Songs of the Wilderness

Posted by: James Wapotich | November 23, 2013

Trail Quest: Manzana Creek Eagle Scout Project

If you have a chance to hike Manzana Trail up towards Manzana Narrows you may notice two new picnic tables along the way that weren’t there before. The tables are part of Jeff Bastanchury’s Eagle Scout project and were installed with the help of volunteers and scouts from Troop 42.

Manzana Creek is a popular hiking destination within the San Rafael Wilderness and is also a favorite of Troop 42. The scouts regularly backpack and camp along Manzana Creek, as well as camp at Davy Brown and hike the trails in the Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area.

A resident of Buellton, Mr. Bastanchury has been involved in scouting since joining the Cub Scouts ten years ago; now a Boy Scout he is currently working towards completing the requirements to become an Eagle Scout.

Jeff leads Montana carrying the tables along Manzana Trail

The rank of Eagle Scout is not something that is earned overnight. It requires dedication to scouting and an active involvement with one’s troop. In fact, only a percentage of scouts actually complete all of the requirements. In additional to progressing through the different ranks to reach Eagle, a scout needs to earn 21 merit badges, serve in a leadership position within the troop, and complete a community service project before his 18th birthday.

Mr. Bastanchury, 16, has met the requirements thus far to advance through the different rank levels within scouting, achieving the rank of Life Scout. He has two remaining merit badges to earn; a scout can choose from over 100 different merit badges, 12 of which are specifically required. Mr. Bastanchury has served as patrol leader and is currently Junior Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 42.

One of the great things about scouting is that it helps cultivate leadership at an early age. As part of the requirements to become an Eagle Scout, a scout also needs to design and lead a community service project.

Manzana Creek Trail map San Rafael Wilderness Los Padres National Forest Ray's Fish Camp Nira Lost Valley Hurricane Deck

Map courtesy Maps.com

The inspiration for Mr. Bastanchury’s service project came to him while hiking on the trails. He had originally considered repairing picnic tables at another recreation site, but during one of the troop’s backpacking trips along Manzana Creek he ran into Volunteer Wilderness Ranger Paul Cronshaw. In talking with Mr. Cronshaw, Mr. Bastanchury learned there were two campsites along Manzana Trail that would benefit from new picnic tables.

For his service project he decided to install picnic tables at Ray’s Camp and Manzana Camp. “I wanted to do something substantial and help out a place that I like.” Mr. Bastanchury told the News-Press, “And it’s nice to have a place to sit after you’ve been on that long hike.”

The next step was to submit a written proposal to his troop committee and district committee within Los Padres Council Boy Scouts of America, as well as with the Forest Service’s Los Padres National Forest representative. Once his project was approved, Mr. Bastanchury lead a local fundraising event in order to purchase the metal frames, lumber, and other materials for the picnic tables.

Manzana Creek Camp Narrows Trail Forest San Rafael Wilderness Los Padres National Forest Santa Barbara day hike hiking backpacking

A view just above Manzana Camp looking downstream

It was through Mr. Cronshaw that Susie Thielmann joined the project. A Volunteer Wilderness Ranger, Ms. Thielmann is part of the Los Padres Forest Association’s Wrangler program, which supports trail work projects by providing stock animals to help carry equipment and supplies.

Earlier this month, Mr. Bastanchury along with the other volunteers met Ms. Thielmann at Nira Campground where they loaded the materials onto her two horses, Sansi and Montana, and hiked to Ray’s Camp, about five miles. At the campsite they unloaded the horses, and assembled and installed the first picnic table. At Ray’s Camp they also stashed the materials for the second table.

This past weekend the scouts and volunteers returned to Ray’s Camp, loaded up the materials, and continued up to Manzana Camp where they assembled and installed the second table.

In addition to the Volunteer Wilderness Rangers, Mr. Bastanchury was supported by fellow scouts Ben Donahue, Terry Schrepel, Alex and Eric Wittmann, and scout leader Matt Donahue. Also there in support was his father and scout leader Mark, as well as his mother Diane and sister Nicole, both of who are active in Girl Scouts.

A Junior at Santa Ynez Valley High School, Mr. Bastanchury is also on the varsity water polo team and divides his time between scouting and his other extracurricular activities. After high school he plans on attending college and has considered becoming a fire fighter or serving in the Coast Guard.

Mr. Bastanchury shared that through scouting he has had the opportunity to learn about leadership, communications, working with other people, and true to the scout motto, to be prepared.

