Sierra Mountain Passes

Selective color photographic artwork of an old truck parked in front of abandoned cabins with grass growing through the grill on a stormy day.

Here's where I admit I've been working on this piece off-and-on for years. But with the SCAA Fearlessly Independent show coming up fast, I had to get 'er done. So here it is—Abandoned Homestead.

#ValWestonNM #PhotographicArt #SilverCityArtist #VisitSilverCity #SilverCityArtAssociation

On the left is a map of California with earthquakes shown as red dots of different sizes to indicate different magnitude. On the right as a bar graph showing the number of earthquakes of different magnitudes. At the bottom is text describing the images.

Between November 3 (12:00 AM PST) and November 9 (11:59 PM) there were 50 earthquakes in California of magnitude 2.0 or larger.

🔸45 quakes between magnitude 2.0 - 2.9
🔸5 quakes between magnitude 3.0 - 3.9

The largest earthquake was a magnitude 3.8 near San Ramon, CA.

On January 1, 2001, the South Yuba River officially became designated Wild & Scenic under California law. That moment didn’t just protect a river; it honored a movement.
READ MORE HERE: buff.ly/J52FqZq

Results from Nevada Day 2025 Best Beard competition Here are the results of the Nevada Day 2025 Beard contest from Saturday. Carson City was declared the "Most Bearded Community" with 32 representatives standing up on behalf of the capital city. Second place went to Lyon County with 12 bearded men representing, third place was Washoe County with 8 beards, Douglas County with 4 beards and Storey County with 1 bearded.

Among the noteworthy results, Carson City was declared the "Most Bearded Community" with 32 representatives standing up on behalf of the capital city.

Here’s more Nevada Day reader submitted photos Here are reader submitted photos from Nevada Day taken by Carson Now readers. Scroll through each gallery and click for full size. The first three below and the top photo are from Chris Dickerson. Carson Now Reader Gary Gundlach submitted these photos below, writing: "The view of the Nevada Day balloon launch from the Prison Hill area. Carson Now reader Natalie Feddema submitted these photos, writing that she's "grateful for this community."

Here’s more Nevada Day reader submitted photos

Here are reader submitted photos from Nevada Day taken by Carson Now readers. Scroll through each gallery and click for full size. The first three below and the top photo are from Chris Dickerson. Carson Now Reader Gary Gundlach submitted these photos…

Every year, we house upwards of 100 special guests from out-of-town, which simply wouldn’t be possible without the hospitality of this community. This is a unique opportunity to spend time with Wild & Scenic Film Festival guests, and a great way to earn some free access to sessions!
buff.ly/yAFg0SF

Excavators tearing down a building with a sign saying “coming soon: more nature, along with the California Tahoe Conservancy logo and text saying “October 2025 Conservancy Newsletter.”

The Conservancy's October 2025 Newsletter is now available online. This month: new videos about the now-complete Motel 6 demolition, using innovative policies and technology to speed up wildfire resilience, protecting Tahoe Yellow Cress, and more. tahoe.ca.gov/october-2025...

Stay informed with real-time fire information at your fingertips. 🔥🔥 fire.ca.gov is your source for information about fire activity across California—including interactive 3-D maps, Red Flag… Navigating fire.ca.gov

Stay informed with real-time fire information at your fingertips. 🔥

fire.ca.gov is your source for information about fire activity across California—including interactive 3-D maps, Red Flag Warnings, and key incident details.

📹: youtu.be/13FRv6W6TxY?...

#CALFIRE #FireActivity #Resources

Close up of katydid peering out from the inside of an orange Gerbera Daisy.

Happy Saturday, #BlueskyArtShow!

Here's a katydid hiding #Inside a Gerbera Daisy.

📸 Suwanee, Georgia (2011)

🤩 And some more about the joy of exploring the intricate details of our world.
🔗 valinreallife.com/postcards-fr...

CAL FIRE graphic shows spooky house and share safety tips.

Spooky season is here, but fire safety is no trick. 🎃

While decorating for Halloween, remember to:
🕸 Keep exits clear
🕯 Keep décor away from candles, heaters, and lights
🚨 Double-check your smoke alarms

A safe home is the best treat of all.
#CALFIRE #HalloweenSafety #FireSmart #SpookySeason

Geologic map of California

Happy Geologic Map Day! The @cageosurvey.bsky.social
produces geologic maps at various scales & derivative maps showing important aspects of geologic hazards or resources. #EarthScienceWeek

CAL FIRE is proud to serve and educate every community we call home—and we love meeting the smallest members of those communities, too. ❤

Have a positive memory of connecting with CAL FIRE? Share it in the comments! 🔥

#CommunityStrong #CALFIRE #California

Fire shelters are a firefighter’s last line of defense on the wildfire frontlines. While the shelters are required protective gear, actual deployments are rare.

#CALFIRE #FireShelter #WildlandFirefighting #Gear #Tools

Check out some of the amazing work our friends and collaborators in the Fire Science Exchange Network are doing! The StoryMap "A Year of Collaboration: The Fire Science Exchange Network" can be found here ow.ly/l1Qh50X75m5

Graphic showing a Sonora Pass (CA 108) mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

Graphic showing a Tioga Pass (CA 120) mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

Like really, all of them.

🔗 sierramountainpasses.com/shop/

Graphic showing an Echo Summit (US 50) mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

Graphic showing a Luther Pass (CA 89) mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

Graphic showing a Monitor Pass (CA 89) mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

Graphic showing a Mount Rose Summit (NV 431) mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

Seriously, they're available in all 10 exclusive pass badge designs.

