Jesse enjoys playing racquetball and extreme mountain biking. Jesse takes his mountain bike to the Santa Ana Mountains and rides with the Warrior's Society. He has also taken rides on a Mammoth Mountain bike trail. This trail took him up to 9,000 feet elevation overlooking the beautiful Twin Lakes. We also had the pleasure of watching some of the world's best Trial Riders at the Mammoth Mountain Kamikaze Event.
While participating in the Warrior's Society Toad Festival riding event, Jesse contracted poison oak for about the 4th or 5th time. Although he took measures to protect himself, somehow the dust from the trail managed to get in unprotected places. He ended up with it in his eyes and a few other places. Bad news for Jesse. Take a look.
Jesse's brother, Chris Vargas, who is a member of The Warrior's Society, is working hard to promote the annual Pow Wow Ride in the Santa Ana Mountains. This event has been sponsored by some big names like Bike Magazine, Oakley, Sprocket Head, and Manitou. This annual ride, Vision Quest, encompasses approximately 56 miles with 11,500 feet of elevation. This yearly ride also has a medium course, Counting Coup, consisting of 36 miles with 8,000 feet of elevation. Sponsorship has been pouring in due to Chris' hard work. The great finishing times from past rides has also drawn attention to this exclusive event. These rides have attracted some of the best mountain bikers in the country, including pro riders.
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| Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance |
The Mountain Biker’s Training Bible |
Mountain Biking Magazine |
Bike Magazine |
Mountain Biker Hitch Cover |
Fishing
To Jesse's page of Trout Fishing Links
Trout Fishing
Jesse has been tube fishing the Sierra's fine lakes the past couple of years. Some of the lakes fished were Sotcher Lake, Starkweather Lake, Lake Mary, Lake George, and Twin Lakes. Catching his fair share of Trout this summer will yield all of us some wonderful smoked trout. If you have never tried smoked trout, you simply must. This is a mild fresh water fish that tastes as great smoked as it does breaded and pan fried.
Here are some interesting Trout sites we've scouted out for you to enjoy:
Trout Reflections
Trout Unlimited
Clearwater Trout Tours
Fishing the San Joaquin River
The Golden Trout
Jesse would like to know of any good local fishing, Southern CA. If you've had good luck, send Jesse an e-mail and let him know where you've been fishing and what you've been catching.
Open Ocean Kayak Fishing
Kayak fishing is Jesse's newest fun way to fish. He purchased a Malibu fishing kayak outfitted with a bait tank and everything else for a successful fishing trip. He has taken his kayak out to Dana Point, Newport Beach, and Cherry Beach, Long Beach. Fishing is done out in the open water after paddling out approx 2 miles outside the harbors. We've been able to enjoy some fresh fish he has caught, which includes Sand Bass and Calico Bass, and he has caught lots of other fish, which he let go because of size, some of which include Leopard Shark, Halibut, Sand Shark, and Sculpin. Every trip out is an epic adventure. You never know what each trip holds in store. One of Jesse's goals is to bring in a Yellowtail off his kayak.
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| Salt Water Sportsman Magazine |
Bassmaster Magazine |
Florida Sportsman Magazine |
Beehive Discovery & Removal - 10/9/2004
This Saturday as Jesse went out to feed the cockatiels in their outdoor aviary, he noticed quite a few bees buzzing around the aviary and some were buzzing around him trying to get rid of a perceived threat. The bee colony apparently found the cockatiel nesting box to be a good place to set up home. This was a true opportunity for all of us to see nature at work up close and personal.
We took a few pictures for our visitors to see. It turned out to be a pretty good view of a beehive in progress and all of the busy bees working the hive. Jesse, in all of his protective gear, was able to get the digital camera up to the nesting box opening to take the pictures.
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| The Backyard Beekeeper |
Mason Bee Nest Gift Pack |
Bee Culture |
Other Interests
Some of Jesse's other interests include boxing, basketball (Lakers and Clippers), and Lima Lama Martial Arts (trained by Paul Reyes). Jesse parted with his Birmingham Roller Pigeons in the summer of 1997 after breeding, training, and competing them since 1989. He was a member of The Pacific Coast Rollers of Orange County, California.