When asked what he enjoyed most about his service project he offered, “Seeing my plan come together and looking at the completed tables at the campsites.”

For those hiking along Manzana Trail the tables will be a welcome additional to the camps. In fact, with the arrival of fall this is actually one of the nicer times of the year to visit the backcountry. The trees are starting to draw less water from the creeks and with the recent rains Manzana Creek is starting to flow again.

Manzana Trail can be accessed from the trailhead at Nira. To get to the trailhead from Santa Barbara take State Route 154 and continue over San Marcos Pass, past Lake Cachuma, and turn right onto Armour Ranch Road. Continue along Armour Ranch Road and turn right onto Happy Canyon Road. Happy Canyon Road continues through ranch country before climbing towards Cachuma Saddle.

At Cachuma Saddle, Happy Canyon Road meets Figueroa Mountain Road, becoming Sunset Valley Road, and continues down towards Davy Brown and Nira Campgrounds.

From Nira, Manzana Trail continues upstream along Manzana Creek and offers a number of destinations to choose from. The trail leads through a mix of riparian plants, chaparral and pines.

The hike to Ray’s Camp is about 10 miles roundtrip. The camp was named for local writer and trail advocate Ray Ford. When Mr. Ford was a teacher at Dos Pueblos High School he would regularly take his students out in to the backcountry, including along Manzana Creek.

About a mile past Ray’s Camp, the trail arrives at Manzana Camp. And continuing upstream another mile, the trail arrives at Manzana Narrows Camp. Manzana Creek is currently flowing between Manzana and Manzana Narrows camps.

With the completion of his community service project and the fulfillment of the other requirements, Mr. Bastanchury will receive his Eagle Scout badge in a formal ceremony hosted by his troop.

For more information about Boy Scouts of America and Los Padres Council go to http://www.lpcbsa.org.

The article originally appeared in section A of the November 23rd, 2013 edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press.

Water Report: Manzana Creek is dry most of the way to Ray’s Camp with a small pool near the camp. However, from Manzana Camp the creek is flowing all the way to Manzana Narrows. And with the recent rains that’s likely to improve.

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Posted in San Rafael Wilderness, Trail Groups/Outdoor Programs, Trail Reports

Posted by: James Wapotich | November 9, 2013

Trail Quest: Franklin Trail

After being closed for more than 35 years, the first section of Franklin Trail has been reopened. The trail not only represents a new destination for outdoor enthusiasts, but is also a reflection of what can be accomplished when a community pulls together.

The original Franklin Trail dates back to 1913, when the Forest Service built the trail to connect Carpinteria with the local backcountry. The trail was called Carpinteria-Juncal Trail by the Forest Service, but was also known as Franklin Canyon Trail.

Named for the Franklin Family which used to let community groups use the canyon, Franklin Canyon was at one time a popular destination for picnicking and camping. In the 1930s the Franklin Family closed access to the trail through their property. Hikers and equestrians then used the Edison service road to access the trail above Franklin Canyon.

Franklin Trail Los Padres National Forest Carpinteria hike

In the late 1970s access to most of the trail was closed by the landowners over concerns of avocado root rot being spread by trail users.

It wasn’t until the mid 2000s that the possibility of the trail being reopened began to surface. Efforts by the County’s Riding and Hiking Trails Advisory Committee (CRAHTAC) and Montecito Trails Foundation began to meet with success when several landowners, with the help of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, granted easements through their property.

To develop the easements and reopen the trail the County sought funding through the California State Parks Recreational Trail Program but was turned down several years in a row; and when it was finally awarded the grant there were no more funds available.

In 2011, Friends of Franklin Trail was formed as an ad-hoc committee to raise the necessary funds. The group successfully raised the $450,000 required to begin work on the trail.

The trail will be reopened in three phases. The first phase, which is now open, leads from the trailhead, and covers 2.25 miles of what will be a seven-mile trail to the top of the Santa Ynez Mountains.

The trail is designated as a multi-use trail, however it’s being asked that equestrians and mountain bikers wait until January to use the newly constructed trail to allow foot traffic and winter rains to compact the trail’s surface.

Franklin Trail map Santa Barbara Carpinteria hike

Map courtesy Maps.com

To get to the trailhead from Santa Barbara take Highway 101 south to Carpinteria and exit at Linden Avenue. Continue north on Linden Avenue and look for Meadow View Lane on your left. Turn left onto Meadow View Lane, the road dead ends at Franklin Creek. The trailhead can also be accessed from Franklin Park along Sterling Drive.

