Tag Archives: Camping

Horny Toad

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Jack Elliott

“It was a rough land that bred a tough man.” —Louis L’Amour, Utah Blaine (1984) The observer may glean some insight into the nature of the land by looking at its native inhabitants. When you’re wearing a helmet of horns and shrouded … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara | Tagged Adventure, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Lizards, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Pics, San Rafael Wilderness, Santa Barbara, Wildlife | 6 Comments

Wild Oyster Mushrooms and Reading the Nuances of Nature

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Jack Elliott

Oysters on a standing dead cottonwood tree in the Santa Ynez Mountains. You can see where the deceased tree’s canopy had filled in the now empty sky above, the other trees wrapping around it. “The hunter-gatherer lives on what is … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara | Tagged Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Los Padres National Forest, Mushrooms, Nature, Oyster Mushrooms, Wild Edibles, Wildcraft, Wilderness, Writing | 11 Comments

Parks Management Company’s Red Rock Racket

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Jack Elliott

Red Rock, Santa Ynez River, Santa Barbara County “The writer’s duty to speak the truth—especially unpopular truth. Especially truth that offends the powerful, the rich, the well-established, the traditional, the mythic, the sentimental. To attack, when the time makes it … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara | Tagged Camping, Hiking, Landscapes, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Pics, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Ynez River, Swimming Holes, Wilderness | 52 Comments

A Great Interval of Silence, Chumash Wilderness

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Jack Elliott

Boilin’ the billy. “Great intervals of silence are evidently conducive to our well-being. A meditative stillness, suggests Gary Snyder, was invented by waiting hunters. Perhaps this reflected the poised and ruminating hush of mothers of sleeping infants. High levels of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ventura County | Tagged Adventure, Backpacking, Camping, Chumash Wilderness, Hiking, Hiking (2), Landscapes, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Travel, Writing | 13 Comments

Bear Trail Don’t Burn

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Jack Elliott

Two bear footprints worn through dried leaves to the soil beneath in an area burned by the Sherpa Fire along the Gaviota Coast. This print pattern, more distinct in some places than others, continues for some distance along the unburned trail … Continue reading →