"Minute follows minute, they unspool with nothing in particular to mark their passing. You're just walking, and you're only going to be walking for the rest of that day. And so you begin to shift into hiking's different time, its altered state of consciousness. Sierra time. In that morning light, at the start of a trip, I sometimes laugh out loud. That feeling is one of the things I want to write about here. Crazy love. Some kind of joy."

You should read this book! It's a touching, enthusiastic meditation on geology, hiking, and how landscapes can shape your psyche.

The San Gabriel Mountains have a long, living history in gold prospecting. The range produced CA's first-ever gold discovery, and a raucous mining community dubbed 'Eldoradoville' formed here in 1859. Eldorado washed away in a flood, but the area remains a popular spot for present-day panners. Some reside in the mountains full-time. Most are recreational. All of them violate federal prohibitions on panning, and for some reason, rangers look the other way. I counted 10 (!!) gold prospectors on our hike.

Off the coast of California, a small archipelago peeks out of the Pacific. 'The Galapagos of North America'. The Channel Islands. It's home to 150 endemic species, including the Island Fox, which you won't find anywhere else in the world. These foxes are insanely precious. They evolved in isolation and developed 'island dwarfism'. An adult is ~4 pounds, or the size of a small cat. The indigenous Chumash loved them, kept them as pets, and generally considered them sacred. Centuries of pampering and coexistence made them docile and unafraid of humans. They are the islands' 'top predator', which speaks to how gentle the land is. About 20 years ago, there were only 15 foxes left and now you're sure to see at least 2 or 3 every time you visit. It's awful to think of them going extinct. I hope we die long before they do.