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“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

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“. . .here, where there are still the silences and the loneliness of the earth before man, . . .”

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- The Privateer; Subcontractor, Dept. of Unauthorized Forestry
- About
- Eating Poison Oak
- The Ice Can Stove: A Brief History
- Fish Falls, Santa Ynez Mountains
- Indian Creek Waterfalls and Narrows
- The Day Hell Hit Santa Barbara; Third Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth
- Don Victor Valley and Pine Canyon
- Last California Grizzlies Seen In Santa Barbara National Forest? (1926)
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Latest Dispatches
- Raking the Forest: Anderson, Trump, Kuyper
- Initials of J.D. Reyes (1907)
- Last California Grizzlies Seen In Santa Barbara National Forest? (1926)
- Eccentric Artifact, San Marcos Foothills Preserve
- Fog Drip Morels
- Naming Santa Barbara’s Modoc Road
- Mark of Conquest; Benchmark and Mortar
- Hat Tip to the Selfless Samaritans In Service to Others
- The Intelligence of Coyote Tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata)
- The Journey of a Root (1907) and Plant Intelligence
- Santa Barbara County Morels
- Hollyleaf Cherries Golden Morph
- Barefoot Prints In Volcanic Ash, Hawaii (1790)
- Skinny-Dipper Detained, Cuffed and Cited at Montecito Hot Springs
- Red Horny Toad
Lunar Phase

Category Archives: Santa Barbara
Turkeys, Bobcats and the Caves of Castle Rock
Along lower Manzana Creek in the Santa Barbara backcountry, a rib of sandstone known to some as Castle Rock (Jack’s Map) juts into the air along the west end of the wind swept ridge officially dubbed Hurricane Deck. This is … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara County
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Tagged Adventure, Animals, backcountry, Birds, Bobcats, Caves, Hikes, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Photos, Pics, San Rafael Wilderness, Turkeys, Wilderness, Wildlife, Writing
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11 Comments
Gaviota Peak
I hiked up to Gaviota Peak (Jack’s Map) and back via a circuit route, as noted above by the red dots. I began in Gaviota State Park and, following the Gaviota Peak fire road, entered into the Los Padres National … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara County
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Tagged Adventure, Animals, Caves, Gaviota Peak, Hikes, Hiking, Hiking (2), Landscape, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Ocean, Photos, Pics, State Parks, wildflowers
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14 Comments
Impressionist Reflections on Kelly Creek
Kelly Creek, in the Los Padres National Forest, seen here reflecting the forest canopy and sky overhead.
Posted in Santa Barbara County
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Tagged Hiking, Hiking (2), Kelly Creek, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Outdoors, Photos, Pics, Wilderness
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3 Comments
Chain of Events and the Golden Sunset
I had spent the day trampin’ around the Santa Ynez Mountains on and off trail. It was late afternoon and heading quickly toward night, as I sat on a rock outcrop looking over the blue Pacific Ocean far below. I … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara County
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Tagged Hike, Hikes, Hiking, Hiking (2), Inspiration, Landscape, Nature, Photos, Pics, Sunsets, Wandering, Wilderness, Writing
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5 Comments
Parcels and Points
Surf and seclusion on the California Central Coast.













