Tag Archives: Santa Ynez Mountains

Native American Trout Gutter

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Jack Elliott

April 2023 A place in the canyon caught my eye.  The character of the mountain. The viewshed through the canyon of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Cruz Island. Geography and aesthetics. I felt compelled to go there. Years passed before … Continue reading →

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The Elusive and Fleeting Fire Poppy

Posted on May 9, 2023 by Jack Elliott

I found the fire poppies once more, trailless along a tributary fork of a coastal creek high in the Santa Ynez Mountains. Five years had past since my last sighting. I think the fire poppy, Papaver californicum, may be among … Continue reading →

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Return To Scene Of Lion Standoff

Posted on March 25, 2023 by Jack Elliott

I returned to the place of the lion faceoff, to measure the distance between us on that day; the most memorable day of my life in the Santa Ynez Mountains of Condor National Forest. Using the yard measurement instrument of … Continue reading →

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Los Padres Forest Association Backs Forest Closure

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Jack Elliott

Los Padres Forest Association issued an obsequious letter to the Forest Service declaring their full embrace of the two month closure of Los Padres National Forest. They called the shutout “wise.” That’s a word of exceptional assuredness. Not just smart, … Continue reading →

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Mountain Lion Standoff, Santa Ynez Mountains

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Jack Elliott

What I saw when I first turned to continue my walkabout. A beautiful disaster.  “Lions often stalk their prey and attack by leaping on their shoulders and back, biting the top of the neck or head. Their jaws are strong … Continue reading →

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