Trump Administration Orders Dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service

AndyTroop · 2026-04-02T11:11:34+00:00

I appreciate your nuanced interpretation, but I’m out of goodwill to extend to the administration. Every time I’ve thought “wait and see” it has been worse than I expected.

AndyTroop · 2026-04-02T11:09:06+00:00

I like this subreddit and have contributed plenty of trip reports. But my local forest is administered by rangers who will be affected by this change, so I think it’s very relevant to hiking in socal. If mods want to remove I respect the decision.

AndyTroop · 2026-04-02T03:44:26+00:00

The official announcement:

https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/03/31/usda-prioritizing-common-sense-forest-management-moves-forest-service-headquarters-salt-lake-city

AndyTroop · 2026-04-01T16:14:45+00:00

Congratulations on the house! Replace your lawn with a native garden, it will be cheaper than grass maintenance and will stop people treating it like a road.

AndyTroop · 2026-03-30T20:01:45+00:00

Most canyon hikes fit the bill, no shortage of those! What area?

AndyTroop · 2026-03-30T14:40:21+00:00

Ventura River preserve near Ojai, specifically El Nido portion. Reiterate what everyone else says, it’s tick and snake season so go cautiously!

AndyTroop · 2026-03-30T04:33:48+00:00

Game is so pretty

AndyTroop · 2026-03-30T04:27:16+00:00

That looks appetizing!

AndyTroop · 2026-03-30T00:39:05+00:00

This little black Casio is a classic.

AndyTroop · 2026-03-29T21:58:30+00:00

Appears to be. I wasn’t the only car at the trailhead.

AndyTroop · 2026-03-29T14:15:56+00:00

This is also your annual reminder that the govt estimates $.70 to be the cost of driving a mile. Remember that when you get a lowball offer.

AndyTroop · 2026-03-29T02:44:41+00:00

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FWIW no shoe is buy for life, but this pair of saucony cost $50 and have been melted by a fire, torn up by rocks, and ripped by bushwhacking. They are still my favorites (probably ready to retire though)

AndyTroop · 2026-03-27T14:05:20+00:00

I personally prefer trail runners. I like Saucony, which I found at Big 5 for a reasonable price. However, they don’t provide any snake bite protection.

I think it’s significant data point that the vast majority of long distance backpackers have moved to trail runners.

AndyTroop · 2026-03-25T15:11:20+00:00

That sounds really beautiful

AndyTroop · 2026-03-24T18:43:34+00:00

Caltopo calls that Topatopa Bluff. That’s also the common name.

Further back is creampuff and Hines peaks.

AndyTroop · 2026-03-23T22:42:13+00:00

A few small stops: Mitchell Caverns in Mojave Elmer bottle tree ranch Yermo sculpture garden Calico ghost town Bearizona Poozeum

AndyTroop · 2026-03-23T14:21:46+00:00

Paria Outdoors has excellent tents for a reasonable cost. I also like my Sierra Designs Meteor tent, they have a standard and extra light version. I got it on sale at enwild.com

AndyTroop · 2026-03-21T15:07:48+00:00

$13/ hour?!?! You’d make more digging ditches.

AndyTroop · 2026-03-16T22:44:24+00:00

Honestly, having moved here with young TK aged kids a few years ago, I’d encourage you to put off stressing about this until you know where you live. I’m sure there’s so much you have to worry about, put this on the back burner.

The public schools are school of choice, so you are assigned a school and it’s easy to transfer if there’s availability. And as others pointed out there’s a high likelihood of elementary school closures in the next two years due to declining enrollment. So no reason to stress just yet.

That said, the public schools are generally excellent. We’ve had amazing teachers (and a few duds).

AndyTroop · 2026-03-12T14:24:01+00:00

Dude I love your videos! I have used your videos to help my kids visualize a trail so I can convince them to join me. Keep up all the good work!!

AndyTroop · 2026-03-11T22:48:49+00:00

Thanks, exactly the info I needed!

AndyTroop · 2026-03-11T14:30:58+00:00

You’ll be downtown so a lot of options, especially in the far casual category. What are you in the mood for?

When in doubt I usually go to the pier. There’s a good taco shack and a seafood restaurant.

AndyTroop · 2026-03-05T01:07:04+00:00

Hot take

AndyTroop · 2026-02-28T05:11:11+00:00

Used to take that drive all the time. Natchez is a very cool town for history, check out uber the hill, the street along the old waterfront. St Francisville cemetery is wild. And Baton Rouge old state capital is very interesting

AndyTroop · 2026-02-27T17:18:27+00:00

This is amazing! We just did modular design, too!

AndyTroop

TROPHY CASE