From upland conifer forests and rolling, sunbaked grasslands to fog-shrouded redwood gulches and wave-beaten Pacific headlands, the northern Santa Lucia Mountains could be considered a “best of” compilation of California. The wide-variety of soil types, combined with elevations ranging from sea level to 5,862’ atop Santa Lucia (Junipero Serra) Peak sustain a diverse mix of plant communities which support an equally diverse bestiary of everything from the regal California condor to diminutive Santa Lucia Mountains slender salamander.
The Double Cone Register (formerly the Double Cone Quarterly), the journal of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance, was published online as an occasional paper on an irregular schedule from 1998 to 2010. The timeless content, from a wide variety of contributors, ranges from feature-length articles to haiku. The diversity of stories told within reflects the wide variety of knowledge one can amass from learning about the northern Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coast. Do yourself a favor and have a look.
Big Sur backcountry seen from near Marble Peak on the Coast Ridge, circa 1915.(Photo Courtesy of William Karnes)
If you want to see the Ventana Wilderness, do what I’ve done. Hike every trail and visit every camp … - Ward Allison