Trails of Santa Barbara’s Early Backcountry Rangers

Trails of Santa Barbara’s Early Backcountry Rangers
Free Slideshow Presentation with Q&A

Thursday, October 19th, 6:30PM
Faulkner Gallery – Santa Barbara Public Library
40 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA

In 1898, the first Forest Reserves were created in our local backcountry and the first rangers began patrolling the trails and mountains behind Santa Barbara. These reserves were later combined to form Los Padres National Forest.

Among these early rangers were John Libeu, Edgar Davison, and Thomas Dinsmore, who often lived in the backcountry part of the year, patrolling places that are now part of the San Rafael and Dick Smith Wilderness areas. Places that can still be visited today.

Join local author James Wapotich as he shares images and stories from his hikes along these historic trails. James has hiked many of the trails in our local backcountry. He is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with the Forest Service, and is the author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest.

For more information call (805) 729-4250 or email jwapotich@yahoo.com

This talk is part of the ongoing Wilderness Hiking Speaker Series hosted by the Santa Barbara Public Library. The talks are the third Thursday of the month and feature topics related to hiking, backpacking, and our local natural history.