🔗 sierramountainpasses.com/shop/

Graphic showing a Carson Pass (CA 88) mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

Graphic showing a Daggett Pass (NV 207)) mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

Graphic showing a Donner Pass mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

Graphic showing a Ebbetts Pass (CA 4) mug and coaster set available in the SierraMountainPasses.com store.

🤯 It's October already?!?

☕️ Time to stock up on our exclusive mugs for your hot autumn beverages and coasters to match. Shop today!

🔗 sierramountainpasses.com/shop/

Carson City Parks and Recreation thanks volunteers for clean up help; next scheduled for October 11, sign up today Thank you to the 18 (some not pictured) volunteers who helped out at our National Public Lands Day clean-up! Volunteers helped to clean up over 10 large bags full of trash from the Sand Canyon area. Want to help out at the next volunteer clean-up? Join us on Saturday October 11th for a trash clean-up at Voltaire Canyon! Use the link here for more information and registration. For additional questions, email volunteer@carson.org for more information.

During National Public Lands Day clean-up, 18 volunteers showed up for the high desert! Volunteers are still needed for the October 11 clean up, sign up today!

Map showing the Rip Current Risk, today (October 2) across the southeast and eastern U.S. The map shows Moderate to High Risk of rip currents from Florida to Maine.

Rip Currents: Know Your Options. Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer away from shore. If at all possible, swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current: 1) Relax, rip currents don't pull you under. 2) Don't swim against the current. 3) Swim out of the current, then to shore. 4) If you can't escape, float or tread water. 5) If you need help, yell or wave for assistance. The image shows a rip current as a narrow flow of water moving in a line directly away from the beach, with waves on either side moving in the opposite direction towards the beach. Arrows point away from either side of the current and into the waves, parallel to the beach, indicating the path of escape from the rip current.

Heading out to the beach today? ⛱️

Use extra caution given the Moderate to High rip current risk from Florida to Maine today (October 2). Try to find a beach with lifeguards - and when in doubt, don't go out!
weather.gov/safety

The U.S. government is taking on an ownership stake in the developer of Nevada’s Thacker Pass lithium mine.

Why would the government do this, what’s the precedent and what concerns do experts have?

Read about it here: thenevadaindependent.com/article/how-...

View of curvy road flanked by rugged hills with the side of a motorcycle rider in view and another rider ahead on the road.

Happy Saturday, #BlueskyArtShow!

When you ask a motorcyclist about #TheRoad, it gets us pretty excited about gorgeous twisties. 😁

📸 Monitor Pass aka CA 89, California (2020)

The Axle Contemporary truck parked in Silver City's Main Street Plaza during the 2024 Southwest Print Fiesta.

The story of the E Pluribus Unum: Mogollon project by Axle Contemporary displayed on a museum wall.

A section of the Silver City portraits in the E Pluribus Unum: Mogollon exhibit at New Mexico State University.

Val Weston and J. Brandon posing by their portraits in the E Pluribus Unum: Mogollon exhibit at New Mexico State University.

From the softer side of Val, some thoughts on the E Pluribus Unum: Mogollon project. The exhibit truly did stop me in my tracks, friends.

📖 Have a read on the blog
🔗 valinreallife.com/e-pluribus-u...

#ValinRealLife #ThisWasNotInTheBrochure #AxleContemporary #EPluribusUnumMogollon #PortraitArt

CAL FIRE paramedics in action

CAL FIRE is now accepting applications for the Firefighter II (Paramedic) examination year-round! 🚨
Bring your paramedic license to the frontlines—no firefighting experience required.

➡ Apply today: JoinCALFIRE.com
#Paramedics #Firefighters

Man who crashed drone into Super Scooper during Palisades fire gets 14 days in prison, home detention As part of his plea agreement, Peter Tripp Akemann agreed to pay full restitution to the government of Quebec, which supplied the plane, and an aircraft repair company that handled the necessary fi…

🚫 During the Palisades Fire, a drone hit a firefighting aircraft—forcing it out of service when every second mattered.

🔗 www.dailynews.com/2025/09/15/s...

👋 Hi, friends!
💯We've talked with so many of you about what we've been working on and trying to accomplish with this project.
🎉The good news is that we're finally heading towards launch next month.
🔗https://southwestarttowns.com/
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#SouthwestArtTowns #SWArtTowns #ConnectionCommunityCollaboration

Full frame maple tree branches with glowing yellow and orange leaves and text that reads "Welcome Autumn"

Happy Autumn Equinox! I snagged this shot in Great Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park in 2012. As much as I love living out west I do miss being able to pop up to the Smokies for fall colors.

What's your favorite place to enjoy autumn leaves?

#ValWestonNM #AutumnEquinox #GreatSmokyMountainsNationalPark

Recent lightning, like the TCU Lightning Complex, shows how quickly fires can spread.

📦 Keep your go bag ready
📍 Know 2 ways out
📑 Review your family plan

Stay alert. Stay safe. ➡️ fire.ca.gov

#CALFIRE #Wildfire #CAwx

Build Your Own Disaster-Prep Kit In an emergency, the right gear ensures your comfort and safety, and can even save your life.

Preparing for an emergency doesn’t have to be intimidating.

This series of articles by the New York Times outlines key preparedness measures, including assembling a disaster supply kit, storing food and water, and evaluating backup power options.

📰 Read more here: www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/i...

The image shows a drone in the air along with a CAL FIRE aircraft. The copy reads: if you fly, we can't.

🚫✈️ Wildfires are no place for drones.
If you fly, firefighting aircraft can’t—putting lives and homes at risk. Flying over a wildfire zone is illegal. Keep drones grounded so crews can do their job. 🔥🚁

#IfYouFlyWeCant #CALFIRE #WildfireSafety

The Weekly Traffic Advisory for the week of September 15 is now live. Check it out here: dot.ca.gov/caltrans-nea...