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“He may be just a tramp, a guy that likes to roam about this great country without any special aim, just to thank the Lord for these beautiful mountains.”
-B. Traven, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
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“. . .here, where there are still the silences and the loneliness of the earth before man, . . .”
Search Jack’s Blog
Recently Read
- The Snow Frosted Waterfalls of Rose Valley (+ Video)
- Pine Mountain Fossil Foray
- The Sisquoc Falls: A Little Known Region in California Explored (1884)
- About
- Gladiator Games of Bulls and Bears: Lassoing Grizzlies (1904)
- Mono Narrows, The Old Oak Dies
- Fish Falls, Santa Ynez Mountains
- Fallen Rock Chumash Pictograph Rock Art
- Miner's Rock Cabin at Eagle Cliff (1890)
- Eating Poison Oak
Photos from the blog
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Latest Dispatches
- Raking the Forest: Anderson, Trump, Kuyper
- Initials of J.D. Reyes (1907)
- Last California Grizzlies Seen In Santa Barbara National Forest? (1926)
- Eccentric Artifact, San Marcos Foothills Preserve
- Fog Drip Morels
- Naming Santa Barbara’s Modoc Road
- Mark of Conquest; Benchmark and Mortar
- Hat Tip to the Selfless Samaritans In Service to Others
- The Intelligence of Coyote Tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata)
- The Journey of a Root (1907) and Plant Intelligence
- Santa Barbara County Morels
- Hollyleaf Cherries Golden Morph
- Barefoot Prints In Volcanic Ash, Hawaii (1790)
- Skinny-Dipper Detained, Cuffed and Cited at Montecito Hot Springs
- Red Horny Toad
Lunar Phase
Tag Archives: Wildlife
The Privateer; Subcontractor, Dept. of Unauthorized Forestry
In September of 2016, under cover of broad daylight, assisted by her two trusty partners in crime, whom also served as convenient sweet little innocent distractions to any suspecting walkers in the area, Jackie Willowtree smuggled in and planted the … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Botany, Forests, Hiking, Nature, Outdoors, Rewilding, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Mountains, Trees, Wilderness, Wildlife
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16 Comments
The Rescue of a Baby Lion
The fleeting, odd bit of noise sounded mechanical when it first hit my ear. But we were in a designated wilderness wherein nothing of the sort is allowed. And so brief was the sound I almost wasn’t sure I heard … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Adventure, Backpacking, Camping, Chumash Wilderness, Hiking, Los Padres National Forest, Mountain Lions, Nature, Pics, Santa Barbara, Wildlife
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12 Comments
Letter to Editor Regarding Plastic Pollution
A snapshot showing plastic debris in the mulch. I walked out my back door, knelt down in a random spot in the garden, looked for just a second to spot some plastic, and took the photo. So pervasive is the … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Activism, Creeks, Environmentalism, Nature, News, Ocean, Plastic, Pollution, Santa Barbara, Wildlife
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9 Comments
The Mood Altering Stream Orchid
A stream orchid (Epipactis gigantea) growing near the Santa Ynez River in late May of 2019. Stream orchids grow where constant water is found at seeps, springs and perennial streams. The plant is known for its mood altering and sedative … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Adventure, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Hiking (2), iPhoneography, Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Santa Barbara, wildflowers, Wildlife
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4 Comments
A Rocky Killdeer Nest
Santa Ynez River Long days on the river. Six. Seven. Eight hour sessions. The sun. The wind. The sweet mineral scent of the cool emerald water. Jet airliners soar over the Santa Ynez Mountains trackless and silent through the depthless … Continue reading →
Posted in Santa Barbara
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Tagged Adventure, backcountry, Hiking, Hiking (2), Los Padres National Forest, Nature, Outdoors, Pics, Santa Ynez Mountains, Wilderness, Wildlife
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13 Comments
Jack Elliott's Santa Barbara Adventure 