Los Padres National Forest
Coverage of Los Padres National Forest in the Nexus archive.
- The famed Esalen Institute is being evacuated as Big Sur's Timber Fire expands to 1,700 acres
The famed Esalen Institute is evacuating due to the expanding Timber Fire, which has grown to over 1,700 acres and was 5% contained as of Monday evening. The blaze is burning through the steep terrain in the Los Padres National Forest, disrupting Highway 1 along California's Big Sur coastline.
- Cause of death revealed for Big Sur hiker whose body was found naked on remote California trail
Joanna Ruth Shields, 37, was found dead near Sykes Hot Springs in Big Sur, California, with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office ruling her death natural due to complications from alcohol withdrawal. Initial suspicions of foul play were dismissed after an autopsy confirmed no criminal activity, with evidence pointing to chronic alcohol use disorder and a history of mental health struggles.
- California hiker's body found naked in Big Sur backcountry
A 37-year-old woman, Joanna Ruth Shields, was found dead and naked in the Los Padres National Forest near Big Sur with severe injuries, including a head wound and neck cuts. Authorities are investigating her death as suspicious, with witnesses reporting a man who claimed to be her friend appeared nervous and described finding her face down in water. An autopsy is pending toxicology results.