Hi Everyone – hope you are staying cool and enjoying your summer,
We’ve had another busy week on the LP, to say the least. Great work to the Forest Service and fire crews for knocking down the Chorro Fire, which started earlier this week near the junction of the Chorro Grande Trail and Hwy 33 above Ojai. At the moment the Chorro Fire has burned 282 acres and is 90% contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation. As a result of the fire, the following roads/trails/camps are temporarily closed: Pine Mountain Rd (Reyes Peak), Oak Camp, Chorro Grande Trail, Potrero John Camp and Trail, Boulder Creek Trail and the pine mountain portion of the Piedra Blanca Trail. Please be sure to use extreme caution with your campfires, outdoor equipment or other potential fire related activities. For more information on fire prevention and education, check the One Less Spark website below:
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This weekend marks the start of deer hunting season in Zone A South. You can see a map of Zone A here, but it basically covers all the Los Padres other than the section in Ventura and Kern Counties north of Sespe Creek and east of Hwy 33. Zone A season is from August 8 (Saturday) through September 20. For those heading into the forest this weekend, expect to see a lot more people than usual, especially at the popular deer hunting locations. Depending on what activities you have planned, you may want to rethink your plans and be sure to wear bright colors. Hunting occurs mainly in the hours around sunrise and sunset. For those of you who will be hunting, be safe and good luck. More information on hunting regulations and Zone A can be found here.
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In case you weren’t aware, the LPFA has a small social media presence with both Facebook and Twitter accounts. We try to post forest-related news, updates, articles and stories every day or two. In fact trending right now is a topic involving the now infamous Lizard Man of Rancho Nuevo. Check us out on Facebook if you haven’t already.
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VENTURA COUNTY FAIR
The Ojai Ranger District will have a booth at the Ventura County Fair. The Fair starts today and lasts through August 16. Rumor has it that the Ojai District has won awards in the past for their great booths and that this years booth will be the best ever. If you’re in the neighborhood be sure to stop by and say hello. More information here: http://www.venturacountyfair.org/
RAY STRONG PROJECT
If you haven’t heard of Ray Strong, chances are you’ve seen his work many times. Ray Strong was a Santa Barbara based painter who is famous for capturing the soul of the Los Padres within his paintings. He’s probably most known for painting many of the exhibit backgrounds within the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. In honor of Ray Strong, this summer there are a number of exhibits featuring his incredible work. For those interested in art with a Los Padres flavor, be sure to find your way to one of these showings. You can learn more about the Ray Strong Project and see a list of exhibit dates here: http://www.theraystrongproject.com/