-
Join 920 other subscribers
-
“He may be just a tramp, a guy that likes to roam about this great country without any special aim, just to thank the Lord for these beautiful mountains.”
-B. Traven, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
-
“. . .here, where there are still the silences and the loneliness of the earth before man, . . .”
Search Jack’s Blog
Recently Read
- Eating Poison Oak
- Contact
- Native American Trout Gutter
- The Ice Can Stove: A Brief History
- The Origin of the Name "California" and the Island Myth
- Salmon Choking the Santa Ynez (1896)
- Stumbling Upon Chumash Rock Art
- The Case For Renaming Los Padres National Forest
- Sulfur Mountain Oil Seeps, Ventura County
- Lost Valley, Hurricane Deck, Potrero Cyn 20 Mile Day Hike
Photos from the blog
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
-
Latest Dispatches
- Native American Trout Gutter
- The Elusive and Fleeting Fire Poppy
- Return To Scene Of Lion Standoff
- Los Padres Forest Association Backs Forest Closure
- Mountain Lion Standoff, Santa Ynez Mountains
- Forest Service Welcomes Hikers To Falling Trees, Flash Floods and Debris Flows
- Firefighters Save the Old Oak, San Marcos Preserve
- Wild Iris Bloom, Santa Ynez Mountains
- Claw Marks In the Tiny Tank
- Hiking Is Not A Crime; Done Dirty By Diktat
- Hiking Is Not A Crime; Hiker’s PreCheck Forest Entry Pass
- County Dumps Debris In Sensitive Habitat Off-Limits To Recreational Spearfishermen
- Hiking Is Not A Crime; Bull Moose and Titmouse
- Hiking is Not A Crime, Let Forest Be Thy Medicine
- Bald Eagle, Gaviota Coast
Clint Elliott in Costa Rica
Archives
- May 2023 (2)
- March 2023 (2)
- February 2023 (11)
- January 2023 (2)
- November 2022 (4)
- June 2022 (1)
- May 2022 (1)
- February 2021 (1)
- January 2021 (4)
- September 2020 (3)
- August 2020 (1)
- July 2020 (3)
- June 2020 (4)
- May 2020 (2)
- April 2020 (7)
- March 2020 (2)
- February 2020 (1)
- December 2019 (1)
- November 2019 (2)
- August 2019 (1)
- July 2019 (1)
- June 2019 (6)
- May 2019 (1)
- April 2019 (2)
- March 2019 (3)
- February 2019 (2)
- January 2019 (1)
- December 2018 (1)
- November 2018 (1)
- June 2018 (1)
- January 2018 (1)
- December 2017 (1)
- November 2017 (1)
- September 2017 (1)
- August 2017 (1)
- July 2017 (2)
- May 2017 (1)
- March 2017 (4)
- February 2017 (1)
- January 2017 (1)
- December 2016 (2)
- October 2016 (3)
- August 2016 (2)
- July 2016 (3)
- May 2016 (2)
- April 2016 (2)
- March 2016 (1)
- February 2016 (1)
- January 2016 (3)
- December 2015 (2)
- November 2015 (4)
- October 2015 (1)
- September 2015 (1)
- August 2015 (1)
- July 2015 (1)
- June 2015 (4)
- April 2015 (1)
- March 2015 (2)
- February 2015 (3)
- January 2015 (1)
- December 2014 (4)
- October 2014 (1)
- September 2014 (2)
- August 2014 (7)
- July 2014 (4)
- June 2014 (1)
- May 2014 (1)
- April 2014 (10)
- March 2014 (2)
- February 2014 (2)
- January 2014 (6)
- December 2013 (6)
- November 2013 (3)
- October 2013 (4)
- September 2013 (3)
- August 2013 (6)
- July 2013 (7)
- June 2013 (4)
- May 2013 (2)
- April 2013 (6)
- March 2013 (8)
- February 2013 (7)
- January 2013 (7)
- December 2012 (7)
- November 2012 (6)
- October 2012 (6)
- September 2012 (6)
- August 2012 (12)
- July 2012 (11)
- June 2012 (9)
- May 2012 (9)
- April 2012 (9)
- March 2012 (14)
- February 2012 (20)
- January 2012 (15)
- December 2011 (11)
- November 2011 (9)
- October 2011 (12)
- September 2011 (18)
- August 2011 (18)
- July 2011 (16)
- June 2011 (11)
- May 2011 (10)
- April 2011 (7)
- March 2011 (12)
- February 2011 (6)
- January 2011 (9)
- December 2010 (3)
- November 2010 (8)
- October 2010 (23)
- March 2010 (1)
- April 2009 (1)
Browse By Topic
Waterfalls
Caves and Rocks
Sunsets, Sunrise and Moons
Fishing
Surfing
History
Jack's Photos
Lunar Phase
Current Temperature
Current Weather Radar
Coastal Forecast
Monthly Archives: June 2019
The Mood Altering Stream Orchid
A stream orchid (Epipactis gigantea) growing near the Santa Ynez River in late May of 2019. Stream orchids grow where constant water is found at seeps, springs and perennial streams. The plant is known for its mood altering and sedative … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
|
Tagged Adventure, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Hiking (2), iPhoneography, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Santa Barbara, wildflowers, Wildlife
|
4 Comments
US Coast Survey Patterson Camp Inscription Vandalism (1873)
Inside a cave in the Santa Ynez Mountains on the Gaviota Coast somebody carved an inscription memorializing the United States Coast Survey of 1873. The name is apparently in reference to Carlile P. Patterson, the Hydrographic Inspector for the USCS … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
|
Tagged Adventure, Caves, Gaviota Coast, Hiking, Hiking (2), History, Los Padres National Forest, Outdoors, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Mountains, Travel
|
3 Comments
A Rocky Killdeer Nest
Santa Ynez River Long days on the river. Six. Seven. Eight hour sessions. The sun. The wind. The sweet mineral scent of the cool emerald water. Jet airliners soar over the Santa Ynez Mountains trackless and silent through the depthless … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
|
Tagged Adventure, backcountry, Hiking, Hiking (2), Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Outdoors, Pics, Santa Ynez Mountains, Wilderness, Wildlife
|
13 Comments
The Clattering Seep at Lizard’s Mouth
Apologies offered for the vertical video syndrome. You’ve heard of the babbling brook. Everybody’s written about it. Well, meet here the clattering seep. I’m fascinated by small things in nature other people are oblivious to and even when clued into … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
|
Tagged Adventure, Hiking, Hiking (2), Lizard's Mouth, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Outdoors, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Mountains, Wilderness
|
6 Comments
Thoughts on Rare Lily Ojai Fritillaria and Indian Fire
Earlier this year in March, out scampering around in the Los Padres National Forest, I stumbled across a rather impressive stand of a rare wildflower, Fritillaria ojaiensis or the Ojai Fritillaria lily. I had previously noted this Seldom Seen Slim … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
|
Tagged Adventure, Backpacking, Hiking, Hiking (2), iPhoneography, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Santa Ynez Mountains, Wilderness, wildflowers, Wildlife
|
16 Comments
Jack Elliott's Santa Barbara Adventure 