Author Archives: Jack Elliott

Fossil Falls, A Glacial Relic of the Pleistocene

David Stillman scrambling up familiar territory, through the gullet of Fossil Falls and over the slick, water polished basalt. Standing in the arid Owens Valley of California, beside an ancient dry riverbed that can barely be discerned amid cragged lava … Continue reading →

Posted in Inyo County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sespe Hot Springs From Piedra Blanca

Fossilized oak leaf found along the Sespe Trail. Note the veins and serrated edges. A Late, Hot Start I didn’t start walking from Piedra Blanca Trailhead until a few ticks before ten in the morning, at least four hours later … Continue reading →

Posted in Ventura County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Western Fence Lizard (blue-belly)

A blue-belly lizard on a fallen log atop Pine Mountain in the Sespe Wilderness. Blue-belly lizards always interested me as a boy. Sort of like a cat attracted to movement, they naturally captured my attention when they scurried around on … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

SPAM, Backcountry Delicacy Par Excellence

“. . . the mouthwatering taste of SPAM® Classic seasoned with black pepper. It’s a delicious dream come true.” In a previous entry I dubbed the Santa Barbara County original, Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, “a nutritionist’s nightmare, a glutton’s godsend.” Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ventura County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Rain Beetle

A drop of rainwater suspended in a spider web stuck to the underside of a boulder. Prior to the recent few downpours last month in late February and early this March, it hadn’t rained in a long time. Just a … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments