull off the double in a competition.

It was reminiscent of Travis Pastrana's memorable double on his motorcycle during the 2006 Summer X Games. But Pastrana stuck his landing and claimed the gold.

The video below is not of the X Games' Next-Trick competition. But it does provide entertaining insight into preparations for the trick and what was going through the daredevil's mind.

Enjoy:

--Pete Thomas

Photo: Levi LaVallee during his second rotation while double-back-flipping his snowmobile at the Winter X Games. Credit: Zach Ornitz/Shazamm/ESPN Images

Is Rosarito Beach safe? City hopes to sell point to travel writers

There has been heated discussion on Outposts over whether Rosarito Beach is safe while a narco war rages out of control in the vicinity of the Baja California border-area tourist destination.

Town officials and expatriate residents maintain that tourists are probably safer now than before the upturn in drug-related killings during the past two years because there are more cops who are better-paid and screened regularly to make sure they've not been corrupted.

How confident are tourism officials that this is true? So confident that they're hosting six travel writers from the U.S. during the last week of January.

A gamble, yes, but a necessary one if the city hopes to lure precious tourists back to a city known for its carefree party atmosphere, its surfing, fishing and proximity to the high-desert wine country.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I felt safe there during a recent visit. I've also been checking the headlines recently and things have been pretty quiet on the killing front within Rosarito Beach.

John McCain, Barack Obama on outdoors issues -- again

The presidential election is two weeks away and I’m flipping through yet another outdoors magazine that touts John McCain’s and Barack Obama’s views on such issues as gun control, fisheries and public land access.

There are no revelations in the November issue of Outdoor Life.

John McCain is still against gun control and Obama still supports the Second Amendment but favors a ban on assault weapons and cinching a gun show loophole that allows trading of weapons between private individuals in states where this practice is currently legal.

Both candidates claim to be conservationists who want to protect fisheries and preserve angler opportunities. McCain, however, appears to be more of a proponent of hunters and anglers at a time when environmentalists are increasingly pressing for wilderness preservation versus public access.

“I have long supported multiple uses for public lands that ensure they are available for this and future generations to hunt, fish and explore,” he is quoted as saying.

Obama tends to include a disclaimer whenever he discusses access. And Outdoor Life, which claims to be objective, countered McCain’s statement with this one from Obama:

“We need to make sure that we’re good stewards of the land. It means that we are maintaining access to public lands but are also making sure that we are doing it in a responsible way.”

Certainly, those who hunt, fish and use off-road vehicles are disturbed by trends toward wilderness preservation. Shutting sportsmen and other user groups out does not always seem justified, and in some cases it seems un-American.

A recent survey commissioned by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation found that hunters and fishermen view loss of habitat and public access as the largest threats to their pastimes. They'd like Congress to prioritize federal lands for habitat available to all.

Vandalism an issue in Eastern Sierra

Of the fire that destroyed the Schulman Grove Visitor Center at the entrance of Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, reader Carol comments, “That visitor center was beautiful, a place for people from around the world to learn about the oldest trees on Earth. I loved visiting the center as it was a beautiful little building set amongst the old trees. This is senseless and shameful.”

How true. Especially considering the suspicious timing. In recent weeks there have been numerous acts of vandalism throughout the Eastern Sierra region, of which motives remain hazy.

They include smashed vehicle windows at trailheads, among them South Lake, Leavitt Meadows and Big Pine Creek. The Sierra Wave radio station reports on its website that the White Mountain Research Station atop its namesake peak was "trashed and covered with gas, but not set on fire."

Law agencies, which over the weekend were still investigating the cause of the fire, are trying to find a pattern. One resort concessionaire, who did not wished to be named, told me that many locals are worried these might be acts of eco-terrorism related to controversial political issues, most notably the Wilderness Bill, which threatens to close large portions of the White Mountains to off-road vehicles.

That concessionaire, who opposes the bill, is worried he'll have to sleep in his high-elevation cabins "until the snow comes" after they close for business next month, to protect against break-ins and arson.

This hardly sounds like the idyllic Eastern Sierra paradise I’m familiar with. Here's hoping they catch the misguided person or group responsible and prosecute to the fullest. This type of activity is dangerous and benefits nobody.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Though idyllic, the Eastern Sierra region seems to be plagued by vandals.

Credit: Brian Vander Brug/Los Angeles Times