On Patrol



An Island of Our Own
On Patrol
by Steven T. Callan, JANUARY 16, 2020



Over the years, Kathy and I have often dreamed of escaping today’s fast-paced, hectic world and moving to an island of our own—an island of trees, flowers, and abundant wildlife, where we could experience the joys of nature without leaving the confines of our own property. Realizing that buying an island wasn’t a realistic option, we decided to do the...
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Golden Trout and Golden Trees
On Patrol
by Steven T. Callan, OCTOBER 3, 2019



The first time I experienced the awesome grandeur of California’s Eastern Sierra was in 1975, when, as a rookie Fish and Game warden, I drove there on assignment to work the Crowley Lake trout-season opener. That spring, the majestic mountains to the west were covered with snow, and the entire scene, from Mount Whitney to Mammoth Lakes, looked like something...
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Siskiyou County: The Land Beneath the Great White Mountain
On Patrol
by Steven T. Callan, JULY 11, 2019



When the Outdoor Writers Association of California chose Siskiyou County as the site for this spring’s writers conference, I couldn’t have been more pleased. I’ve had a soft spot in my heart for this unspoiled land at the top of the state since I first discovered it fifty-three years ago. I had just graduated from Orland High School and was scheduled...
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Just Add Water
On Patrol
by Steven T. Callan, APRIL 23, 2019



When people describe the desert, words like hot, dry, desolate, bleak, bare, brown, inhospitable, and intimidating are often mentioned. Those descriptions change dramatically when water is added to the mix! Every ten years or so, Mother Nature sprinkles the desert with extra rain—enough rain to turn a hot, suffocating wind into a cool breeze; enough rain to turn a brown, dry...
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Our Splendid Night Visitors
On Patrol
by Steven T. Callan, DECEMBER 7, 2018



On most winter evenings, Kathy and I hike to the hilltop near our home in the oak woodlands of Northern California. We usually leave about 4:00, and if we don’t stop to talk to anyone or get sidetracked, return to the house before the sun goes down. One quiet evening late last December, we heard the whistling of wingbeats overhead...
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Golden Trout and Golden Trees
On Patrol
by Steven T. Callan, OCTOBER 25, 2018



The first time I experienced the awesome grandeur of California’s Eastern Sierra was in 1975, when, as a rookie Fish and Game warden, I drove there on assignment to work the Crowley Lake trout-season opener. That spring, the majestic mountains to the west were covered with snow, and the entire scene, from Mount Whitney to Mammoth Lakes, looked like something...
Full Story 
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