Frazier Park and Perseid Meteor Shower

Mt. Pinos, Frazier Park

Want to make wishes on hundreds of falling stars?  Well, you actually have this chance annually in August when the phenomenon meteor shower attracts hundreds of stellar and planetary enthusiasts to clear evening skies!!   This is difficult to do in Los Angeles and near the coast, as light pollution and cloud covers are difficult to thwart, but if you head to the mountains or the desert the conditions are....stellar!!!  A few hours from Los Angeles, Mount Pinos in Frazier Park affords hiking in the pines to breathtaking views of Ventura County and San Juaquin Valley as well as a peek of the Pacific Ocean, and the parking lot at night is full of astronomy enthusiasts.   But before you head out, lets clear a few misconceptions about the shooting "stars" and give you some facts to take to the hike and viewing!  

An astronomer took this
3 nights ago

Comets are not falling stars, but particles of dust and dirt held together in a matrix of frozen ice.  When the comet nears the Sun, the ice melts and the comet sheds particles of dust, which then spreads out into space over millennium of time.  Each separate particle creates a  meteoroid.  When the particle is in space it is called a meteoroid, when it enters the Earths atmosphere it is referred to as a meteor, and the meteorites are the ones that make it to the ground. So, basically you are making wishes on falling dirt debris from a comet.  For us hopeless romantics, we are still calling them falling stars, and we are still making wishes.  


The Earth orbits the Sun, as do the comets. This enables us to predict certain meteor showers. The Earth is bombarded with tons of meteors daily, when the particles slam into our atmosphere at speeds of up to 100 km per second and create trails as they burn up.  There are predictable showers when the Earth comes in contact with debris from a particular comet.  During the Perseid Meteor Shower, when the Earth plows through the particles of debris left by comet Swift Tuttle,  the viewer can behold as many as 50-60 meteors an hour!  The peak time is at midnight, right in the middle of dusk and dawn, from August 11 - 13.  

We decided to go to Frazier Park and Mt. Pinos, less than a 2 hour drive from Santa Monica and Los Angeles.  Mt. Pinos, located in between Ventura and Kern County, is the highest point in Ventura County and the highest peak in Los Padres National Forest at 8847 ft.   The Nordic Base Camp parking lot is close to the summit and is very popular with the astronomy crowd and there are small hikes through pines and meadows of flowers to amazing views. 

Beautiful forest of Pinion and
Jeffrey Pines

We arrived at the Nordic Base Camp  around 3:00 p.m. so that we could hike and then return to to the parking lot to eat a packed dinner and view the stars.  When we arrived, there were already people setting up their telescopes for the night viewing.  We parked then looked for trail maps.  The hikes are not clearly defined, although there are many to choose from that lead off of the parking lot.  I wanted to hike to Sawmill Peak, but had no clue which trail led there.  Also, there is a wildlife viewing area where you can look for condors, the most rare and the largest flying land bird in North America with a wing span that can reach 10 feet and can weigh up to 24 pounds, among other creatures like black bears and mule deer.  

Gooseberries

Fields of yellow flowers in
meadows

We took a trail above the Nordic Base building and stayed on the well marked trail and it turned out to be 2 miles to the wildlife viewing area and views of the  valleys.  The trail is half shade as you meander through pine forests with a few sunny meadows in between. Its an easy hike with nominal elevation change, but you are up 8300 feet so I became winded a few times when rock scrambling at the top.   Bring water, sunscreen, camera, a light jacket and a snack for the trail.  We saw an unidentified animal bolt across the trail (lower to the ground than a deer, but beige short hair) and also found a geo cache treasure box on top of one of the boulders the boys climbed up.  

Cell phone picture I took of the moon
through a telescope!!

Bob and home made
telescope

When the sun went down, it was incredibly cold for August.  It is about 20 degrees cooler as you drive up the mountain to the base camp, so bring winter wear.  Seriously, it was 90 degrees on the 5 freeway and we were freezing when the sun went down at the star viewing so we will bring sleeping bags, beanies, gloves, and ski jackets next time. The energy and excitement kept us going until sunset, but then we were struggling to keep warm while waiting for the planetary show.  We had a crescent moon, but once it set, we saw so many stars, saw nebulae, Saturn, and the moon through amazing telescopes with state-of-the-art technology, met Paul who creates the night sky on t-shirts with glow in the dark paint, and Bob who made his own reflecting telescope with a 26 inch mirror.  It was all very entertaining, while we waited for the true "stars" to show up, and they did not disappoint. 


