2025
overlooked/underheard
observations from the side of the road
zeina baltagi & kirk pickler
The side of the road is full of things, spaces and spots that are seldom paid attention to. Driving is usually done with the intention of getting from one place to the next quickly, without listening or seeing most of what you’re passing by. Hidden on the road’s edge are: objects, sounds, life forms, the process marks of violent infrastructure, and the detritus of past events and times. This work is a collection of media consisting of improvised sound compositions, audio/video recordings and photos that were coaxed from pinned locations along the Rim of the World Highway. We invite you to follow, look, listen and play along. These are our observations.
Location: Rim of the World Scenic Byway
1
observe, listen, play along
Location: Rick’s Roadside Cafe,
34.411404, -117.589737
We stopped for breakfast and observed some roadside detritus and plant species. We collected some metal pieces from the intersection and recorded their sounds.
parking lot of Rick’s Roadside Cafe weathered OSB plywood on gravel with a rusty steel wheel, bent metal, a piece of an aluminum wheel
listen:
observe: Cattle Saltbush, Styrofoam cup, California Buckwheat, Yerba Santa
this Yerba Santa has been eaten by insects
across the street from Rick’s Roadside Diner on the north west corner of Highway 138 & Beekley Rd.
observe: shredded vent hose, plastic fast food cup, red straw, snack wrapper, cardboard, cigarette butts, on flattened saltbush branches
2
observe, listen, play along.
Location: Mormon Rocks, railroad tracks,
34.318091, -117.493861
We drove down the sandy wash to the south of the sandstone formations. We observed plants, insects, discarded objects, and railroad infrastructure. We recorded the sounds of carbon steel braces and rocks from the railroad tracks.
listen:
plastic hangers, carbon steel railroad tie braces
a freight train moving various materials with sandstone formations behind
Giant Woolystar
Prince’s Plume and California Broomsage
Black honeybee on California Buckwheat
discarded boat piece
Location: (34.324169, -117.509030)
under the train tracks
Location: (34.316102, -117.490808)
3
observe, listen, play along
Location: Highway 138, old water tank
34.322413, -117.457936
We stopped to get a fresh coconut from a roadside vendor and walked a short distance to this shot-up, rusted water tank that yielded lots of sounds. We walked down a dirt road and observed a small riparian habitat with cottonwood trees.
listen:
Tubular steel gate artwork
cottonwood trees swaying and rustling
34.321806, -117.457136
4
observe, listen
Location: Highway 138, Highway 173
34.312650, -117.346250
We reached the road closure at the intersection of these two highways and walked a short way down the closed section of highway 138. This was a unique opportunity to observe the interface between the natural world and a heavily used highway. We recorded sounds of discarded and broken items on the side of the road.
Modelo beer glass and cardboard
listen:
road sign, sprinkler tube, sticks, and gravel
listen:
California Buckwheat
vegetation covered in asphalt
chaparral-road interface
Yerba Santa
Annual Bursage
Chaparral Mallow
road paint reflective beads
Flowering Ash
Eschscholzia sp.
keep scrolling ...
5
play along
Highway 138, Old Mill Rd.
Location: 34.2572500, -117.2934722
We pulled off of the road at the intersection of Highway 138 and Old Mill Rd. just before the other side of the road closure. We found an old campsite with an Interior Live Oak that had many branches that had been cut off, and had begun healing with chelations. We found some old metal consisting of rusted steel angle iron, rod, and strips that looked to be part of a bed frame from the early 20th century. We found the front fender and running board of an early 20th century automobile. We recorded sounds from these.
early 20th century automobile running board and fender
an early 20th century rusty old bed frame
bed frame detritus and wooden sticks.
listen and play along:
Highway 138, Old Mill Rd. (34.2572500, -117.2934722)
California Mugwort
discarded hat
Common Madia
this tree became known as “the tree of a thousand buttholes”
6
look & listen
Location: Crest Park Picnic Area
34.231815, -117.197815
We observed some left-behind objects, artworks, plants and birds, and explored a short path through ferns, grasses, and trees.
listen for: Black-headed Grossbeak, Common Raven, Stellar’s Jay, Lodgepole Chipmunk
Crest Park picnic area. listen for: Common Raven, Black-Headed Grossbeak. look for: annual grasses, bracken fern, California black oak
Ponderosa or Jeffery Pine
found objects: hippo-shaped green rubber band, aluminum tube and ancient mango seed
Splendid Woodland - Gilia
found sculpture or ceremonial object
made sculpture
7
walk, look & listen
Location: Heaps Peak Arboretum/
Sequoia Trail
34.234410, -117.160356
We observed plants and birds at this peaceful stop. we walked and sat and listened.
Large Western Fence Lizards
White Breasted Nuthatch foraging
listen:
Spotted Towhee foraging
Western Wood Pewee in fir and oak trees
8
observe, listen & swim
Location: Big Bear Lake,
34.258312, -116.949066
We stopped to swim, observe the water and the small beach.
sound and views of a lake with active moving waves along the shore surrounded by mountains and the blue sky.
microplastics, fishing lures, dead fish Bernardino Beach, Big Bear Lake
Brewer’s Lupine
Spreading Fleabane
9
observe, listen and wash
Location: Forest Road S270A,
34.267459, -116.968441
We slept here. This spot rests in a small valley filled with Coulter and Ponderosa pines, California black oak and Ceanothus. The moon was waning gibbous and was at its zenith at about 3 am. The morning yielded a chorus of birdsong including a beautiful passage of mountain quail songs. We washed our hands with mountain whitethorn soap berries (Ceanothus cordulatus).
listen for: Western Wood-Pewee, Mountain Quail, Acorn Woodpecker, Mountain Chickadee, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Bullfrog
California Black Oak
Mountain Whitethorn aka Soapberry
10
stop and ride
Location: Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, Big Bear Lake
34.237898, -116.919699
On our way out of town we stopped at this roadside attraction and rode both the Alpine Slide and the Mineshaft Coaster.
listen:
still images captured from video preview for purchase at end of ride
11
stop and explore
Location: Highway 38 turnout
34.201810, -116.726397
We pulled off the road here to see what we could find. we observed large examples of mountain mahogany and Sierra juniper. We walked around on the gated and blocked dirt roads that led up the mountainside and across the highway.
