Everybody has a place in our public lands.
It doesn’t matter if you’re steeped in the 805 backcountry or have never stepped foot on a dirt path in your life — we’ll discuss destinations, gear, local lore, flora, fauna, skills, etiquette, ethics, and volunteerism … and get out there!
Pick a post and head down the rabbit hole with me!
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Little Men, Big Sur
I’d like to think over the years I’ve learnt at least a handful of the many lessons I’ve received, and so in a rare act of Labor Day weekend wisdom, instead of heading into the cauldron that is the Sespe in the summer or scaling some blistering hill along Hurricane Deck, I led the intrepid…
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Station to Station: Pine Mountain Lodge Flashback
As time has allowed over the past few years (which is to say, almost never), and starting with a brief background I posted about Pine Mountain Lodge, I’ve been slowly pulling together some research that eventually I’ll release as the Footprints Project. Progress has been painfully slow, with real life and all sorts of other…
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Old School Signage: Alder Creek/Mutau
Another of the lost Santa Barbara NF enamel beauties, this one at the junction of the now-abandoned upper Alder Creek trail and Mutau Creek route, 1968. Mt Pinos district stalwart EmSub and his hearty team have worked the tree-littered Mutau trail several times in the wake of the Day Fire (see some photos here and…
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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…
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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…
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Sespe Sundays
Last April, I spent a great 3 days out at Sespe Hot Springs with an intrepid crew of Los Padres luminaries. But this April has been a bit mellower — and the miles fewer — as schedules, water scarcity, and an aging pack all combined to make lazy afternoons creekside a pretty viable option. And so…