Tag: hiking

  • Dungeons of Maptitude Review No. 6: Conant’s 2015 San Rafael Wilderness

    Dungeons of Maptitude Review No. 6: Conant’s 2015 San Rafael Wilderness

    Rejoice, fellow wanderers of the wood — we have new mappage! Now, those who follow the map reviews on this little site are likely familiar with Bryan Conant‘s San Raf maps, though I’ve only (until now) reviewed the 2008 and 2013 editions of his excellent Matilija and Dick Smith Wilderness map. But now I’m happy…

  • Of Pines, Water, and Wasting Away

    Of Pines, Water, and Wasting Away

    It was a rag-tag crew that convened at the Horn Canyon trailhead on a recent Friday afternoon; dads just off work and kids and allies all ready to end the week with some fine time in a fine corner of the southern Los Padres. There have been plenty of quick trips into the backwood of…

  • Chumash X

    Chumash X

    Stop me if you’ve heard this one. In early April, the monkeys and I headed into the backwood for our annual Chumash Wilderness sojourn. We had spent the morning at the LPFA‘s excellent open house event at Wheeler Gorge, and so didn’t quite get the early start we often enjoy, but it was a sublime…

  • End of the Road

    End of the Road

    There has been no shortage of idle musings and short reports from this site of our numerous excursions along the Kennedy Ridge trail and the (Far) East Camino Cielo, exploratories which culminated to a degree with the brush-busting mess that was our November 2013 exploratory beyond the “known road” of the old East Camino Cielo…

  • Dungeons of Maptitude Review No. 5: Harrison’s 2014 Sespe Wilderness

    Dungeons of Maptitude Review No. 5: Harrison’s 2014 Sespe Wilderness

    Earlier this year, backcountry cartography stalwart Tom Harrison released his revised Sespe Wilderness Trail Map, updated for 2014. For those who tread the Sespe Wilderness and its immediate environs with any frequency, the Harrison map is the only area map worth having in your kit.

  • Chumash IX

    Chumash IX

    Beware the Ides of March! Yep, it’s that time again, when the pack gets antsy and the wee ones have their backpacks ready to go and waiting, leaning against their nightstands for the “go” signal. And so it was on the Ides of March this year, when we departed on a breezy and cool Saturday…