Mountain Mahogany
Sierra Juniper
Sapphire Woolystar
lost snow-day scarf
12
sit, listen, and smell
Location: Jenks Lake
34.165090, -116.882675
We explored the shore line and observed aromatic plant species, aquatic plants, and watched and listened to the water.
sound and views of a lake with active moving waves along the shore surrounded by mountains and the blue sky.
Longleaf Pondweed
Arizona Cypress
California False Indigo
13
look and listen
Location: unnamed road
34.159901, -116.856686
We explored an unmaintained road and an old campsite surrounded by ponderosa pines and mountain whitethorn. we observed birds and mammals, as well as flower and insect species. we saw plant species that had been shaped by fire and animal activity.
lodgepole chipmunk chirping
acorn burn tree
34.159790, -116.857050
woodpecker acorn holes in chopped tree
pine sap
listen:
burnt stumps
34.159570, -116.859080
pen
Budweiser bottle
34.159020, -116.858810
Coors can
34.159470, -116.858980
hat & chainlink roll
34.159080, -116.859550
San Gabriel Beard Tongue
this spineless horsebrush was full of pollinating bees, wasps, beetles, and butterflies
California Mourning Bee
Wide-stripe Sweat Bee
Marine Blue
14
watch and dance
Location: Jenks Lake Rd.
34.163226, -116.861350
We happened on a crew working on some asphalt repair. they agreed to let us document their work.
4 men and a truck repair cracks in the asphalt.
15
look, listen, splash and eat
Location: Santa Ana River.
34.181587, -116.854287
We explored the beginnings of the Santa Ana River. we observed plants and discarded objects, and splashed in the creek.
can tab at entry
34.181950, -116.854460
sparkling light on the Santa Ana river
Vivid Dancer
Yellow Salsify
Scarlet Monkey Flower
Rose Sage
Alfalfa
34.159790, -116.857050
Tumbleweed
34.159790, -116.857050
satellite
34.159790, -116.857050
index
Species Observed
Plants: Mountain Sage Brush, California Black Oak, Brewer’s Lupine, Spreading Fleabane, Splendid Woodland - Gilia, annual grasses, Bracken Fern, California Black Oak, Ponderosa Pine, Jeffery Pine, California Mugwort, Common Madia, California Buckwheat, Yerba Santa, Flowering Ash, Eschscholzia sp., Annual Bursage, Chaparral Mallow, Prince’s Plume, California Broomsage, Giant Woolystar, Rose Sage, Arizona Cypress, Giant Sequoia, Incense Cedar, Knobcone Pine, Scarlet Monkeyflower, Fringed Willowherb, White Sage, Sierra Juniper, Spineless Horsebush, Coulter Pine, California False Indigo, Pinebush, Mountain Mahogany, Chaparral Whitethorn, Mountain Whitethorn, Sapphire Woolystar, Single Needle Piñon, Wand Mullein, San Gabriel Beard Tongue, Coffeeberry, Stinging Nettle, Alfalfa, Brown-spined Pricklypear, Western White Clematis, Tall Evening Primrose, Alfalfa, Yellow Salsify
Mammals: California Ground Squirrel, Lodgepole Chipmunk, Grey Fox
Birds: Mountain Quail, Mountain Chickadee, Acorn Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Western Wood-Pewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, White-breasted Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Black-Headed Grossbeak, Common Raven, Stellar’s Jay, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Cassin’s Finch, Violet-green Swallow, Mallard
Insects: Honeybee, Tarantula Hawk, Marine Blue, Wide-striped Sweat Bee, California Mourning Bee, Hedgerow Hairstreak
Amphibians: Bullfrog
Reptiles: Western Fence Lizard
land acknowledgment
The Rim of the World Drive runs through the San Bernardino Mountains which includes towns such as: Fawnskin, Arrowbear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, Big Bear Lake, Crestline, Rimforest. The mountains are located near Tongva Land (Los Angeles) on Turtle Island (United Staes). This range of land is shared by three indigenous groups: ʔívil̃uqaletem/Meytémak (Cahuilla people), Tongva (Gabrieleno people) Yuhaaviatam/Maarenga’yam (Serrano people).
There is a history and ongoing presence of Cahuilla, Gabrieleno, and Serrano people on these lands. Cahuilla people are on the inland basin of desert plains and rugged canyons south of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. Serrano people are on the highlands, valleys, and passes of the area. Tongva people are on the very west of the range. The language and culture are shared among the people of this region.
In 2021, San Bernardino County, in collaboration with these tribes, formally acknowledged that its museums, including the San Bernardino County Museum (Redlands), Victor Valley Museum (Apple Valley), and Yucaipa Adobe, are located on the ancestral territory of the Maara'yam (Serrano) people. The recognition marks a step in honoring Native American heritage and promoting a greater understanding of the region's history. The county's collaboration with the tribes does not include LAND BACK, but includes co-stewarding collections and sharing stories in culturally appropriate ways.
References: look up the ancestral land you are on, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Tribal News, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, San Bernardino County Museum, Indian Gaming News