Category: Uncategorized

  • Series 22 West

    Series 22 West

    “Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause …” And westward we march, now amongst the trails of Range 22 West. These routes tend to concentrate in the Chumash Wilderness or the Ojai/Rose Valley area, either side of Nordhoff Ridge. (Refer to Series 18 West, Series 19 West, Series 20 West,…

  • Dungeons of Maptitude Review No. 4: Conant’s 2013 Matilija & Dick Smith Wilderness

    Dungeons of Maptitude Review No. 4: Conant’s 2013 Matilija & Dick Smith Wilderness

    The Map in the Arena, Redux Back in the Spring of 2012, I posted a review of Bryan Conant’s 2008 (first edition) Matilija & Dick Smith Wilderness map. I was about four years late in reviewing that great map, but I’m happy to report a new edition has just landed in map cabinets near you,…

  • Project Meriadoc

    Project Meriadoc

    “So you’ve come on this little expedition, too?” This is a short tale that began with a call I received from Regulus about a week from 2012’s end. We two had earlier in the month discussed a historical route about which Regulus had recently learned, but now said historical route needed scouting; due diligence as…

  • The Forest, Suffering the Nerd

    The Forest, Suffering the Nerd

    “Like Gravy to Potatoes, Luke to Darth Vader …” When I was 19, I signed my first book deal. This wasn’t a notable deal, mind you, and the book for which I applied pen to paper and surrendered my Social Security number was never actually published. But it was the start of my long and…

  • Series 21 West

    Series 21 West

    “21! Read ’em and weep, boys.”

  • Old School Signage: Franklin Trail, 1934

    Old School Signage: Franklin Trail, 1934

    The image below is presented here courtesy Joan Rock Bailard, and was scanned from a b/w Kodak Brownie print by David Griggs of the Carpinteria Historical Museum; my thanks to both for the kind use. Shown above is the junction with the Franklin and Ocean View Trails in 1934. Visible are Joan Rock at age…