Tag Archives: wind

California Wind Storm

wind wildfires
Wildfires spread rapidly with strong winds.

“It was sport to have a gale in such weather as this. Yet it blew like a hurricane. The wind seemed to come with a spite, an edge to it, which threatened to scrape us off the yards. The mere force of the wind was greater than I had ever seen before.”
– Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
Two Years Before the Mast (1843)

califrepublic

In the early days of California cargo shipping, the sailers referred to the wild winds as “south-easterlies”. So strong and unpredictable in fact, that they often had to cut anchor and drift far out to sea – to wait out the wind event.

offshore winds

Various nicknames have been given to the easterly winds in California. They develop from a high or low pressure system that builds in the Great Basin, pushing winds from the desert towards the west, over the Sierra mountains and into California.

Wind events can last for days, but usually not a full week.

  • Santa Ana Winds

  • Southeasters

  • Sundowners

  • Mono Winds

  • Diablo Winds

  • Indian Summer

  • Northeasters

  • North-easterlies

pinetree

Wind gusts measuring over 100 mph typically recorded in Sierra passes

 

check

RED FLAG – Weather forecasters announce “Red Flag Warnings” when predicting, banning all outdoor burning and all use of campfires. Humidity levels drop into single digits or teens, and created extremely critical wildfire conditions. Utility companies are now preemptively cutting electric power to millions of customers across the state to reduce the risk of fires (sparking from power poles). Extreme fire weather can last for months, usually in the last half of the year. December rains usually put an end to the wildfire dangers, but the wind events can last all winter long.

windy poppies
Wind whipped Golden poppies in the high deserts of Antelope Valley.
winds and tents
Desert winds are harsh. Not properly staking down your tent results in gear rolling down canyon.

140 mph gust recorded as incredible winds rake California
Oct 2020

high wind advisory

This is a term often used for travel. High profile vehicles can literally tip over (while driving) in strong winds. Aircraft can be grounded and unable to fly, during such events. Helicopters generally do not fly during strong winds. Boats at harbor may need to be secured.

Electronic Freeway signs can display messages about high winds. These type of vehicle should heed the warnings.

  • big rigs
  • camper vans
  • 5th wheel travel trailers
  • motorhomes
  • moving trucks / rentals
  • RVs (recreational vehicles)
  • trailers in tow
  • truck campers
  • u-haul trucks

camptruck

California places that experience top wind speeds –

wind caves
Wind Caves in Anza Borrego Desert

hint.fm/wind

wind.willyweather.com/ca.html

mountains

accuweather winds

Wildrose Campground

Wildrose Campground – Death Valley

wildrose3

Wildrose is an all-season campground in Wildrose Canyon, on the western edges of Death Valley National Park. This canyon gets very windy, so bring your guy lines, stakes & ropes for securing your tent. Motorhome RVs can make it in here, since the narrow road is a paved route – but be warned it can be curvy and slow going with the climb in elevation. This camp stays cooler than anything on the desert valley floor, so in summer months it can fill up quickly. Further up the hill are both ThorndikeMahogany Flat Campgrounds (both close in winter, due to snow)

• Elevation: 4,100′
• Number of Sites: 30
• Vehicle Accessibility: Open to all
• Campsites Reservation: No
• Length of Stay: 30 Days
• Season: year round

wildrosecamp

Directions:

From Stovepipe Wells, follow Highway 190 W to Emigrant Canyon. Turn left on Wildrose Road and follow it thru the tight rocky canyon, climbing in elevation the whole way. Wildrose Campground is obvious and near the charcoal kilns turn off.

From Panamint Valley, take Wildrose Road up.


