Tag Archives: Hiking

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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Lazy Day in the Hills: A Canyon Hike Called Off

View of the sunrise on my way up Figueroa Mountain and into Santa Barbara’s San Rafael Wilderness. I left the trailhead at 7 am, but was already back by 3 pm. Lack of sleep and fatigued combined with shriveled enthusiasm … Continue reading

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Finding Frontier in the Forest Conquered

“Superficially, the world has become small and known. Poor little globe of earth, the tourists trot round you as easily as they trot round the Bois or round Central Park. There is no mystery left, we’ve been there, we’ve seen … Continue reading

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John Haines On Pool Rock

Tafoni formations on Pool Rock. “John Haines, whose experience hunting, trapping and surviving as a homesteader in the Alaskan wilderness fueled his outpouring of haunting poetry of endless cold nights, howling wolves and deep, primitive dreams, died on Wednesday in … Continue reading

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