Three Escapades to Inspire Your Next One
Here’s what we’ve been up to in the last couple of weeks, which also serves as a reminder that the owners of KETL are actually outside getting after it, having fun, and not some suit-wearing private equity bozos.
El Niño Magic at Jalama Beach
Despite being a 10+ year Ventura resident, I've somehow never made it out to Jalama, not only for the epic surf and rich history, but for the world famous burgers.
To be honest, I'd heard mixed things about this campsite. Despite its beauty and desolation, it's notoriously exposed: icy, gale force winds that whip daily, blown out surf, sharky vibes, and all-around ruggedness were all cause for low expectations, but we couldn't have been more wrong.
With the gods bestowing a Super El Niño upon us, we absolutely scored likely the best weather event to strike Jalama in a decade. Day after day of 85 degree sun, a light offshore breeze, and 70+ degree water temps, unheard of north of Point Conception in October. Surfing in nothing but the Alpine Dips has never felt so good.
Rolling deep with a big crew, we were fortunate enough to score the beachfront group site. Endless hours of beach volleyball, surf, a few adult beverages, and a Survivor-style team competition were the icing on the cake for what ended up as my favorite camping trip of the year.
It truly is a fantastic reminder that you can fly all over the world searching for epic experiences, but quite often, it's the overlooked nooks and crannies right in your own backyard that hold some of life's greatest treasures.
It's unlikely I'll ever top this Jalama trip in the future, but lord knows I'll be coming back each year to chase that El Niño trip back in '26.
- David Clark
Rediscovering Kings Canyon
Since moving back to Southern California from Colorado, the Sierras have become the center of my fascination with trying to get deep into the backcountry. Growing up, this rugged mountain range was merely a few hours away, yet I made so little time to explore what is effectively in my backyard, too captivated by the sheer size and foreignness of the Colorado Rockies.
Now back, based in the blistering summer heat of SoCal, Kings Canyon has become my go-to escape, a little haven of a valley tucked away in the mid-Sierras. Often overlooked with the iconic Yosemite Valley and Giant Sequoias bordering its north and south, Kings feels like a forgotten wonder, cramming many of my favorite Sierra highlights into one incredible valley, seemingly devoid of the crowds and chaos I find so off-putting.
Just a few weeks ago, my good friend and I made our final trip of the 2026 season. With world-class granite bouldering , endless backcountry hikes, and sitting by the river just watching the world go by, Kings has me well and truly hooked. The gate may be closing for the winter here shortly, but I’m already dreaming and scheming for next Kings season.
- Tydeman Newman
Shooting Winter Gear Around Mount Hood
Another KETL media trip in the books! This time, Jake, David, Jeff, Dom, and I headed up to Oregon to shoot a bunch of our winter gear around Mount Hood. We had a packed schedule and got a ton of great content while exploring some pretty awesome spots in the mountains. We even crossed paths with someone hiking the PCT wearing a Nofry Sun Hoodie :)
It's always a good time getting the crew together outside of the usual day-to-day routine. Long days shooting, plenty of laughs, and just hanging out with everyone makes these trips something I always look forward to.
And of course, you can't beat spending time in the PNW. Grabbing burgers and beers at the local dive bars and breweries after a long day in the mountains is always the cherry on top of a hard day's work. Good people, good times, and another fun trip in the books!
- Michael Bartovsky
