Greetings From Whisky Flat!
Hi There...
Where the hell is Whisky Flat?
The rough and tumble name suggests an old West locale, but this Whisky Flat hails from Californ-eye-ay, in the heart of the Diablo Range, near the modest summit of Pacheco Pass. It lies just south of Highway 152, blessedly out of view from the road. It’s a special place, a land of venerable valley oaks, tule elk, and an occasional wayward California condor. It’s also a place I’ve called home for over twenty years now.
But on these pages Whisky Flat is more than a physical location— it’s where my writing lives. I’m Joseph Belli, freelance writer, freelance wildlife biologist. I’ve got a soft spot for at-risk species, especially those in my neck of the woods, from California red-legged frogs to San Joaquin kit foxes. I’ve been a member of the condor crew at Pinnacles National Park since 2010, so expect plenty of condor content from me, as well as posts on a variety of wildlife species inhabiting the Diablo Range.
I’ve written two books, The Diablo Diary, a collection of natural history essays centered on the Diablo Range, and Beneath a Black and White Sky: A Year Among Condors in Pinnacles National Park. I’ve also written a handful of essays I plan to share here, some published, some not.
There’ll be pictures too. While I am by no means an accomplished photographer, sometimes point and click gets the job done, especially if you’re in the right place at the right time, and the Diablo Range is chock-full of right places.
And while the focus of this site will always be wildlife, I plan to wander a bit and include random takes on current topics as well as music, which has long been in my blood: my first album of original songs, Drowning on Dry Land, is available on all major streaming services.
So, if this sounds appealing to you, I’d be honored if you subscribed. I’m not charging for subscriptions, so put that credit card away. I want to create a space where my world and my writing can reach others; where I can keep in touch with old friends and perhaps forge new friendships too. I hope you’ll join me out here on the flat.