– Doug McConnell

I am pleased to announce that the nomination period for the 2008 Rowell Award for the Art of Adventure is now open and runs through December 31, 2008.

Please see details in the following press release:

Media Contact:
Brian Thysell, Director
The Rowell Award
c/o The Yosemite Fund
155 Montgomery St., Suite 1104
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-434-1782, ext. 329
brian@rowellaward.com

THE ROWELL AWARD FOR THE ART OF ADVENTURE SEEKS
NOMINEES

San Francisco, CA – The Rowell Legacy Committee is currently accepting nominations for The Rowell Award for the Art of Adventure which will honor that adventurer whose artistic passion illuminates the wild places of the world, and whose accomplishments significantly benefit both the environment and the people who inhabit these lands and regions. Nominations will be accepted from now through December 31, 2008 and can be sent via email, fax or regular mail. The $15,000 annual cash award will be presented to an individual selected by a panel of active and influential members of the outdoor adventure world at the annual Rowell Lecture Series in spring 2009 at an event in San Francisco. This event is co-presented by The Yosemite Fund and the Commonwealth Club of California. For more information about the Rowell Award and to obtain a nomination form, please visit www.rowellaward.com.

In August 2002, famed adventurers, writers and photographers of wild places Galen and Barbara Rowell died tragically in a plane crash near their home in Bishop, California. The Rowell Legacy Committee was formed to commemorate the lives and preserve the spirit of the Rowells. Its hope is that Galen and Barbara’s work and the award will inspire in others the love of the human experience in the environment and the desire to protect the wild and special places on our planet. The Committee is excited to present this unique award to an individual who exemplifies the hallmarks of Galen and Barbara – adventure, art and giving back.

The Rowell Legacy Committee Honorary Chairs include: Conrad Anker, Tom Brokaw, Greg Mortenson, Rick Ridgeway and Erik Weihenmayer.

The Rowell Award Judging Panel includes: Conrad Anker, Richard Blum, Dick Dorworth, Frans Lanting, Doug McConnell, Chris McNamara, Duane Raleigh, Corey Rich, Nicole Rowell Ryan, and Steven Werner.

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You can view OpenRoad.TV’s story about the Rowells here: Eastern Sierra Memories

Photo by dwcrone
– Doug McConnell
An amazing piece of nature and history has been largely ignored for decades. Tucked away beneath the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, with spectacular views of San Francisco rising across the Bay, historic Fort Baker has been little-noticed by the millions of us who live nearby and cross the fabled bridge. All that is changing, for the better.

The historic structures of old Fort Baker have been beautifully restored and renovated and will open on July 1, 2008 as Cavallo Point: The Lodge at the Golden Gate. I’ve watched the project evolve from its conception to near completion. Cavallo Point will surely become a world-famous and world-class destination, and deservedly so.

Cavallo Point, the Bay Area’s first lodge in a national park, is located in the Marin Headlands, which is part of our magnificent Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We have stories here you can see on the GGNRA: Marin Headlands Natural Escape, San Francisco’s Historic Presidio, The Presidio of San Francisco.

The Lodge consists of 68 historic and 74 contemporary guest rooms, a fine restaurant and bar (we locals can enjoy,) a healing center and spa, event spaces and programs galore. Full disclosure, I’m leading a week of hiking, kayaking, biking and enjoying the natural environment of the GGNRA for Cavallo Point this August. I hope you join me, but most important, I hope you visit Cavallo Point and stay there if you have a chance. It’s not inexpensive, but it represents a bright future for an old Fort in one of the world’s most beautiful and least-visited urban settings.

To find out more, go to http://www.Cavallopoint.com/

WATCH OUR TWO VIDEOS ABOUT THE LOST COAST. CALIFORNIA’S LOST COAST DISCOVERED AND SHELTER COVE – LOST COAST’S ONLY TOWN.

Photo by davidharrison11
–Doug McConnell

It’s getting awfully hot inland. Time to head for the ocean.

Along the coast of central and northern California the choices of where to go are almost endless and they’re all terrific. Sometimes, however, amidst them all we tend to forget about San Francisco.

I love hiking around Land’s End as it straddles the Golden Gate with fabulous views of the Marin Headlands, and then turns to face the open Pacific and views of the Farallones, Seal Rock and the Cliff House. This whole area is being substantially spruced-up these days thanks to the exceptional work of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in association with the National Park Service. Take a walk, breath the fresh and cooler air and then grab a bite to eat at Louie’s or the Cliff House. You can sit, relax and soak up the views and wet your appetite for more. You can see the Cliff House & Louie’s in our Taxi Tour of San Francisco story.

Photo by glubsch

Photo courtesy of California State Parks

WATCH OUR GOLD COUNTRY ROAD TRIP VIDEO.

– Doug McConnell

Owens Valley photo by James Gordon

Watch our Highway 395 video.

Explore all of our Highway 395 and Eastern Sierra content on an interactive map.

– Carl Bidleman

Our good friend and master of aerial photography, Robert Campbell, has published a new book of stunning photos. When he brought Point Reyes and the San Andreas Fault Zone to the office a few weeks back, M’Gee and I got so absorbed with it that we spent an entire hour “ooohhhing” and aaahhhhing” over the stunning images. You can see many of them in this video conversation with Robert and Doug.

Click to play

Watch our video: Sacramento’s Crown Jewel.