 I made lots of wishes on dust debris last night, heard lots of "oohhhsss"  and "ahhhhs"  from the crowd as we watched
natures fireworks together, and had an amazing adventure with my favorite boys.

To get to Mt. Pinos, take the I-5 freeway 85 miles north of Los Angeles  to the Frazier Mountain Park Road exit.  Turn left and go up the mountain 7 miles, where it will turn into Cuddy Valley Road, continue 5 more miles.  You will come to an intersection with arrows, turn left and follow directions to Mount Pinos Road.  Follow this road 8.5 miles to the top and Nordic Base Camp parking lot.  


  




     

Corral Canyon Cave Hike towards Mesa Peak

The Caves

It was a lovely day for a hike, but we had a few work schedules to work around, so  we needed to find an easy. amazing hike with views that we could do around sunset.  Corral Canyon fit the bill.  It is a part of the Backbone Trail that starts  at the top of Corral Canyon and turns into Mesa  Peak Motorway, far from the crowds on a busy beach and hiking day.

Elephant Rock  

I liked this hike for its scavenger hunt appeal and the flat rock areas perfect for a happy hour spread.  Hike east from the parking lot towards the sandstone outcroppings, and follow a narrow trail through the slots and boulders.  Elephant rock, a small arch rock will be on the right side of the trail.  The trail becomes shady in spots and varies from uphill to downhill.  

Look for a car graveyard to the left of the trail in the bushes.  About a half mile into the hike, you will join a larger trail, Mesa Peak Motorway.  Continue hiking eastward, and the next set of geological formations will have a few caves to crawl in and a boulder to climb. There's also  a circular rock garden.   At the top of the boulder is where we decided to have happy hour.  

 We arrived at 6:00 p.m. and left around 8 :00 p.m.  So for a fast and easy access, it was great and the canyon and ocean views are amazing from the sandstone boulders.  If you want a longer hike, the Mesa Motorway continues all the way to Malibu Canyon. 

 

From Santa Monica, give yourself 45 minutes to the trailhead.  Take PCH towards Malibu, for about a half hour, passing the town of Malibu and Pepperdine University.  Turn right on Corral Canyon.  Follow the road to the end, it will become a gravel road, and parking will be a 

quarter of a mile on the gravel.

  

To keep the adventure going, I suggest eating at Old Place, http://www.yelp.com/biz/old-place-restaurant-agoura-hills a gem of a find hidden in the hills off of Kanan Dume Road.  The ambience is like no other, and it is small, so expect a wait, or try to make reservations in one of the three booths, but reservations are restricted to three time slots.  It is approximately a 45 minute drive from the trailhead, but you are very close to the 101 freeway for the drive home.  

Havasupai: Journey to the Land that Remembers

"

Havasu Falls

"Our truest lives are when we are in dreams awake," Henry David Thoreau.  My daughter Brittany and I have been dreaming of the land of the blue-green waters for at least ten years.  I do not know how we first learned of the Havasupai tribe, how we learned about the lush oasis of green, red, and aqua blue colors with sweeping vistas and large waterfalls and pools, but after we saw pictures of Havasu Falls and how difficult it was to visit, the carrot dangled before us.  We made plans in advance in 2007, and were extremely disappointed when the floods of 2008 destroyed the trail into the village.  Then life happened, and once again Brittany started to think about making the trip in January 2013 and we made it to Havasu Falls last week.  

Of all the hikes, of all the adventures, of all the vacations, this one left me humbled, hopeful, grateful, and stronger in spirit and body.  It was a religious experience, one that has touched me   and has made me a different person.  I left the Grand Canyon and Supai with stronger life lessons: when "quitting is not an option"  you find that you can accomplish great things with little remaining strength.    Also "true appreciation comes from something that you work hard for. "  I have never appreciated the refreshing aqua waters as much as when we hiked nine miles with forty pound packs to find our campsite next to a beautiful aqua pool..   It was truly heaven.   

Mooney Falls, named after the miner

 D.W. James Mooney, who in 1882 was 

mining the area when his companion was injured. 

Mooney tried to climb up the falls with his injured 

friend tied to his back, and subsequently fell to his 

death.  

There is a trail on the left side, looking

downstream, that leads to the

bottom of Mooney Falls.  The trail is 

dangerous  but with the aids 

of strategically placed handholds, chains, and 

ladders, it is well traversed.   On the descent down to

 the base of the 200 ft. waterfall, the first part 

is relatively easy until a small 

passageway/cave is reached, which is barely

 large enough to squeeze through. 

