California Condor Eben McMillan 19 October 1963 On the East Side of Santa Paula River known as Cross Camp The Name Coming, Probably, from the fact that the trail crosses the River here. Here we found a young lad camped who had come in with his back-pack early this morning. He had heard that the Fire Closure, that has restricted camping in this area throughout the summer, except for the two weekends during deer season, when Paris were given as a reason for temporary relaxation of this restriction were now permanently lifted. He was awaiting the arrival of several pals who were to follow him in later in today. This young fellows name was Steve Mickels. He lives in Santa Paula with his Parents, his father being the Postmaster there. Steve told us that he had been into this Camp earlier during the summer months. He stated that in former times, he and his pals used to go to [illegible] Camp on the upper Sespe, to Camp, but when the Forest Service put in a road to that Camp so many Cars and People came that the dust was ankle deep around the Camp, so they never go back. He said he had never seen Condor but that one is supposed to be able to see them from a Camp on Pitu Creek, above Pitu Lake. He said that if anyone is caught Shooting a Condor it would go tough with him. Steve told us about the wildlife refuge in the Sespe and Hopper Canyon drainages that is placed aside just for Condor Preservation. He appeared to be Proud of the fact that Condors were being protected. Hiking on down river from Cross Camp we Came to Big Cone Campground. This area appears to have been developed for large scale use by the Forest Service for Public Needs. NO fresh signs of Camps were in evidence here, but signs of- P. 388 Santa Paula Canyon