Jim Mills helped preserve Santa Barbara’s backcountry wilderness for many, including his grandson Lance Hoffman, who recalled that “Grandad propped the camera up on a walking stick and set the timer” to take this photo at Cachuma Saddle, Little Pine Mountain, around 1990.Courtesy Photo
Wilderness is often defined by its most noble landmarks — its peaks, valleys, rivers, and canyons. But sometimes these places also embody the people who explore and protect them.
My friend and hero, Jim Mills, was one of those people. And Santa Barbara’s backcountry was his place.
Jim’s childhood was marked with countless adventures in the outdoors. Starting around age 11, Jim would spend entire weekends exploring the backcountry. Back then, the area was known as the Santa Barbara National Forest, and it beckoned to him.
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