 At this point  and onward, it is precarious.
There is another small cave tunnel,
and then the rest is basically 

a vertical drop down with some ladders,
and some without ladders and just chains

 and handholds.  If you are afraid of heights, 

this is going to be tough at best. This was the 

only way down to the base and to the trail to
Beaver Falls, and the only way back
to the campsite.  

We were a  tribe, seven strong.  We brought many personalities, strengths, compassion, and 

empathies to our village- the campsite- the rugged and surreal place we would call home for four days and three nights.  We learned to lean on each other, trust each other, we spoke softly and got along, and we learned how to survive in this new wilderness with hydration and salty foods.  We became nurses, doctors, counselors and therapists.  We came across hard times in triple digit temps; with a limited water supply on one of our hikes, we had to strategize on how to make it back to the campsite on the combination of H2O left in our camelbacks, and hiked with badly skinned knees and blisters on our feet.  We learned that we could overcome a fear of heights and climb down a sheer vertical rock face, sometimes bearing our weight entirely with our arms, not seeing enough of the next step to be certain that we were doing the right thing when swinging on the given chains bolted to the rock. We learned that we had what it took to climb back up the same rock face pulling our tired bodies up with our arms,  after an exhausting eight mile hike in triple digit temps.    We found our breaking points, witholding tears until it was safe to let them go.  

50 Foot Waterfall or Lower Navajo Falls.  Whatever goes 

into the creek-due to its high concentration of calcium 

carbonate-is mineralized quickly.  The creek is constantly 

changing because of this and due to seasonal flash

flooding.  In 2008, flooding created mudslides and the 

result was that the water bypassed Navajo Falls entirely

and created two new waterfalls.  This is one of them, popular

for jumping off of.  

We appreciated the mist from the falls that cooled us, the breathtaking beauty of the red iron cliffs of the Grand Canyon in contrast with the deep green foliage and high alkaline limestone coloring the aqua blue waters, the travertine and limestone rocks that made it easy to jump from rock to rock and never lose your footing.  We even appreciated freeze dried food and sharing each night what we brought to the picnic table.  We worked hard for every breathtaking moment!!

This was Supai to us.

With that said, I hope i have prepared you effectively.  It is by no means an easy hike but one you will never forget!! Yes, you can helicopter in and out, but you would leave without the real experience.  I truly believe theat this one needs to be difficult for you to reap the rewards.  It is not a vacation, it is an adventure.

To start planning you will need to make reservations for the campsites.  This was the difficult part as the village of Supai does not man their phone lines.  You must keep calling with diligence!!  Once you have the campsite reservations you can pay for the campsite and you can reserve a helicopter or packing mules for the trip back out at the village. From Los Angeles, it is about a 6 hour drive to Kingman.  We spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/kingman/igmaz/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=mdpr-_-GoogleMaps-_-ex-_-igmaz, and returned to stay here on the way out.  They kept our overnight bags in the hotel for us, so that our stuff wouldn't be in the hot car for days. We ate at Kingman Steak House http://kingmancosteakhouse.com/ which had amazing prime rib and yummy steak salads.  We left the hotel at 2 a.m. and were surprised at how many people were up at this time! Its the way of the desert I guess!  Be sure to fill up the tank in Kingman, because services will be scarce for the rest of the  1 1/2 hour drive.  We headed out to Hualapai Hilltop, which is where you park your car for the hike.  Take Route 66 towards Peach Springs, and after the small town of Peach Springs look for Highway 18. Turn left and follow this crazy road for 75 miles.... I say crazy because in the dark you will be dodging cows, elk, and rodents. When you arrive at the Hilltop, which is the top of the Grand Canyon, park your car in designated areas.  Make sure that snacks and electrolytes are accessible for the hike down as well as at least two liters of water.  

You will pass Hualapai Indian Reservation in Peach Springs. Ethnically the Havasupai and Hualapai are the same people, but are politically separate groups by government policy.  They were hunters and gatherers, and their main crop was corn, along with beans, squash and gourds. The Spanish introduced them to other crops including watermelon, melons and orchard trees.  Before the 1800s, the Havasupai laid claim to an area the size of Delaware.  In 1882, President Arthur issued an executive order that all land on the plateau would become public property of the United States, which limited the tribe to 518 acres (Supai Village) and took away their winter home on the plateau.  Morale became low, and the Havasupais resorted to drinking, violence and gambling. 

