Mather's Outdoor Life

One Moment Can Change Your Life

In the fall of 2013, days before a government shutdown, I visited my first National Park: Yosemite. I hadn’t camped in years, if you...

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The Mountains Are Calling and I Must Not Go

Happy May Day, 2020—from inside! Today is Day 43 of California’s quarantine. Six weeks of the same apartments, homes, streets, and...

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A Walk In Your Neighborhood Is Worth A Hike In The Woods—COVID-19 EDITION

A slow stroll down the block is probably what we all need right now.

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6 Reasons To Go Backpacking In Joshua Tree National Park This Winter

Backpacking in Joshua Tree is an experience unlike any other. If you’re looking to escape the hustle, load up your pack and hit the trail.

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One Person Can Make The Difference: The Story of William Gladstone Steel & Crater Lake National Park

Our agency is greater than we’ve been led to believe. While we expect our leaders to do right and take charge, we each have the ability...

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Wildflower Blooms & You: How-To Not Ruin It For Everyone

Southern California's deserts are going to see a helluva bloom this year thanks to the rainiest February in decades. Downtown Los Angeles...

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The Government Shutdown Proved It: We Must Double America’s Wild Places

National Parks are an American idea—our best, in fact—and places like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite are as American as apple...

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Theodore Roosevelt Wouldn't Have Okayed Shooting Cubs & Pups In Their Dens

The deadline for public comments is Sept 6. Follow the link below. Remember this? News broke last May that the Department of the Interior...

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Every Adult Should Become a Junior Ranger

Explore, Learn, and Protect! It's not just for little ones. Just in case you didn’t know, becoming a Junior Ranger is an activity for...

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Why Rim Trails Are Secretly The Best

Also river walks, meadow trails, or any easy hike that connects places connected by road. Walking on often-paved trails that have no...

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