Monthly Archives: December 2014

Fight With a Condor: Experience of a Forest Ranger in Santa Barbara County (1902)

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Jack Elliott

Although the forest ranger mentioned in the newspaper article below is Joseph Montgomery, I wonder if it may actually have been a brief about Josiah T. Montgomery, for whom Montgomery Potrero atop the Sierra Madre Mountains is named. I do … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged Condors, History, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Newspapers, Santa Barbara, Sisquoc, Vultures, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Piedra Blanca Creek West, Descent From Pine Mountain Lodge Camp

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Jack Elliott

A smidgeon of Piedra Blanca. “Civilization has a relatively precarious hold on us and there is an undoubted attraction in a life of absolute freedom once it has been tasted. The ‘call o’ the wild’ is in the blood of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ventura County | Tagged Backpacking, Bears, Camping, Creeks, Hiking, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Piedra Blanca Creek, Pine Mountain, Sespe Wilderness, Wildlife | 6 Comments

Hericium Hunt: Days Late and Feet Short

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Jack Elliott

A hericium or “Lion’s Mane” mushroom growing on an oak tree, circled in red. With the first rain of the season some weeks ago the countdown had begun until the opening harvest of mushroom season. One week passed. It may … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged Foraging, Fungus, Hericium, Hiking, Lion's Mane, Los Padres National Forest, Mushrooms, Santa Ynez Mountains, Wild Edibles, Wildcrafting | 2 Comments

Chumash Indian Mortars and the Puzzle of the Midden

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Jack Elliott

We had set out to go spearfishing, but a south wind and a west swell combined to ruin conditions. We drove up the mountain from the beach and hiked down into the canyon, the creek within which drains into the … Continue reading →