This is my journal from Monkeyflower Ranch, 150 acres of high desert at the southern tip of the Sequoia National Forest, beside the Brightstar Wilderness in California’s Kern River Valley.

I write about what I find here: what’s blooming along the creek, what’s moving through the canyon, what the night sky is doing, and what it takes to look after a piece of land like this. I also write about the people who lived here long before me.

What you’ll find here

Field notes. The creek through the seasons, wildflowers, birds and other wildlife, and the small changes you only notice if you’re paying attention.

The night sky. We’re in a Bortle 2 zone, about as dark as California gets. I post my astrophotography, how I made each shot, and what’s worth looking up for in the months ahead.

Deep time. The Tübatulabal people made this valley their home for centuries, and their grinding stones are still here. I write about them, and about the miners, ranchers and settlers who came later, as carefully and accurately as I can.

Trails and backcountry. Routes across the ranch, into the Brightstar Wilderness, and toward the Pacific Crest Trail, with notes on conditions when I’ve been out on them.

Life on the land. Water, fire season, rattlesnakes, restoration work, and the honest business of settling into a remote place.

Whether you’re planning a visit, researching the history of the Kern River Valley, or simply like reading about wild places, you’re welcome here. To get new stories by email, sign up for Letters from the Ranch.