View Larger Map

Death Valley MAPS –

Death Valley Park – NatGeo
Death Valley Topo Map – Tom Harrison

Nearby attractions:

Death Valley National Park
Panamint Valley
Ballarat Ghost Town
Skidoo Town Site
Charcoal Kilns
Telescope Peak
Tuber Canyon
Tucki Mine

Campfires in California

Campfires on the Back Roads
Campfires on the Back Roads: permit, shovel & water bucket required

campfireWhen & Where – Campfires in California

Campfire Restrictions in California

California has many different National Forest districts and each region has their own fire restrictions. State Parks & BLM also manages recreation areas & camping in the Golden State. Each agency & region has different rules, so blanket answers cannot apply to general questions on campfires.

CAMPFIRE PERMITS
Campfire permits are required for fires outside of designated recreation sites. During fire restrictions, campfires could be banned. Campfire Permit are available from Forest Service, CalFire or BLM offices or online,
http://www.preventwildfireca.org/

ranger

Manter Fire, Dome Land Wilderness
Manter Fire [2000], Dome Land Wilderness, Southern Sierra Nevada

the new abnormal

California suffers more from wildfires now than ever before. Native tribes let lightning strike wild fires burn and they did not suppress wildfire. Residential development creeping ever higher and denser into the foothills, an abundance of roadways, with the overgrown forest make fire danger ever more real.

Closed off wilderness areas, impassable dirt roads, landslides, fallen trees everywhere. Utility services (power lines), plus high winds and overgrown forest also play a huge part in the current wildfire catastrophes. Drought conditions or record winter rains, the huge population on the west coast -along with many other factors – means more fire danger. Educate yourself and others on fire safety, forests and weather patterns. Heed the wind, while in the wild. Wind spreads fire easily!tent camping

Current Fire Restrictions:

By mid summer we have usually have several wild land fires burning, which means campfire restrictions are usually in place before JULY 4th weekend. When this happens – No open campfires are allowed in the backcountry or on the back roads.

Often in the driest of years, no campfires are allowed (even inside the campgrounds).

camp

If you love to primitive camp outside of developed campgrounds, you need to plan more road trips for spring time & autumn. Or head further north, well above Redding – where the forest are moist and snow graces Mount Shasta year round. Or perhaps, go desert camping during winter months. Checking the National Forest web sites can be confusing and their online information could be outdated.

Each forest and area is individually managed. No concise, easy-to-read list or online map exist on which forests are allowing backcountry campfires – and which ones are not. Conditions seem to change so often and they aren’t great about updating those .gov web sites.  Best to call a local ranger station and ask about any current fire restrictions. You know, actually “talk on a phone” to a USFS, BLM or CalFire official.  If you can speak to a field ranger, they can tell you more on dispersed camping. Or you can navigate the USDA web site to find current ALERTS & RESTRICTIONS. Cryptic lingo may be encountered, and many clicks maybe needed; possibly forcing you to download a PDF of current fire rules.NFSlogo

Here is a page with all the California National Forests listed w/ phone numbers
https://totalescape.com/active/campstuff/NF/NFS.html

Narrow down a specific region by checking out where fires are active today and selecting a region well away from big fires.
http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

see more on this topic –

Fire Safety
Camping Without a Campfire
Firewood Dealers

rock fire ring

Camp Fires Correctly

walkincampsite
Eagle Lake Tent Campground

 

NO Campfires?
No Campfires in California?

hiker

Fire Light Cove
Cove Camping in Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Our Food

local farming

According to a new report by the National Center For Health Statistics, nearly 40 percent of all U.S. adults are now officially obese. An all-time record high. More than 70 percent of us are now officially overweight.

GIVE THANKS, we live in the “illusion of prosperity”

Now, it’s time to get serious and educated on the matters at hand.

The majority of the population does not even understand what is being done to them. Major food corporations know that eating heavily processed foods is addictive and an edible path to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other deadly diseases, but they keep pushing those foods on us anyway. Junk food is making them rich and making us sick!

  • energy drinks
  • soda pop
  • candy
  • fast food

The average American diet is extremely self-destructive, and it is well time for a change. Which is why we at Total Escape decided to focus on the topic of FOOD for this autumn month of Thanksgiving.

