Category Archives: Santa Barbara

Black Cottonwood Wildcraft

A dribble of resin oozing from the leaf bud of a black cottonwood tree (Populus trichocarpa) growing along the Santa Ynez River. Black cottonwood buds may hold the finest natural fragrance found in the Los Padres National Forest. The gooey … Continue reading

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Ranger Peak Trail

“There was no telling of the sun, save for the one cold, dim, and even light that lay on every corner of the land and made no shadow, and the silence was close by and all around . . .” … Continue reading

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San Marcos Foothills Rainbow

A rainbow over San Marcos Foothills Nature Preserve Tuesday afternoon. As of this writing, San Marcos Pass Station atop the Santa Ynez Mountains is reporting that 3.88 inches of rain have fallen in the last 48 hours. This marks the most … Continue reading

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Coldwater Camp, San Rafael Wilderness

Coldwater Camp lies in a meadow under a large oak tree along Lower Manzana Creek Trail, and is rimmed by hills. A detailed profile of the camp can be seen at Hike Los Padres – Coldwater Camp. The camp was presumably … Continue reading

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Potentially Deadly Assassin Bug In Los Padres Forest

Various triatomine bugs in all life stages. (Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Recent news reports echoing across the Internet tell of the so-called assassin bug having now been found in at least 28 states. Known also as the … Continue reading

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