Journey into a collection of essays, reflections, and field observations that seek to uncover the deeper truths hidden within the desert and ourselves.
These writings weave together natural history, survival wisdom, philosophy, and personal experience — offering a window into The Way of Things.
I have wondered for weeks amongst the redwood trees and this is one of the most unique and beautiful trees I’ve ever found. It is unique in that even for a redwood tree is quite large and has a lot of very large branches reaching out a long ways.
What this thing is and why it’s there I have no idea. Just one of the many mysteries in the desert.
This is not a Dahl sheep in Alaska. It’s a Desert Bighorn sheep in Southern California. It is not a complete albino as the fur has some color and if you look at the rear hoof it only has a streak of white. It is the only sheep I have
This is the shell of the white desert snail, a very unique species of snail that lives in the desert Southwest. It does not live in the small water sources that dot the desert land but rather on dry land. It spends much of its life underground in a dormant
This lecture will discuss confluence, which is what happens when two washes join to form one. Confluence is significant to life and survival in the desert, and is a key point in understanding how to read topographical maps. Armed with the knowledge contained in this video, your travels through the
This lecture presents two scenarios involving predator and prey. These scenarios depict how the reaction of one presents awareness by the other.
The wind is a sizeable force and has a tremendous effect on the structure and plant and animal life in the environment. This lecture will help you learn and understand the wind and its effects in shaping the local environment.
The orientation of terrain is an often overlooked subject, yet it is a crucial element to understanding almost any environment. Slopes found throughout the desert can dictate where some animals will live and where they will not or cannot.
To further understand the wind and its effect on the environment, I present you with a model made of black basaltic rock and light colored sand. This simplified model allows you to easily see the classic reactions between wind and terrain.
Learning to track and read animal sign is a highly important skill. This lecture speaks to some of the basic concepts and ideas and provides a framework on how to learn or further hone your skills.
Game trails are a fascinating subject and are often overlooked by many naturalists. One can learn a lot from game trails, even if they’re not an expert in their usage and meaning.
This first lecture explains the value of understanding your optics and having the proper equipment. Having this knowledge enables one to learn from the ultimate masters of the desert, such as the coyote, the desert bighorn sheep and so on.