A health problem ensued within the tribe, and an infant and child mortality increase almost decimated the remaining population. In 1920, to help combat the issue of floods destroying their crops on their remaining 518 acres, the government assisted the tribe in developing their irrigation system which prevented soil erosion and water control.   In 1975, after almost a hundred years of fighting to regain the land that was taken from them, President Gerald Ford signed a trust title to the Havasupais for 188,077 acres at the western side of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon with another 95,000 acres to be supervised by National Park Service but available for traditional use by the Havasupai.  Supai Village is the most remote village in the lower 48 states.  Their supplies are helicoptered in.  Their mail is delivered by mules.  The Yuman Dialect spoken by the Havasupais is the only Native American language in the United States of America spoken by 100% of its indigenous population.  

The hike to Supai, the village of the Havasupais, is about 8 miles long.  The first mile and a half is the steepest part of the hike and when you will descend 2000 feet to the base of the Grand Canyon.  The rest of the hike to the village is mostly level in a dry bed.  When you arrive to a sign that says "Supai Village, you are almost there!" you are NOT almost there.  It is about another hour to the office where you will register.  So keep hydrating and don't pick up the pace thinking you are almost done!  Once you register at the village, it is another mile and a half to two miles and a half to the campgrounds and campsites.  Some of it is downhill and most of it is in soft sand.  It is a real BEAR to do this after 10 a.m. in the summer.  You are really racing against the sun!  Start the hike EARLY and give yourself about 6 hours to complete.  On the way out, remember that you are hiking UP to the hilltop, so it is very important to leave early. We started breaking our tents at 2 a.m.  for the hike back to the hilltop.  

Havasu Falls, 50 foot falls, and Navajo Falls are before the campgrounds.  Mooney and Beaver Falls are after the campgrounds.  Mooney Falls is very close to the campgrounds, and to reach the base you need to descend the cliffs on ladders, chains, and rock stairs.    Beaver Falls is 4 miles from Mooney Falls and is almost like being on an obstacle course trail, with stairs etched into vertical logs, larger ladders, and overgrown grapevine arbors to clamber through.  All are beautiful hikes but bring plenty of water and snacks.  

It is romantic to think that the land will remember us, as the Havasupais think.  They believe that the land is a living being and has a close and loving relationship with humans.  In "the Farewell Song of the Havasupai"  it describes the land as a living emotional entity in which retains the memory of those that travel there. What a beautiful thought, because I know that I will always have the memory of this magical oasis in the middle of the desert.  "That's what I want, what I want. ha na" 

Mt. Baldy (Mt San Antonio) Adventure

On a clear day, a snow capped mountain dwarfs the skyscrapers of Los Angeles:  Mount Baldy at 10,064 feet is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains.  When a meetup posted a hike to the summit, two things came to mind...the driving distance to Mt. Baldy (where is it exactly?!) and is the elevation gain something that I could do without training?  Then the most important, IS IT REALLY GOING TO BE 90 DEGREE WEATHER?!!!  

Jeff and I decided, at the last minute, when the temperature forecast went down to the 80's, to commit and do our best!  (We can always turn around and not do the entire hike, we reasoned).  It was labeled as a 6.5 mile 2700 feet elevation gain "not an easy" hike.  Bring it!!

  

The meetup was an entire day commitment, from the drive to Mt. Baldy to the band and stargazing at the end.  We invited Jeff's daughter, Maddie too.  And off we went at 10 a.m. to meet the rest of the group at the Notch.  It takes approximately an hour and a half  from Santa Monica to get to Mt. Baldy.  Take the 10E to the 605N to the 210E.  Take Baseline exit, turn left on Baseline, then right on Padua, and right on Mt. Baldy Rd.  Follow signs to Mt. Baldy.  It will dead end at the ski lift up to the Notch.

Ski lift tickets can be purchased there, at $25 per person.  Check out travelzoo, as they were offering two lift tickets for $19 online, but they must be purchased twenty four hours in advance.  You can also check out the events offered at the Notch Lodge, including upcoming concerts and make reservations for lift tickets for that date.  I highly recommend going when they have an event...nothing better after a hike than a beer and some live music and relaxing by the fire pit!!

