california condor Eben McMillan 2 august 1963 I left home at 3:30 p.m., heading for Lockwood Valley, Ventura County, Calif. Stopped at Fire Guard Camp at Turnoff to Thorn Meadows. C.L. Marsh, director in charge of a Pumper (Firetruck) told me that lots of Cais, bearing hunters, had already passed by heading for Grade Valley, Thorn Meadows, and Mutau Flats. Mr. Marsh also said that he was stationed at Grade Camp only for this weekend. The Policy of the Forest Service in this area, in order to Combat the high potential of forest fires during this weekend is to scatter its crews over a wide area in order that someone will be in the general area where any fire should start, with a few men and equipment, to contain it until larger forces of help can arrive. Driving south on Thorn Meadows road I met Richard Alves of the Sheriff's Department of Ventura County, who with a helper planned on going through from this evening until Sunday evening without setup in patrol and without sleep. Alves expected much trouble and harassment to law enforcement agencies brought on by the incoming numbers of deer hunters. Alves offered to keep on the alert for any information he might come upon relative to deer-hunters and condor. At Grade Valley Campground I met Clifton Moyer, whose normal job in the Forest Service is Range Conservation technician, patrolling the campgrounds trying to establish order among the hunting groups who were now commencing to arrive in increasing numbers and were searching for spots to camp inside the confines of the designated campgrounds. Many of these groups were of family's and friends, men, women, and children of all ages and descriptions. Their camping paraphernalia was likewise. Many with Jeeps in tow behind cars, many in pickup trucks with one, two, or three Trail Bikes or Tote Cotes loaded in the back, many had Trailer Houses. Some—