Goldenspotted Oak Beetle is on the way and it’s not friendly to our trees
Goldenspotted Oak Beetle Information Southern California Citizen Scientist Tree Health Survey Form A Field Guide to Insects and Diseases of California Oaks Sierra Madre Patch Article Wikipedia Post From the website below: “Goldspotted oak borer infestation is contributing to the on-going oak tree mortality occurring on federal, state, private, and Native American lands in San...
Maple Springs Gate Open
It’s finally open to the relief of some and consternation of others. I drove up the road today in my Jeep and while the lower section has been re-paved in some sections the upper dirt section does have some damage and work that has changed the nature of the road making it seem like a...
Vision Quest 2011
Today was the day of the epic Vision Quest race. A total of 55.2 miles with 11,200′ of climbing from Black Star Canyon down the motorway then up Maple Springs ending at O’Neill Park. I was there to present the first of a series of four $50 awards in this case a gift certificate purchased...
Pictures of life in the canyons in the 1940s
From Deanna Craig’s sister these are some great shots of life in Ladd Canyon back in the 1940′s Deanna’s grandma Arline Brown, aunt Frances Brown and mom Susie Brown in Silverado Creek. Grandma Arline Brown, mom Susie Brown and unidentified friend in what I think is Ladd Canyon Grandma Arline Brown, aunt Frances Brown, mom...
The Canyon Orange County We Call Home
This short film captures the essence of why we live here and why so many others come to visit. If this video doesn’t play then click here. Mountain Man from Jonathan Formica on Vimeo.
Storm Damage Assessment Hike
All photos by Mike Boeck Mike invited me to go with him and Jim as one of two groups doing an assessment of damage to roads in the Black Star Canyon area. We took the Edison road off Black Star Canyon Rd. The damage wasn’t too bad but the scenery was gorgeous.
Irvine Ranch Conservancy/RICOH Invasive Plant Removal
(Posted for and all photos by Mike Boeck) On Saturday, March 5, about sixty volunteers from RICOH, including the company president, participated in an invasive plant removal program in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon. As a lead land steward for the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, I supervised a group of about a dozen people who spent several...
Ladd Canyon
I took a hike up Ladd Canyon with Carl up past his place and onto the Takahashi property. Lot’s of damage to the road so we had quite a steep hike to near the end. The ridge to the west looks like a great addition to the section we did for a complete loop. I’ll...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Limestone Canyon
Limestone Canyon Wilderness Area is manage by Irvine Ranch Conservancy who schedule access to the normally closed area.
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....
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...
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...
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...
New pool up Harding Canyon
Ellen and I are standing above a new pool created after the Dec 2010 storm. What’s interesting to see here is the dirt banks above our shoulders. We’re standing on the rock formation that this pool contains now. Before the storm there was no pool here and this rock was most likely covered in decades...
Harding Canyon Falls
Water fall about 4 miles up Harding Canyon. That’s Joel Robinson above me. This is actually a 2-level fall. The second level is about 10 ft high. The water coming down this canyon and over the falls was strong enough to move a huge bolder that had rested under the top level. It’s very easy...
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