On the towns pages we link to local farmers markets, health food stores, community co-ops, family farms, organic farms, farm stays and vineyards.

our food

OMG, GMO – soy, corn, sugar
* May contain ingredients partially produced with genetic engineering.

High fructose corn syrup, soy lecithin, natural flavors….
you may not realize how much GMO is in your food.

Why Care about Food

If you are concerned with your physical health & well-being, you already know that nutritious, real food is the best for your daily diet. You are what you eat!

Almost half of California voters voted to label genetically engineered foods, way back in 2012. So if you didn’t understand about healthy food choices 5 years ago, you might be willing to look at the food issue more closely these days.

mission corn chips

Although the labeling law did not pass, many companies begin putting GMO-free or NON-GMO labels on the front of the food packages anyway. Health food manufacturers, major national brands, and especially food produced inside California – can be found with the non-gmo verified label.

FOOD as medicine, in light of recent news:
Americans are the fattest culture ever; Declining bee population, continued environmental pollution, and the link to our epic diseases. Gut disorders, allergies, autism, cancer, diabetes, the list goes on and on.

Most Prevalent Pesticides

Glyphosate is a potent and dangerous chemical found in Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer, the most commonly used herbicide in history.  Glyphosate has contaminated the planet, and is now found in mother’s milk, our bloodstreams, and in our food and water supply. The World Health Organization announced in 2015 that glyphosate ‘probably’ causes cancer.

Levels of the herbicide Roundup in human urine have increased dramatically among California residents in the past two decades, a new study reports. Roundup is used to protect genetically modified corn and soy crops from weeds; Also sprayed on wheat and oats, during harvest; And blindly used by public and private land owners to control weeds on their property, which ends up in run-off water, as poison to lakes and rivers.

This chemical corporate push in agriculture is a decades-long experiment with our very own ecosystem: Our health and the health of our planet.

____________________________________________

Watch Food Documentary Films to find out more on this topic.

Organic is Non GMO & More

Granges are now Guild Halls?

Follow the Food Babe blog online

Favorite West Coast Pioneers:

Amy’s Kitchen
Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar
Bob’s Red Mill
Cal-Organic
Cliff Bar
Dr. Bronner’s Soap
Full Belly Farm
Lundberg Family Farms
Masumoto Family Farm
Organic Valley Coop

califricebag

Perfect Tent Spot

Boulder Cove Camping

Choosing your Perfect Tent Spot

Before you can choose the ultimate place for your tent, you must decide where it is you wanna sleep OUTDOORS. What ultimate location? Your destination can play a huge factor in you getting a peaceful nights rest. And do you really need a campground? Or, are you ready to try to rough it, without the amenities? Best camping is off-the-beaten-path, and usually on the back roads. Trailhead camps, 4×4 camps, best view camps, creek camps; Dispersed camping, often called primitive camping. Focusing here on car camping, tent camping and backpacking routes.

Sierra Granite ViewsJust choosing a flat tent spot isn’t good enough anymore. You crave the best camping experience and seek real nature, with minimal crowds. No annoying neighbors, no parking hassles, no traffic or cars passing by. We at Total Escape are here to help you get to your wilderness goals and experience nature like never before. Right here, right now and it doesn’t hafta cost you a dime.

California Camping Destination:

Let’s start with a terrain overview. California has it all ­ – mountains, deserts, coastal, rolling oaks with rivers in the countryside, plus the infamous wine country and developed campgrounds within city limits. Desert camping in summer months should only be attempted by the experienced camper who loves 90+ temperatures. Mountain camping in winter can be freezing, so make sure you have the proper gear. Good maps are a must have and the readily available National Forest maps are your best avenue for getting and staying away from the masses. Visit our Destinations page to decide what kinda place you wanna ‘call home for the weekend’.

topo mapsIf you are the “I don’t care where I sleep kinda guy, as long as I can do/see this many things” all crammed into a 3-day holiday weekend, then you best do your research ahead of time. Get a good map, measure the mileage, plan picnic stops and sightseeing. Plan to set camp in a central location close to the main highway to call home-base, so you can be off exploring as much as possible.

