Category Archives: Santa Barbara County

Deal Canyon, Rancho Nuevo Canyon 17 Mile Day Hike

The trail we hiked through California’s Dick Smith Wilderness. David Stillman and I recently hiked the Deal Canyon/Rancho Nuevo Canyon trails. Five years after the Zaca Fire destroyed most of the forest, with sooty deadfall logs lying about and the … Continue reading

Posted in Santa Barbara County, Ventura County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

San Ysidro Trail

A section of San Ysidro Trail under the oaks in the Montecito Foothills, Santa Barbara County, California.

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

Gaviota Coast Sunset

Gaviota Coast, Santa Barbara County A sunset view of the edge of the continent along the Pacific coast north of Santa Barbara, railroad tracks reflecting the light.

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Davy Brown’s Cabin (1898)

I recently unearthed this drawing of Davy Brown’s cabin in an edition of The Herald newspaper that was published on September 25, 1898. Santa Barbara backcountry enthusiasts know Davy Brown as the name of a drive-up campground on the backside … Continue reading

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Giant Puffball Mushrooms

I went for a hike on Monday and, after several rain showers in the prior weeks, giant puffball mushrooms (Calvatia booniana) had sprouted up everywhere. I stopped counting after coming across fifty of them. They were all well past their … Continue reading

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments