FEATURE Overboard, and troublesome heavy deck machinery in unpredictable maritime settings. The lives of the women close to them are no less marked by sacrifice. “Some of the women in this group have raised their kids when their husbands were gone for weeks at a time, and all they could do was talk to them […]
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Achieve ‘beach karma’ with the Central Coast Treasure Hunters Association
TRAILBLAZING Whether it falls around sunrise or closer to the witching hour, low tide is when you’ll find Los Osos resident Matt Andrews out on a beach looking for treasure, armed with his metal detector. While drawing lines in the sand, Andrews grids the ground he covers to avoid missing a spot or scanning the […]
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Astronomy buffs share their knowledge of the night sky during monthly star parties
FEATURE faraway galaxies appearing in the lens may no longer be the same. Starry objects can be tens of millions of light years away. So far out that light spent millions of years traveling to Earth, making the objects visible to humans. “I just want to know more,” Lipper said. “The longer you look, the […]
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Give your feet a chance to be as close to bare as possible with minimalist shoes
GEAR HUB Going barefoot was just one piece of a puzzle. A few months into the pandemic, I noticed how badly my shoulders ached after sitting at my desk. So I tried standing. I got adjustable risers for my desks at work and at home, but my shoulders still ached. Eventually I wondered if the […]
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Several agencies respond to your calls for help in the backcountry
FEATURE There’s no room for error on the Vicente Flat Trail. In some places, slipping off the narrow path means tumbling hundreds of feet down into the canyon surrounding Hare Creek in southern Big Sur. About 5 miles in and 1,800 feet up, the Vicente Flat Campground sprawls out under a redwood grove next to […]
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Robin Greenfield on finding food, medicine, and connection in the wild
OUTDOOR KITCHEN For most people, food comes from the grocery store. For environmental activist and educator Robin Greenfield, food come from forests, lakes, roadsides, and fields. Greenfield is currently immersed in what he describes as “a year of foraging 100 percent of [his] own food and medicine.” There are no grocery stores, restaurants, gardens, supplements, […]
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Take a hike with Hikes and Dykes
TRAILBLAZING The first time Nixie Margiotta (they/them) told me they were starting a hiking group called Hikes and Dykes, I had two immediate thoughts. First: That’s hilarious. Second: Why didn’t I think of that? The name alone feels like something dreamed up in a late-night conversation over cheap beer—cheeky, irreverent, and impossible to forget. When […]
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A quick trip through California’s national parks
TRAILBLAZING Two and a half years ago, my brother hatched a scheme to visit every one of the U.S. National Parks. We’re not talking about drive-through visits—this plan involves camping in the parks whenever feasible and truly experiencing what each one has to offer. We started in California. Farthest south is Joshua Tree National Park, […]
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Mayhem Canines teaches dogs to ditch the pavement and hike San Luis Obispo County’s great outdoors
TRAILBLAZING Think your furry companions can handle something a little more hardcore than a walk around the park? Alissa Loftus of Mayhem Canine has your answer. “Hiking is much more efficient, much more stimulating for the dog,” she said. “They’re not just being marched around the pavement. They get to run and jump, get dirty, […]
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Central Coast State Parks Association is celebrating its 50th anniversary
TRAILBLAZING Working for the Central Coast State Parks Association (CCSPA) brought Executive Director Sierra Emrick closer to the bluffs, tidepools, and 7-mile shoreline she already had ocean-deep feelings for since childhood. “I grew up in Los Osos, and Montaña de Oro was my ‘heart park.’ The park I just loved, and—I felt—raised me and taught […]
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California Trails Survey gathers public input to guide future recreational access in the state
TRAILBLAZING Most people don’t view their daily dog-walking route or preferred trail for running as valuable input that could directly impact the future of outdoor spaces. But the California Trails Survey, spearheaded by the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and California Department of Parks and Recreation, is calling for experiences like that from trail users […]
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Los Padres ForestWatch’s new fundraiser combines the great outdoors and wine
OUTDOOR KITCHEN Six friends braved a very muddy Baron Ranch Trail in January with a goal in mind: to end up at LaFond Winery and Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills for a glass of wine. The hike was difficult and wet, so not everyone was able to finish, but it was fun and beautiful […]