🌼 May Flowers & Final Turns: SoCal’s Two-Season Spring Guide 🌼

🌼 May Flowers & Final Turns: SoCal’s Two-Season Spring Guide 🌼

Forget the Super Bloom. Try a Super Mood.

Let’s be honest — this spring’s wildflowers didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet. But even a low-key bloom can still make for a high-quality outing. And that SoCal sunshine? Always VIP access.

If your soul’s craving open air and a pop of color, here are my go-to spots for a dose of nature’s confetti:

🌸 Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve – It’s not a full carpet, but you’ll still find clusters of California gold.

🌼 Chino Hills State Park – Rolling green hills, a sprinkle of yellows and purples, and trails with room to breathe.

🌺 Carlsbad Ranch Flower Fields – Open ‘til May 11, this one’s more cultivated, but it’s Insta-ready and dreamy.

🌾 Saddleback Butte State Park – Desert flowers and big skies. Quiet. Underrated.

🌊 Charmlee Wilderness Park – Coastal blooms and an ocean breeze? Yes, please.

📞 Pro tip: For the freshest wildflower scoop, call the Wildflower Hotline: (818) 768-1802 ext. 7 or visit theodorepayne.org.

Why I Always Hike with Binoculars (and You Should Too)

Call me old school. Call me a mountain nerd. But I never leave home without my trusty binocs. And lemme tell you why:

I was hiking near Icehouse Canyon last May. I’d stopped to breathe (read: catch my very winded breath) when I spotted something shimmer deep in the chaparral. Through the lenses? A family of bobcats — lounging like royalty on a rock outcrop, sunbathing in all their feline glory.

No way I’d have seen that with the naked eye. Since then, I’ve spotted a golden eagle mid-dive, the tiniest blooming lilies, and once — true story — someone’s dropped sunglasses from what had to be 50 feet off trail (yes, I returned them and yes, the guy was stoked).

🔭 Want a pair? Here are 3 solid picks:

• Nikon Monarch M7 10x42 – Pro level without pro pricing.

• Vortex Diamondback HD 8x32 – Built like a tank but light as a feather.

• Zeiss SFL 8×40 – Crystal-clear views in a compact design.

Mammoth Mountain: May Turns Are ON 🎿

While the wildflowers are winding down, Mammoth is still making magic up top. Spring skiing? Oh yeah. Here’s the real-time rundown from the mountain report:

🚠 Open Lifts:

• Broadway Express (1)

• Stump Alley Express (2)

• Facelift Express (3)

• Unbound Express (6)

• Gold Rush Express (10)

• Discovery Chair (11)

• Chair 23 (Advanced heaven)

• Panorama Gondola (Upper and Lower!)

⛷️ Open Trails:

• 85 out of 178 trails open

• 40 trails groomed and smooth as butter

🎿 Spring skiing means soft turns, t-shirts on the hill, and après in the sun. You’ve got a few weekends left to make those last tracks before the slush gods take over.

❄️ Heads-up: Chair 23 is still firing. I rode it last weekend and it felt like one giant party on snow.

Next Week: Summer Legs Loading

Coming up in next week’s edition:
☀️ “Ski Legs to Summer Quads” – My top SoCal trails to swap your ski boots for trail runners, plus exercises to stay slope-ready all summer.

Lesson of the Week

You don’t need a super bloom or fresh powder to get outside. Fresh air, good gear, and a curious eye? That’s all it takes.

🌼 “Even in a quiet season, nature still whispers beauty.”

Let’s Chat, Share & Shred

💬 Got a favorite wildflower trail or a pair of miracle-spotting binocs? Drop a comment or send a photo — I love seeing your finds.
📌 Save this for your spring weekends.
⭐ Star it for your last-minute ski plans.
📤 Or hit that share button — someone in your crew needs this.

Until next time…
🦅 Stay wild, ski smart, and keep those lenses clear.

Sasha & the Ski SoCal Insiders

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