The Notch is at the top of the ski lift ride, and is at an elevation of 7800 feet.  By taking the lift, you take 1500 feet off of your hike!  The first mile of the hike is steep and I was thinking "this is crazy!"  but it does level off at some point and it isn't as steep.  Just think about the glute burning...thats what kept me going! Its great exercise!!  

During the "easier" part of the hike, enjoy the sugar pines and the wildflowers.  Jeff and Maddie saw a deer too!  And the views off the cliffs are breathtaking.  Be sure to hydrate every time you are winded and have to stop.  Its much easier to drink when you stop.  And that way you get plenty to drink.  Its too late to hydrate if you feel that you are thirsty!  And I never burn, but I could feel the sun on my shoulders after the first half hour, so I put on sunscreen.  

The last mile of the hike is nar nar.  There is no other word, or words for it.  Its steep, narrow at times, and you are at 9000 feet, which means that you get winded.  I would stop after 15 steps.  And you get belligerent.  Hikers were coming down, and I couldnt even move to get out of their way. My legs were like rubber.   I just wanted to get up the damn mountain!!  Every hiker on the descent had a smile on their face and words of encouragement.  I mustered a thank you...but still couldnt budge!!  There was one kid, a little tike of but 8 or 9 years old that corrected his dad when he told me that I had 15 minutes to go..."you're almost there!!"  "NO!"  the kid said.  "You will have a level area but then you have another steeper area and it is really hard.  You have about 45 more minutes!"  I almost tackled him with what the remaining strength I had!  But then as he passed me he said "but you can do it!  I have faith in you!"  I was too tired to even giggle.  But once at the summit, and after a 45 minute lunch break, you feel amazing, like you really tackled a huge hike!!  And you have!! The summit is at 10,064 feet.

After lunch, the descent was a breeze.  I didn't stop once.  I found a hiking buddy with the same pace and we talked the entire way down to the lodge.  At the lodge, I waited for Jeff and Maddie, and we sat down at the bar and watched the Kings game. The rest of our group trickled in, and the fire pit area was claimed as well as a dance area by the band.  The evening ended with a ski lift ride in total darkness.  Exhilarating!  Fun!  

You gotta do this hike, at least once!  If I can do it, you can!!  

Antelope Slot Canyon, Utah

Ready to skip town and get some sun So Cal peeps?  A trip to Utah will warm you up!!  Its about 6 hours and 45 minutes to Zion from Santa Monica, and then another 57 minutes to Kanab to stay at the Parry Lodge before hiking through the slot canyons the next day.  If you leave early Saturday, you can see enough of the spectacular Zion that day, spend the night Saturday night in Kanab, hike the slot canyons Saturday and see the dam and Colorado River, and make it home late Sunday night, a little tired and dirty but quite an adventure!!
Its always good to check the weather first;  http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/overview/UTNPZION
Bring plenty of sunscreen and water, and nibbles for the slot canyon hike.

We stopped in Springdale for lunch and to look around.  The town was originally settled as a Mormon community in 1862, and was recently named one of the prettiest towns in the United States by Forbes Traveler 2008.  There are approximately 600 people living there. They have a cool rock store on the main street that we stopped in.  You can also pick up the shuttle to the popular hikes in Zion from here and beat the traffic.  http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/shuttle-system.htm.  We took our chances and drove to the main area at Zion, and took the shuttle to the stops for the hikes.  Its very convenient, there are about 8 stops, and the shuttles come every 15 to 20 minutes.  

We had time for three fast-paced hikes before the shuttle stopped running for the day.  We chose the Temple of SInawava, Weeping Rock and the Grotto.  The Grotto had water and we had to wade through it to continue our hike through the narrows.  

 On our way out of Zion, we saw bighorn sheep on the cliffs with their kids.  Its amazing how they can hug the cliffs and hop around.  We watched them awhile before driving out of Zion.  

It took about an hour on the 9 East to get to Kanab.  We checked into Parry Lodge, a trippy little 
place where old school country western stars would stay. It is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. Apparently the Parry Brothers started by helping the movie industry with their transportation needs while filming in Southern Utah.  The first film that was produced there was in 1923.  

The brothers opened the Parry Lodge in 1931 as a place to feed and lodge cast and crew and called on Hollywood's movie execs to promote filming in Utah.  Apparently it was very successful, as more tham 100 feature films were produced in Utah, including The Lone Ranger and Wagon Train, as well as TV shows like Gunsmoke, Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, and Daniel Boone.  There is a feel of being in a part of western history while staying there, from the name plates above some of the rooms where famous people stayed, to the signed autographs in the restaurant of John Wayne and Dale Evans among others.

