Silverado Children’s Center Help Needed

We need volunteer help at the Silverado Children’s Center. Here’s a list of projects we need done. Can you help? Deck handrail needs painting New sign repair siding of both buildings landscaping of driveway painting building and ramp fix concrete in preschool (front) yard fix the roof leakage problem with the school-age building replace/fix ceiling panels in school-age room update …

California Register of Historical Resources #202

SILVERADO – Located in Cañada de la Madera (Timber Canyon) was a mining boom town founded in 1878 when silver was discovered nearby. During the colorful life of its boom, 1878-1881, miners flocking to the area established a thriving community, served daily by stage from Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Location: Next to Silverado Fire Station #2, end of Silverado …

Green Vision Coalition Map

This gives you an idea of where the Green Vision Coalition is heading. The coalition is many non-governmental organization (NGOs) and us the SMRPD as the only government agency forging a powerful force to make Orange County a vision that other will want to copy in this era of sound environmental practices without detriment to business interests. In fact, the …

Snow in the mountains means more visitors

This morning I was out in the yard doing some rain-enforced-neglected yard work. I watch the many visitors streaming by our place looking for a place to park. Because we actually have room between the road and our retaining wall and the fact that we are close to the gate our spots our 3 spots are filled early. I often …

Limestone Canyon

Limestone Canyon Wilderness Area is manage by Irvine Ranch Conservancy who schedule access to the normally closed area. [smooth=id: 12; width:600; height:400; timed:false; arrows:true; carousel:true; links:true; info:false; align:center; frames:false; open:true; text:Pictures;]

Lower Silverado Creek Mountain Lion Tracks

We saw tracks down in the lower Silverado Creek shown in the picture on the left. Even saw one set right along with deer tracks. I’ve been coming to the canyons for 30 years and lived in Silverado for 17. I’ve been up many of the trails and roads and never seen a mountain lion. I’ve seen every other critter …

Fire Line Hike End of Silverado

During the fires of 2007 fire crews cut a firebreak up the ridge just beyond the Maple Springs gate. It’s pretty steep but worth the effort. I’d hiked this line once before and made it to the top before turning around. I didn’t really want to go too far by myself. Mike Boeck and I made a loop starting up …

SMRPD Map

From Canyon Land Conservation Fund The Silverado-Modjeska area consists of approximately 65 square miles of mountainous terrain on the eastern edge of Orange County, California. Silverado and Modjeska are the most heavily populated canyons, with homes also in Ladd, Black Star, Williams, Harding and Baker canyons. Geographically, socially and visually, Silverado-Modjeska is a unique island within Orange County. Eighty-five percent …

Harding Canyon

This is an alder root that was most likely covered in dirt before the Dec 2010 storms. The reddish tint is what happens when it is scrubbed by rushing water. It’s an easy indicator of how high the water got. Another interesting aspect of these is that these roots smell like leather.

Old mine attempt

Ellen is standing in front of one of two mine shafts about 10′ apart and about 6′ above the stream. Both were no more than 5′ to 6′ deep so whoever dug these gave up rather soon. Looking at the stream bed with strata indicating a possible silver vein and realizing that on the other side of the ridge from …