California

Colin Atagi

A combination of heavy rain and off-road vehicles was blamed for the first mudslide to occur in at least 14 years on a Cathedral City road.

Sand and dirt that loosened over time by off-road vehicles smothered Varner Road Tuesday as .38 inch of rain fell in the desert, Cathedral City Public Works Manager Pat Milos said Wednesday.

Kyle Magin

U.S. Forest Service officials at the Tahoe National Forest recently released an extensive study of its 2,400 miles of authorized roads for public use.

The Motorized Travel Management plan maps the complex systems of roads in the national forest that allow visitors access to 83 percent of the forest within one half mile of a road. The plan, nearly seven years in the making, provides an exhaustive list of the forest's roads and motorized uses allowed on those roads.

Jessica Kwong

Vandals have struck the city's gem, Golden Gate Park, yet again, this time leaving one of three damaged golf course holes "destroyed beyond all recognition."

At least one four-wheeled vehicle ran over and severely damaged holes six, seven and eight the night of Sept. 30. The same holes were hit again on Monday night, said Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the Recreation and Park Department. The damage was so severe that "it looked like they literally set off a bomb," said the course's gardener, Joe Faulkner.

Tomoya Shimura

VICTORVILLE - An ATV rider was sentenced to seven years in prison for running over a Hesperia man outside of the victim’s residence.

James Allen Bogdan, 29, of Hesperia pleaded guilty to assault with a motor vehicle causing great bodily injury. Bogdan received additional two years in prison because of his prior strike. He had been convicted of firstdegree burglary in 2000 in San Bernardino County. He was sentenced Friday at Victorville Superior Court.

Debbie Council

When the former physical education teacher and secretary retired, she said she decided it was time to become more active and see the world. So she went to Tanzania and climbed the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.

At 66, she reached the summit of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, at 14,495 feet. She also spent 25 days trekking around Annapurna Mountain in Nepal and conquered the 15,000-foot Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Dave Nordstrand

Settled in her saddle, Michele Hoover scans the horizon. There's not a building in view.

Hoover sees coyotes, though, and bobcats, rabbits, snakes, lizards and deer.

Kevin Freking

The agency charged with monitoring off-road racing on federal lands is promising to increase staffing and crack down on violations of racing permits.

Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein of California asked the Bureau of Land Management to respond to several questions they had after an accident in August killed eight people and injured 10 in the state's Movaje Desert.

If you are a cyclist, runner, dog walker, bird watcher, picnicker or kayaker who lives within proximity of the American River, there is an easy answer to the question: What is the best thing about living in Sacramento County?

For many outdoor enthusiasts, the American River Parkway is their pride and joy and a big reason they were attracted to Sacramento in the first place. Where else can you find a river parkway that stretches 23 miles through multiple growing communities and offers such an expanse of recreation and natural beauty?

Pat Brennan

Fire danger is now “very high” in the Cleveland National Forest, U.S. Forest Service officials said Thursday, imposing campfire, smoking and off-highway vehicle restrictions to reduce wildfire risk.

“The live fuel moisture is coming down,” said Keith Fletcher, district ranger for the Trabuco district, the part of Cleveland nearest Orange County. “It’s getting to the point where we identify it as critical.”