Tag Archives: Writing

Camping Out in California: Pine Mountain Narrative (1887)

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Jack Elliott

A man by the name of John R. G. Hassard wrote the following narrative of his “camping expedition of sixty-eight days” in the Ventura County backcountry of California. As an aside, Ventura County was created on January 1, 1873 and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ventura County | Tagged Adventure, Adventure (2), Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Hiking (2), Nature, Non-fiction, Outdoors, Photo, Photographs, Pics, Pine Mountain, Writing | 8 Comments

Make Do With What You Have

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Jack Elliott

Big surf headed for the California coast on 4-1-12. (Surfline) Scratching furiously through the choppy rough seas at a point break I was recently surfing, trying to paddle up and over a set wave bearing down on me before it … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged Adventure, Adventure (2), Beach, Handicap, Non-fiction, Ocean, Outdoors, Sports, Surf, Surfboards, Surfer, Surfing, Tales, Waves, Writing | 4 Comments

Ticks, Lizards and Lyme Disease

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Jack Elliott

A blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) questing with legs reaching as it waits for a host to pass by. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Hikers beware. According to the latest April 2012 issue of Veterinary Practice News, we may be … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged Backpacking, Biology, Camping, Hiking, Hiking (2), Lizards, Lyme Disease, Nature, Non-fiction, Outdoors, Reference, Ticks, Trails, Writing | 13 Comments

The Pine Mountain Punisher: 22 Mile Day Hike

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Jack Elliott

The trail outline of the route taken through the Los Padres National Forest and Sespe Wilderness. “Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.” —Steven Wright, comedian 22 miles—7000’+ combined elevation gain & loss—sections of ankle to thigh deep … Continue reading →

Posted in Ventura County | Tagged Adventure, Adventure (2), Backpacking, Hiking, Hiking (2), Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Outdoors, Peak Bagging, Peaks, Photos, Pics, Pine Mountain, Snow, Trekking, Video, Writing | 20 Comments

Motoring on the Gaviota Coast (1906)

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Jack Elliott

(c) Denver Public Library The bridge over Gaviota Creek, Santa Barbara County circa 1900. The two black drawn lines correspond to landscape features still visible today and which are noted on modern day photos shown below. The black arrow on … Continue reading →