Reggae on the Mountain is here, and this year’s festival is going to be hot—in every sense of the word! Temperatures are expected to be in the 90s this weekend. The lineup for the July 25 event includes Bamaata, Chalice, DJ Proper, Don Carlos, Irie Nature, Kat Hall, Marlon Asher, and Protoje. The weather is expected to be in the 90s. See you on the mountain! https://www.reggaeonthemountain.com. Cover Art & Design by Urs Baur; inspired by Deya Reece
The news cycle has been dominated this month with the Trump Administration’s assault on environmental protections, including the attempt to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act and strip protections from Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah.
It’s easy to let the magnitude of the losses on the national level drown out everything else, but at the state and local level there is still good news. Right here in our own backyard, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area grew a tiny bit. The MRCA—Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority—acquired 6.9 acres of undeveloped land in Old Topanga Canyon. That may not seem like much, especially when so much is being lost, but the SMMNRA is made up almost entirely of small pieces, and this is an important one that will permanently protect another part of the Topanga watershed, provide connectivity for wildlife, and an important corner of the beautiful, lush mountain landscape that makes Topanga unlike any other community in the Los Angeles area.
And those big losses, the ones on the national stage? Conservationists are fighting back in court, armed with case law and lawyers.
Both actions have already generated legal challenges. Just because the current president announces he’s changing the law doesn’t mean he has the authority to do so. The judicial branch, not the executive, remains the final arbiter of what is legal, and many of the most controversial decisions are being overturned in court.
There is more good news on the environmental front in the local mountains: Temescal Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades reopened last week, a year and a half after the devastating Palisades Fire. It’s another milestone in the recovery process.
Temescal Gateway Park is small—just 141 acres—but it provides access to trailheads that connect to Temescal Ridge Trail in Topanga State Park, and Rivas Canyon Trail, in Will Rogers State Historic Park, and from those trails, to many others in the 20,000-acre “Big Wild.” The MRCA, which manages the park for the state, cautions that the trails may look different, and that there is now much less shade. Trail users are asked to check the forecast, dress for the weather, and stay hydrated.
That’s good advice for everyone in the Santa Monica Mountains, because hot, humid weather continues to be in the forecast. The most recent blast of tropical air was courtesy of tropical storm Elida. Before diminishing into a post-tropical depression, this system brought a wave of heat and humidity to California, generated big surf and dangerous rip currents at the coast.
Hot on Elida’s heels is Fausto, the sixth named system of the season and the strongest to date. This system is also expected to bring heat, humidity, big surf, and dangerous ocean conditions to the California coast.
Hurricane season in the eastern Pacific is being supercharged this year by an unusually strong El Niño (we have more on that in our Discover section). We’re already up to “F” and it’s only July. The high humidity these systems bring can increase the risk of heat illness, by making it harder to cool down and regulate body temperature. Heat illness is potentially deadly, and it can affect anyone, no matter how fit. Heat stroke can sneak up on the victim, who may not realize they are in trouble until it’s too late. Dogs are also susceptible to heat stroke. Sadly, every year there are heat-related pet deaths on local trails.
Getting an early morning start can help lower the risk of heat stroke, but that early morning cool air in Topanga can quickly turn into 100-degree-plus heat, especially as one moves away from the coastal slope. Sometimes the best option is to postpone that big hike or outdoor project until the weather cools off.
Many beach parking lots reached capacity last weekend, as Angelenos sought relief from the relentless heat. This weekend is the Reggae on the Mountain Festival, a favorite summer tradition for Topangans and visitors. The special event, combined with beach traffic, will likely generate more traffic than usual on canyon roads this weekend. Whatever the destination, don’t forget to bring some extra patience along with the water and sunscreen.
Stay safe, be well.
