I Seek Out Endangered Species In The Wild Like Pokemon. Here’s What I’ve Learned.
Our writer has spent decades trekking toward the endangered. On these trips, he's seen firsthand what happens if a keystone species goes missing from its habitat.
Author
Chuck Graham
Chuck Graham is a freelance writer and photographer in Carpinteria, CA. He’s also been a beach lifeguard for over 20 years, works as a guide for Channel Islands Adventure Company, leading kayak tours and backpacking trips at the Channel Islands National Park, and is the editor of DEEP Surf Magazine.
His stories and photos have appeared in Backpacker, Trail Runner, Men’s Journal, Outdoor Photographer, Shutterbug, Photo Technique, Nature Photographer, Living Bird, Earth Island Journal, The Surfer’s Journal, The Surfer’s Path, Standup Paddle Magazine, SUP the Mag, Canoe & Kayak, Adventure Kayak, Sea Kayaker, Islands, American Forests, BBC Wildlife, Bay Nature, Outdoor California, Ojai Quarterly, Santa Barbara Seasons, Los Angeles Times, Santa Barbara Independent, Montecito Journal, Natural History Magazine, High Country News, National Geographic for Kids, and the Ventura County Reporter.
My Stories
Explore the Galapagos Islands of the North: 8 Epic Channel Islands Hikes
California's Channel Islands are a wonderland of biodiversity just an hour or two from Los Angeles.
The Salton Sea Is an Environmental Disaster—and it’s Also Gorgeous
Since its peak in the early 20th century, the Salton Sea has suffered from increasing salinity, fish die-offs, and general neglect. But on a pair of kayak camping trips, one paddler found surprising beauty there
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Is So Big, Even the Grizzlies Seem Small
On a rafting trip down the Kongakut River, a photographer experiences a landscape that's as spectacular as it is endangered.
Hike to Seven Falls in Santa Barbara
Don't forget to pack a swimsuit: This 2.4-mile out-and-back leads to a multi-tiered cascade with sandstone swimming holes and views of the Santa Ynez Mountains.