Tag Archives: backcountry

Orange Fire, Blue Twilight Along Sisquoc River

“You know to be silent in the wilderness. It is that which matters, to learn to live with silence.” —Louis L’Amour, The Californios (1974) Lying in the dirt beside the campfire, a long hard day’s hike from the nearest road, … Continue reading

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Whiteacre Peak, Fossilized Bones, Cougar Prints and Condors

California condor soaring over Whiteacre Peak. Stillman (DavidStillman.blogspot.com) had a good idea, which by the end of our day turned out to be an excellent idea, to find a route to the summit of Whiteacre Peak in the Sespe Wilderness. … Continue reading

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Chumash Grinding Stone

I found this Indian grinding stone or metate yesterday afternoon while on a hike in the Santa Barbara backcountry.

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The Ice Can Stove: A Brief History

An uncommon version of an ice can stove fitted with a large chimney cap and a damper on the flue. In backcountry campsites scattered throughout the Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties lie the rusty remains … Continue reading

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Project Sespe Creek: Stage III, Piedra Blanca Beyond Devil’s Gate

Coltrell Flat beside Sespe Creek “Free is the bush, and the desert, and the woods, and the mountain ranges for whoever likes to camp there.” B. Traven, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre I plod along the dirt footpath of … Continue reading

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