Monthly Archives: November 2012

Pine Mountain from Piedra Blanca

An iPhone’s-eye view of a day hike I took this last Sunday up the Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail to Pine Mountain Lodge Camp. It’s about six miles to the top with some 3000 feet of elevation gain. Gene Marshall-Piedra … Continue reading

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Bending the Map in Bear Canyon (Sespe Wilderness)

Falls “Whenever you start looking at your map and saying something like ‘well, that lake could have dried up,’ or ‘ that boulder could have moved,’ a red light should go off. You’re trying to make reality conform to your … Continue reading

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Chumash Grinding Stone

I found this Indian grinding stone or metate yesterday afternoon while on a hike in the Santa Barbara backcountry.

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The Ice Can Stove: A Brief History

An uncommon version of an ice can stove fitted with a large chimney cap and a damper on the flue. In backcountry campsites scattered throughout the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties lie the rusty remains … Continue reading

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Lazy Day in the Hills: A Canyon Hike Called Off

View of the sunrise on my way up Figueroa Mountain and into Santa Barbara’s San Rafael Wilderness. I left the trailhead at 7 am, but was already back by 3 pm. Lack of sleep and fatigued combined with shriveled enthusiasm … Continue reading

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