The indulgent fantasy of small town life has always captivated me. Quiet insular living. On Highway 101 in Northern California the federally designated Frontier Community of Laytonville lies at the doorstep of the worlds largest trees. With a population of just 1227 people, Laytonville has shattered my notions of rural existence. This small lumber town manifests my ideal vision of a place where hard work and industriousness are their own reward. The once thriving timber industry has withered due to regulation and a failing housing market. The closing of Harwoods Lumber Mill in 2006 cemented a shift to marijuana cultivation. In this tight knit community strangers are looked upon with well founded suspicion. A dark vein of death and danger from both beast and man runs through the natural splendor. Wandering through the back roads here is not advised without a destination or a proper guide. With the help of former Mill Supervisor John McCaffrey I have driven through the maze of back roads exploring places and meeting people not available to outsiders. John introduced me to what he refers to as an "Outlaw Redwood". The "Old Growth" timber has long ago gone the way of the saw blade but some have been spared. These "Outlaw Redwoods" are the lucky few which for one reason or another have been left to thrive in stands of "Second Growth" forest. These trees are a metaphor for the independent character of the people who have made their lives in Laytonville. The majestic forests that surround the town act like a fortress for the people who call this place home, protecting it from the static of the outside world and concealing its secrets.