The next day we headed to the slot canyons of Antelope Valley.  It is about an hour drive from Parry Lodge.  Head towards Page, Arizona. You will pass the controversial Glen Canyon Dam, a must stop if you have time, because there is talk of removing it to regenerate the natural flow of the Colorado River.  Its reservoir is Lake Powell, the second largest artificial lake in the country.  There are 45 minute tours at the center that take you through the dam, but you need to make reservations.  Contact the Glen Canyon Tour  Program at (928) 608-6072.  Tours are $5 per person and must be made 24 hours in advance and paid for in person at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center.  

Continue towards Antelope Valley Slot Canyons which are just outside Page, close to AZ 98 a few miles east of town, at milepost 299 (yeah you are out in the middle of nowhere!).  You are also on Navajo Indian Reservation land, so permits must be obtained, and you have to have a native American tour guide to take you through the canyons.  



Antelope is the most visited slot canyon in the southwest due to professional photographers visiting for amazing shots in ideal conditions.  The tour guide helped me with my shots, and some of them turned out beautiful from my cell phone camera!  The lower slot canyon is off the main road, is less expensive, and is just as beautiful.  This is the one we chose.  

The tour guide is basically for technicality and safety, because it would be difficult to get lost.  In August 1997, 11 people were drowned when water 50 feet deep swept through the canyon from a thunderstorm five miles away.  This also resulted in the canyon becoming four feet deeper.  Now, a tour guide is mandatory and its pricey, about $20 per person.  Our tour guide, a Navajo Indian, was funny, helpful, and even played a guitar while we were in the canyon.  Once you are in the canyon you can basically do whatever you want.  We could get far ahead of the small group and take pictures and enjoy the silence and beauty.  






We headed back to Los Angeles around 5 p.m. and decided to take the route through Zion again.  We spotted more bighorn sheep and the lighting for pictures was amazing.  
It was a fast and furious trip with lots of exercise and interesting places to visit.  We had a fun time!!  

Camp Cottam from Cold Spring Trail, Santa Barbara

The ridge above Santa Barbara...you know that mountain range that encompasses Montecito and Santa Barbara, bringing a warmth to the already quaintness of the red tile roofs and woodsy-ness of the area?   I have always wanted to walk on the crestline, and this week we did it!  

Parking at top of East Camino Cielo by the mushroom
shaped water tank.  We had 19 people in our
meetup....so all the cars here are from our group.

I discovered Salinas Street offramp, a street that of the 20 years that I lived in Santa Barbara and surrounding areas, I have never been on....and is apparently the gateway to the beautiful back mountain ranges behind the city.  First there are the Santa Ynez mountains, and just behind them are the San Rafael Mountains.  Hiking downhill first, a reverse hike, is scary in itself, because you wonder if you will have enough of what it takes to hike back up the mountain!  The destination is in a meadow, nestled in between canyons, and on top of the Santa Ynez faultline. Look for shell fossils in the rock, an indication of the forces of the fault, as uplifting over millions of years has brought up layers of bedrock laden with shell remnants.  Another bit of history happened in the 1820's when the Chumash Indians revolted and fled to the San Joaquin Valley and the shelter of the tule marshes, and soldiers took this route to round them up and bring them back.  The best view by far is at the beginning of the hike, overlooking Santa Barbara Lagoon, Stearns Wharf, and beyond, at 3000 feet is just  breathtaking.  

Trailhead at top 

The meadow at the bottom is Camp
Cottam!

The hike down to Camp Cottam is 3.8 miles, about 4 hours with lots of breaks on the way back up.  There are a few forks in the trail, veer right, and remember which way you went!  We went with a hiking group, and a few of them got lost on the way out, and ended up taking a different trail out and ran across deer and snow! The trail is narrow but well-maintained and shady on the way down, early morning, and the meadow was full sun.  Dress in layers!  We passed a few groups of backpackers, and I found out later as I was gathering information for my blog, that tacking on another 5 miles total would have taken us to Caliente Hot Springs.  Maybe next time!! 

To get there, take exit 95 onto South Salinas Street.  At traffic circle take second exit to Sycamore Canyon Road. Continue to Foothill Road/Stanwood Drive 1.2 miles.  Then turn right on El Cielito Rd for .3 miles.  Turn left to stay on El Cielito Rd at 358 feet.  Another right to stay on El Cielito Rd at .2 miles.  Take the first right onto Gibraltar Road and stay on this for 6.2 windy miles.  Turn right onto East Camino Cielo and drive for another 3.3 miles to trailhead parking area and mushroom shaped cement water tank.  

