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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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Recently Read
- The Origin of the Name "California" and the Island Myth
- About
- Eating Poison Oak
- Old Mission Santa Barbara
- Lower Lion Canyon, Sierra Madre Mountains
- Fossil Falls, A Glacial Relic of the Pleistocene
- Knapp's Castle Then and Now
- Lobster Poachers?
- Dick Smith Calling a Condor, Piru 1970
- Santa Barbara Shore Whaling (1870-93)
Photos from the blog
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Latest Dispatches
- Lobster Poachers?
- Dick Smith on Forest Access
- Old Mission Sycamore Whacked Again
- Bald Eagle, Manzana Creek, San Rafael Wilderness
- When Rains Fall, Will USFS Close Our Forest? The Coming El Niño
- Language of Forest Closure; Assault on an Ancient Right
- March of the Mustard; The Spread of Noxious Weeds
- Mark of Conquest II: Benchmark and Mortar
- Save Old Mission Sycamore … __ __ __ …
- 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
Lunar Phase

Category Archives: Santa Barbara
Mandalas Through the Looking Glass
I lay simmering in a scalding hot puddle beneath a gurgling pipe, heart fluttering, riding a rocket of euphoria fueled by endorphins, winter’s slanted morning light illuminating Condor National Forest in an apricot radiance. Beads of stinky spring water on … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Chumash, Hiking, Hiking (2), Los Padres National Forest, Mandalas, Native American, Nature, Pictographs, Rock Art, Santa Barbara, Wilderness
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Wild Strawberries, Santa Ynez Mountains
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the forest, the wild mountain strawberries ripened. Strawberries and poison oak. Santa Barbara strawberries. The sweet depth of flavor is among the richest, if only but a bit.
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Foraging, Hiking, Hiking (2), Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Public Lands, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Mountains, Wild Foods, Wild Strawberries, Wilderness
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Red-tailed Hawk Fledgling, Hot Springs Canyon Trail
A sycamore tree with a hawk nest as seen from the trail/public easement/private asphalt drive, just above the cement Arizona-style vehicle crossing, along Hot Springs Canyon Trail. The tall tree stands on the west side of the drive coming up … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Hawks, Hiking, Hiking (2), Hot Springs Creek, Los Padres National Forest, Montecito, Nature, Raptors, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Mountains, Wildlife
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2 Comments
Dissecting Docherty: Eagle Demo & the Hot Springs Wrecking Crew
Somehow, we’re supposed to believe that the men missed seeing this sign. Somebody’s not telling the truth. In response to the previous post, Fitzgerald’s Fit: Man Leads Work Crew To Wreck Montecito Hot Springs, Dave Docherty commented: Eagle Demolition was … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Hiking, Hiking (2), Hot Springs, Hot Springs Trail, Montecito, Montecito Hot Springs, Nature, Public Lands, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Mountains, Vandalism
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5 Comments
Fitzgerald’s Fit: Man Leads Work Crew To Wreck Montecito Hot Springs
Who’s watching? Tell me, who’s watching? Who’s watching me? — Rockwell, Somebody’s Watching Me Brian D. Fitzgerald from 999 Hot Springs Lane was caught in Los Padres National Forest leading a work crew of men with hand tools in an … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Hiking, Hiking (2), Hot Springs, Los Padres National Forest, Montecito, Montecito Hot Springs, Nature, Public Lands, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Mountains, Travel
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31 Comments













