Trail Talks: Far-flung hikes of the Los Padres with Perry Van Houten

Join local author Perry Van Houten as he shares about destinations in the mountains past Ojai that aren't so easy to get to. We'll travel to exotic locations with waterfalls, fire lookouts, and unusual botany or geology. Places such as Dry Lakes Ridge, Thorn Point, and Matilija Falls. All places that made his knees hurt, but were worth the adventure.

Perry has worked in radio for nearly 50 years. During that time he worked for several radio stations throughout California, and for more than a decade his radio show was syndicated across the country and around the world. In July 2017, he joined the Ojai Valley News as a full-time writer and reporter, and has written a number of articles about the local trails and hikes, while continuing to produce news content for radio. Perry has been hiking our local trails for more than 35 years. Recently, his big project has been building a replica of the Wheeler Gorge Post Office, which stood for more than 80 years before burning in the Thomas Fire. Today, the rebuilt “USA’s Smallest Post Office” (as listed by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!) can be seen at the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center, about 8 miles north of Ojai on SR-33.

About Trail Talks

Trail Talks is a monthly series of public education talks about exploring the natural world for outdoor enthusiasts organized by Santa Barbara Public Library with support from James Wapotich. In addition to discussion of trails near and far, we feature speakers on the ecology, geology, and history for naturalists of all types.

Disclaimer(s):

Participants in this event may be photographed by Library staff. These photos may be used in promotional or educational publications, including in print, social media, and presentations. Please see staff if you do not consent to having your photo taken. Staff will obtain individual, signed photo releases of photographs that contain only an individual as opposed to a group.