I Pet a Rattlesnake – And Question My Life Choices: Fizz was not happy to be out of her bucket. And she made her displeasure known. The high frequency buzz of an angry rattlesnake is unmistakable once you have … Continue Reading →
Quicksilver Hike – Ghost Towns (Part 2)
Mines, ghost towns, and furnaces: If that doesn’t make an exciting hike, I don’t know what does! Before the Santa Clara Valley became “Silicon Valley” it could have been … Continue Reading →
Comedy in Nature (Video-Humor)
We can all use a good laugh. So I want to take a break from our “serious” articles on nature and bushcraft to highlight the winners of the Comedy … Continue Reading →
How to Care for Your Rain Gear (Video)
It doesn’t matter if you own a $500 rain jacket or a $50 jacket. If you don’t look after your rain gear you will eventually experience “wet out.” This … Continue Reading →
Quicksilver Hike – Hike to the Mercury Mines (Part 1)
Mines, ghost towns, and furnaces: If that doesn’t make for an exciting hike, I don’t know what does! I step out of my car eager to explore the area … Continue Reading →
Free Entrance Days in Our National Parks 2022
Our National Parks are “America’s best idea.” Well here’s an even better one: Free Admission! Free Admission Every year, the National Parks Service offers free admission to all … Continue Reading →
Mountains Make Their Own Weather
This article contains affiliate links. In the school of the woods there is no graduation day. – Horace Kephart I had been rereading Kephart’s classic, Camping and … Continue Reading →
A Simple Way to Kill Mosquitos (Humor)
I’ve written before about the most effective mosquito repellents. And I’ve made jokes about how mosquitos relish the chance to dine on unwary campers. Today, I want to share … Continue Reading →
Wildlife Tracking Introduction (Video)
A major threat to wildlife is habitat fragmentation. This occurs when humans build structures like high-speed roads, which are impassible to animals. Animals are unable to cross these barriers … Continue Reading →
It’s The Little Things
At the start of the summer, I went for a hike in the Santa Cruz Mountains. These peaks form a ridge between the Pacific Ocean and California’s Silicon Valley. … Continue Reading →
Stylish Rangers (Funny)
Yes, rangers have a sense of humor! I work closely with California State Parks rangers and with members of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. I sometimes marvel at … Continue Reading →