Gear Hub: Row, row a boat
All you need is a boat and oars” to get out on the water, according to Paul Irving with BigBigSLO and the Baywood Rowing Club (aka the Baywood Navy), who happens to have boats to spare. He has 24 boats, more or less, from his “itty-bitty slow boat to my racing shell,” he said one…
Trail seekers, crafters, and other hobbyists find common ground at La Purísima Mission
Mission possibilities Find out more about La Purísima Mission State Historic Park at lapurisimamission.org. The mission is located at 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc. A fluffy Samoyed caught the eye of La Purísima Mission docent Michelle Pittenger seconds before a unique demonstration commenced outside the Lompoc landmark. “Looks like she’s ready for shearing, too,” Pittenger jokingly…
Morro Bay’s inaugural Ironman 70.3 drew thousands of triathletes and spectators
Morro Bay Police Sgt. Nicole Taylor clocks in to work at 7 a.m. each morning, driving from her home in Creston to the usually slow seaside town. The morning of May 20, though, was different. Before daybreak, the city’s Embarcadero buzzed with energy and activity. People from all over the world paced around in race…
There’s no reason not to try rock climbing on the Central Coast
Awesome ascension Find local outdoor climbing spots based on their difficulty by visiting mountainproject.com. For more indoor climbing information or a place to learn the ropes, visit thepadclimbing.org. Andy Sherar braced himself as he vaulted up onto a large rock, the bright sun greeting him as he steadied himself, adjusting his harness at the top…
As local beavers rebuild their dams after a brutal winter, the SLO Beaver Brigade seeks to rebuild their population on the Central Coast
The signs of their work are modest but ubiquitous. Branches and debris stacked carefully in layers across several feet of meandering river. Gnawed pieces of willow on the ground. Hidden canals. Footprints. Scat. Six months after a historic and powerful set of winter storms flushed out the Salinas River watershed, the local beaver population is…
Get Outside – Summer/Fall 2023
New to you Variety is the spice of outdoor life. Isn’t that what “they” say? Everywhere I look on the Central Coast, there’s something new going on—whether it’s an event or sport or place to be and see. In this summer/fall issue, we talk about a trail that aims to connect Oregon to Mexico along…
Central Coast-made wine and spirits made to take outdoors
There’s nothing like cracking open a drink while camping or at the beach, but it can be hard to find anything other than beers or seltzers in outdoor-friendly containers. However, a few companies are shifting gears to more eco-friendly packaging that’s also conducive to bringing wine and spirits outdoors. Rod and Hammer’s canned whiskey cocktails…
Gearhub: What you’ll need to enhance your comfort, protect your hearing, and keep you safe at outdoor music festivals
While music festivals and backpacking seem eons apart, the two activities are pretty similar. You’re in relatively remote areas for multiple days, spending several hours on your feet, and baking in the hot sun. You ration your food, need plenty of water, and spend your nights camping. Like backpacking, investing in quality gear can make…
Build your own backyard pizza oven and make Naples-style pies
As a starting place, can we all agree that pizza is the perfect food? Depending on your ingredients, it’s an ideal balance of carbs, fat, and protein. It’s easy to make and easy to share, and it’s universally enjoyed. One survey found 98 percent of Americans eat pizza, and 54 percent say they “love” it.…
San Luis Obispo emergency responders urge caution on city trails but are trained and equipped to rescue if crisis strikes
In his 11 years on the San Luis Obispo County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, Armando Gutierrez has seen the spectrum of disasters on local trails, like San Luis Obispo’s Bishop Peak. There are lost hikers who veer off-trail; runners who break an ankle and can’t hike down; rock climbers who fall catastrophic distances;…
Morro Bay’s Black Hill is accessible to almost anyone
I don’t know how your knees are doing, but now that I’m in my 60s, mine have mostly been mocking me and threatening to fold up like cheap card tables if I ask too much of them. Yet, I still like to get my walks in, and I also like those walks to offer some…
California has been trying to build a continuous trail along its coast since the 1970s
Chances are, you’ve been on the California Coastal Trail without even realizing it. If you could see the Pacific Ocean, smell the salty air, and/or hear the waves crash, your feet were likely touching the trail—but maybe you knew it by another name. The wooden boardwalk above Moonstone Beach in Cambria. Point Buchon, which begins…
