Let's do the timewarp

They’re not only straight out of the past, they’ve really never left. The historic cabins at UCSB’s Valentine Camp Reserve — forested property at the base of Mammoth Mountain — were built more than 100 years ago and haven’t changed a ton since then. Yet for decades they’ve hosted students, scientists and environmental stewards — and survived some massive snowstorms. Now, though, renovations are underway to fully modernize the facilities to ensure the cabins survive another century.

black and white photo of old cabin
Photo: Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserves

Back in the day

“They’re basically logs that are nailed and glued together,” Reserve Director Carol Blanchette says of the cabins. The string latches on their doors, mortar and hewn wood planks filling many of the gaps between logs, and cast iron stoves attest to their heritage.

New Valentine cabin
Photo by Jeff Liang

Ooooh, déjà vu

Step inside and you wil l find the essential amenities of modern living, including electricity, propane and plumbing, with water piped in from one of the property’s many springs. But standing outside amongst the trees, you’d likely never know it.

Features

They’re protecting each other. And themselves.

Sameer Pandya’s literary thriller explores how secrets shape boys and the families trying to raise them

Bridge to a Bright Future

Undergraduates walk FUERTE's wild path toward careers in environmental science. Experience this multimedia feature on the Current.

two children sitting against a tree; one with tablet and one with butterfly

The Digital Middle

Our cover story this issue explores the idea of finding middle ground between all-out brain rot and total abstinence from screens — especially as it pertains to kids, but for
all of us, too.

All Features

Let's do the timewarp

Features

In Every Issue

On Campus

Alumni