Classic Yosemite Pics at Nat Geo Traveler

"Cut in 1881 for horse-drawn stagecoaches, the Wawona Tree tunnel has been pictured in schoolbooks for three generations. This giant sequoia continues to grow despite its enormous cavity."—Originally published in "New Rush to Golden California," National Geographic magazine, June 1954. From the 1870's to the late 1970's, glimpses of history in America's favorite National Park. Check it out.

Antonioni's Zabriskie Point Now on DVD

Is it one of The Fifty Worst Films of All Time? Or a masterpiece misunderstood?

Dennis Lim's recent review on Slate.com leans ever-so-slightly toward the latter. The movie is certainly worth 110 minutes of escape to somewhere else, somewhere long gone--or as Lim puts it, "somewhere between the apocalyptic wasteland of Joan Didion's California and the empty nowhere of Jean Baudrillard's America."

It's a perfect way to get turned on for a road trip to Death Valley and points beyond. And don't forget to download the soundtrack, with its marvelous array of rare (and rarefied) tracks from Jerry Garcia, Pink Floyd, The Youngbloods and Patti Page.

5 Disappearing Species & Where to See Them

Updated on July 6, 2009 by SG

Updated on July 29, 2009 by SG

Only in the print edition.5 cool species almost gone, >400 words, Men's Journal, July/August, on stands now (with Lance Armstrong on the cover--yet again!).

nb. $50,000 for credible proof on an Ivory Bill...

Plus, here's one that didn't make the cut...

Click to read more ...

Yosemite Book in Whole Life Times

Review on page 42."DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF LEAVING THIS BOOK IN THE CAR," writes Whole Life Times editor Abigail Lewis in the latest issue of that all-around clean-living mag (40,000 copies on stands across Los Angeles). "There's so much entertaining background and history that you'd be wise to put aside that bestselling novel you'd planned to read and get to the heart of mountain country."

Sweet New Review in Latest Eastside Mag

"DON'T JUDGE THIS ONE BY ITS COVER," writes Lynne Almeida of Bishop's Spellbinder Books, in the latest, greatest Summer Issue of Eastside Magazine (now on stands throughout the Eastern Sierra and beyond—get your copy before it's gone). "I've been reminded to look a little closer at my own backyard, and I'm thinking I'll take it along on my next trip to the west slope."

Read the full review here.

Skip the big warehouse store and buy local, from Spellbinder.

Care for a Swim?

Drought's on but the water's up in Lake Kaweah—for nowThe reservoir is at 704 feet. The river is peaking at just under 2400 cfs at Three Rivers. Check flow here.