The Boronda Trail begins next to this debris flow barrier about half a mile south of the Coast Gallery. Read the rest of this entry »
Above the Fog: Boronda Trail & Cisco Creek
May 16, 2010
12 Comments | 
Big Sur, On Foot, Plants, Santa Lucias, Wildflowers | Tagged: Big Sur Trail, Coast Ridge, Cold Springs, Logwood Creek, Logwood Ridge, Timbertop | 
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Posted by xasauan
Mt. Carmel in May
May 9, 2010When we visited the summit of Mt. Carmel (AKA Boulder Mtn.) two years ago, it seemed that the place had been forgotten and that all traces of the trail were destined to disappear into the brush. It hasn’t happened. Today, the climb from Bottcher’s Gap to Mt. Carmel has emerged as one of the most popular day hikes in the Ventana Wilderness (something we can easily see in the ever-increasing number of unwary net surfers who stumble onto this site by searching for “Mt. Carmel” or “Bottcher’s Gap to Mt. Carmel”). A summit register has even appeared!
When we visited again yesterday (May 8, 2010) we found a virtual parade of hikers lining the trail between Bottcher’s Gap and the summit. The trip seems especially popular among couples – and couples ranging in age from early twenties to late sixties were sweating their way up the hill.
Here’s a little of what we saw along the way …
A Canyon Oak (Quercus chrysolepis) blooms near Bottcher’s Gap. Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | Big Sur, On Foot, Plants, Santa Lucias, Wildflowers | Permalink
Posted by xasauan
Blue Rock Ridge Wildflowers
April 26, 2010
Blue Rock Ridge starts in Cachagua near the Los Padres Dam, quickly enters the Ventana Wilderness, and rises all the way to the Big Pines area at the headwaters of Danish Creek. But it’s not a smooth ascent. There’s a lot of up and down along the way. The “Big Box” fireline, created during the Marble Cone Fire and reopened twice since, runs along the top. It’s a great place for ticks, poison oak and, outside of the dozer scar, for wildflowers. Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | On Foot, Plants, Santa Lucias, Wildflowers | Permalink
Posted by xasauan
Garzas Creek Wildflowers
April 17, 2010
Garzas Creek flows through Garland Regional Park. We didn’t see any garzas today, but if you look carefully you’ll see a couple of patos.
Here’s some of what’s currently blooming in the Garzas Creek area … Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | On Foot, Plants, Santa Lucias, Wildflowers | Tagged: Carmel Valley wildflowers, Garland Park wildflowers | Permalink
Posted by xasauan
Molera Wilderness Proposal Withdrawn
April 7, 2010
An unnamed stream flows through a trailless redwood forest deep within the proposed Molera Wilderness
In response to vigorous opposition from locals worried that the plan would interfere with future firefighting efforts, Assembly Member Bill Monning has withdrawn his proposal to give State Wilderness designation to a portion of the Molera State Park backcountry. Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | Big Sur, Fire, Flood & Apocalypse, Politics, Santa Lucias | Permalink
Posted by xasauan
Big Sur Residents to Hold Government Appreciation Festival
April 1, 2010The BSRUS (Big Sur Residents United for Socialism) announced plans today for a Festival of Appreciation aimed at thanking the many government agencies, and the state and federal taxpayers, who make the very existence of the community of Big Sur as we know it possible.
Precarious lifeline: The modern Big Sur community is completely dependent on a single, phenomenally expensive, highway. Read the rest of this entry »
7 Comments | Big Sur, Coastal Development/Erosion, Politics, Santa Lucias | Permalink
Posted by xasauan
A Look at the Uplands of the Proposed Molera Wilderness
March 28, 2010A bill introduced by Assembly Member Bill Monning would give State Wilderness protection to 912 acres in the northeastern portion of Andrew Molera State Park. This land is on the other side of the ridge – in the Little Sur River drainage – from the developed parts of the Park, as shown on the following map:
6 Comments | Big Sur, Fire, Flood & Apocalypse, On Foot, Plants, Santa Lucias, Wildflowers | Permalink
Posted by xasauan
Big Sur Sunshine
March 15, 2010
After months of cold, gloomy, cloudy, rainy weather, there’s nothing quite like the first really warm, sunny day.
Oh what a feeling!
2 Comments | Big Sur, Santa Lucias | Permalink
Posted by xasauan
Onward Through the Fog
February 19, 2010
Since we commented a few days ago about a new study showing that average hours of fog have declined by about a third along the California coast since 1901, a number of people have come up to us and pointed out that at least one month last year was supposedly the foggiest in 50 years. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Coastal Development/Erosion, Fire, Flood & Apocalypse, Santa Lucias | Permalink
Posted by xasauan
The Case of the Disappearing Fog
February 16, 2010
Hard to believe, we know, but a new University of California study says average hours of fog have declined by about a third along the California coast since 1901. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Coastal Development/Erosion, Fire, Flood & Apocalypse, Santa Lucias | Permalink
Posted by xasauan
Xasáuan Today 