Saddle Peak via Backbone Trail from Piuma Rd.

I know I keep saying this, but I swear the hike from Piuma to Saddle Peak is my FAVORITE!!  And by far it is the one I keep revisiting over and over again.  I don't know what makes it my favorite...is it the different ecosystems, ranging from woodlands to chaparral to fern covered rocks, or is it the amazing rock face that I scramble up on to have my turnaround celebration, with views of the entire valley below me and the swiftly moving clouds above giving me vertigo...it may be the challenge to make it up the mountain.....or it may be the amazing geological rock formations at the top....but regardless it is a beautiful hike and it seems every time I visit, it is a different experience.  

Saddle Peak is second only to Sandstone Peak in elevation in the Santa Monica Mountains.  That said, you will have an elevation gain of 1750 ft. on a  4.4 mile one way trek up.  This hike will take about 4 hours total.  It is a perfect combination of shade and sun.  However, the last part of the ascent is all sun, and the challenging part of the hike.  So bring lots of water and sunscreen to this one!  In the summer, I suggest an early morning or late afternoon hike.  

About 3/4 of the way up, there is only one junction and a chance to get lost....at the junction veer to the right to continue up to Saddle Peak.  If you go straight .3 miles, you will discover Stunt Road.  You will know you are on the right path when you hit 1.3 miles of switchbacks, but your reward is at the end! After you pass the first set of boulders that will be on both sides of the trail,  look for a boulder straight ahead with a 90 degree face.  If you turn right at the boulder instead of following the trail that will turn to the left, you will find a tiny trail that hugs the boulder, and you will be able to climb up the boulder and have amazing and private views of the valley.  I love to lay down and watch the clouds from this vantage point.  And to be honest with you, I don't continue the hike from here.  Although if you go back on the trail and continue, you will have a view of the ocean from the peak!  

From Pacific Coast Highway, take Malibu Canyon Road north approximately 4.6 miles to a stoplight for Piuma Rd.  Turn right on Piuma, and follow it up about 1.2 miles, where the road turns sharply right.  Look for a small dirt turnout, enough for two cars to park, on the right.  Park there and go back towards the turn, across the street and take the small trail that goes up to the left of the large dirt pullout.  Within 10 to 15 minutes, you should be in a wooded area and crossing Cold Creek.  

Corral Canyon to Castro Motorway

This is one of my local favorites, possibly because I am accustomed to a glass of wine atop my sandstone cliff perch at the halfway mark, before I turn around and come back down!!  It is a relatively easy hike, a little over a mile if you go and rock scramble first, with a total 400 ft. elevation gain on the way up the motorway. From your vista you will be able to see Malibou Lake, Malibu Creek State Park, and the ocean.   It is a partial sun hike, the north side of the mountain is shady, and the wind that picks up through the canyon can make it chilly on the cliffs. I suggest to bring water and a windbreaker, if not a heavier jacket on cooler days.  

The view from Castro Motorway looking down
at the parking area and the sandstone rock
formations and the first part of the hike.

We did this hike on a very popular hiking weekend.  We wanted to go to Solstice Canyon, but it was very congested with cars and people.  We continued up Corral Canyon to the very end, the road becomes dirt, and there were 5 or 6 cars tops in the dirt parking area!!  YES!!!  
I suggest going east from the parking area towards the sandstone rock formations.  Look for an  unmarked path heading towards the rock spires, and head east on the ridge above the road you just drove in on.   Scramble rocks and pass a shady area and look for car ruins...then continue onto a second scramble and further to a legit man-made rock spiral.  

The shady side of the hike!

Once you are done playing on the rocks, go back to the parking area and head to the north end of the lot and look for "Castro Peak Motorway" signs, heading up the fire road.  At the use trail junction, there are many options to choose from.  Keep to the right to continue on the Castro Peak Motorway.   You will continue to climb in elevation, and will come to another junction for Bull Dog Motorway.  Stay on Castro Peak Motorway past this sign about a quarter of a mile to a sandstone cropping.   Scramble up the rocks and find a place to have lunch or a happy hour sunset.  If you went to the end of the road and the barbed wire fence with threatening trespasser signs, you went too far!