Schedule in some “down time” or a full day for relaxing. Calculate driving distances and pad it w/ an extra hour. Maybe make a campground reservation if you are visiting a National Park or busy State Park. If you plan to wing it without reservation, always have plan B or plan C  options already picked out. With millions of residents and tourists on the west coast, chances are you won’t be the only person wanting to do Big Sur, Yosemite or Point Reyes that particular weekend.

camp

Helpful Hints
for a Good Nights Sleep @ the Camp Site

  • Bring a decent Sleeping Pad. Air Mattress with the inflator pumps will be the most luxury, without sleeping directly on the hard ground. Therm A Rest sleeping pads are another fine option, for those who like to travel light and still have air underneath them. Extra blankets, always.
  • Flat & Soft ground is the goal in choosing the best tent spot. Park your vehicles over the rocky slanted ground and keep the best flat areas for your camp site.
  • Do not pitch a tent in a meadow, no matter how inviting it looks. Wetlands and meadows are fragile ecosystems, an area that should be protected.
  • Look at the big trees above your sleeping spot and examine them. Do not place your tent near or underneath a dead tree or a dead limb. Trees do break and fall, especially if winds pick up. This could be a life or death choice, so remember to look up.
  • Bring abundant good tent stakes and USE them. Yellow plastic stakes are for soft cedar and sand. Thin aluminum stakes are for backpackers. Large steel nail stakes (some w/ plastic tips) are best stakes for all-around terrain.
  • Bring a mallet to pound stakes or use big rocks to hammer them. Gloves are also a good idea!
  • Never underestimate the use of a big tarp and some rope.
  • Guy lines help hold a tent in place when windy weather turns to big storm. If wind is in the forecast, then do this task before you head out on your day hike away from camp.
  • Make sure selected tent site is flat. Lay on the ground to check it out.
  • Place head of bedding up hill (if any slant can be noticed)
  • Tents should be at least 10 feet away from your campfire. At least 100 feet away from a creek or lakeshore.
  • Beach camping at the ocean edge; Know the high tide mark; place tent accordingly.
  • Slot canyons are awesome, sandy, narrow washes, many with cliffs and caves. In the desert badlands these can become raging rivers w/ flash floods. When rain is heavy in the mountains many miles away, you could get flooded in the low lands. If you hear any thunder – RUN to high ground. Better off picking another camp site, than to die by a wall of water!
  • Shade in the Desert sounds like an oxymoron, unless you find a place with high cliffs, or slot canyons. Tamarisk trees and palm canyon locations are usually an oasis of RV tourists & travelers. Hot Springs are also busy spots. Pinyon pines, juniper and over-sized manzanita can be found in higher elevation deserts above 1000′. The prime desert camping season is generally October thru March, as April can easily soar close to 90 degrees high.
camp

Campgrounds listed individually on
California town pages A to Z

campfires

morning sunshine

Late Nighters & Sunrise:
Determining East & the North Star

reading the stars

Sequoia NF - The Den

Campground vs. Dispersed Camping:

Follow Dirt Roads
Some people swear by the open spaces and back road camping options, as they have more seclusion, plenty privacy and best off all, no campground fees. You might need a GPS and a high clearance SUV to reach some of these camp spots, but you will be blessed with a unique secret spot to call your own.

Campgrounds come in all styles these days: From small primitive camps on a creek to the luxurious RV resorts with laundry room and showers. And then there is everything in between. This web site Total Escape specializes in FREE camping on the back roads and the smallest of campgrounds.

Reservations are usually accepted at the most popular camp locations, many are wide open on weekdays and the majority of campsites overall are available on a first come, first serve basis.