From the trailhead, Franklin Trail follows the bike path north along Franklin Creek to Foothill Road. The trail crosses Foothill Road, turns left, and continues along Foothill Road. The trail passes in front of Carpinteria High School before continuing around the school.

Here the trail is fenced on one side to separate it from the high school. At the beginning of this trail section is an information kiosk describing the history and features of Franklin Trail. The trail continues around the west and north side of the campus and travels on top of a flood control berm installed by the Army Corp of Engineers.

Franklin Trail Carpinteria Los Padres National Forest hike

Scenery along the lower stretches of the trail

At about the .75-mile mark the trail turns north and follows the easement through Persoon Ranch. Here the trail is fenced on both sides. And while the fences may seem like a detraction from the overall aesthetic of the trail, it was one of the requirements necessary to reestablished the trail through developed areas.

In addition to the fences, grading was required for a portion of the trail, and a bridge needed to be installed in order to cross one of the creeks. These first two sections of the trail proved to be the most costly to construct and required additional fundraising to offset their expense.

At about the one-mile mark the trail transitions out of the ranch operation and continues, unfenced, through chaparral as the trail begins its climb through the foothills behind Carpinteria.

Franklin Trail Carpinteria Santa Barbara hike reopened Los Padres National Forest

View looking west from Franklin Trail

Here the trail follows the easement through Horton Ranch, climbing a series of switchbacks. On a clear day one is rewarded with exceptional views out towards the Channel Islands and along the coast.

At about the 2-mile mark the trail arrives at an Edison access road, here the trail levels out providing an overlook. Franklin Trail continues north along the unpaved access road. On the left is a short side trail that leads up to a commemorative bench.

Los Padres National Forest Santa Barbara Carpinteria Hike Franklin Trail

Commemorative bench near the end of the first section of the trail.

From here, Franklin Trail continues along the road offering views to the east of Franklin Canyon. A quarter mile later the road arrives at a locked gate, which marks the end of Phase 1 and the beginning of the Phase 2 section of the trail.

Once opened, Phase 2 of Franklin Trail will continue from the gate and pass through Rancho Monte Alegre to the beginning of the land owned by the Forest Service. This second section of trail is roughly 3.25 miles long and will follow unpaved ranch and access roads.

Originally, the easement through Rancho Monte Alegre called for fencing along both sides of the trail as the owners had planned to develop the land for avocado ranching. However they later decided to establish a conservation easement, limiting development on the property. The conservation easement eliminates the need for fencing, however, because the property is under development, other issues still need to be worked out before Phase 2 work can begin. With any luck the pending issues may be resolved as early as next summer. The good news is that this second section of the trail will require far less work and funding than first section.

Once the trail reaches the beginning of Forest Service land it faces a different challenge. Because the trail hasn’t been maintained in more than 30 years it will need to be cleared and in places reestablished.

The trail will then arrive at the top of the Santa Ynez Mountains, cross Divide Peak OHV Road, and continue down the backside of the mountains towards Jameson Lake. This last section of the historic Franklin Trail is already open and follows Alder Creek part of the way. This section of the trail can be reached from Romero-Camuesa Road via the access road to Jameson Lake.

Bud Girard Franklin Trail Santa Barbara Carpinteria hike Los Padres National Forest reopened

Friends of Franklin Trail Co-Chair Bud Girard stands next to the information kiosk along the newly reopened Franklin Trail

At the heart of the effort to reopen the trail is Friends of Franklin Trail. The group has been instrumental in working with the different stake holders to develop the easements, and move the project forward. The group is co-chaired by Carpinteria residents Bud Girard and Jane Murray, both of whom previously served on the board for Montecito Trails Foundation.

A retired civil engineer, Mr. Girard have overseen the construction of the trail. And Mrs. Murray, who previously served as Director of Volunteers at Arroyo Hondo, manages the public outreach. With the support of Ted Rhodes, who helped with the community purchase Carpinteria Bluffs, Friends of Franklin Trail has been able to lead a very effective fundraising campaign for the trail.

“The spirit of Carpinteria has just been amazing. People would pass me on the street and donate.” Mrs. Murray told the News-Press, “It was just so heart warming. Even though it was hard, you knew the whole town was behind you.”

Through their leadership and love for the trail Mr. Girard and Mrs. Murray, along with the many volunteers associated with Friends of Franklin Trail, have helped focus the community’s interest in reopening the trail. And with the support of Santa Barbara County Parks, the City of Carpinteria, Carpinteria High School, the landowners, and other local representatives, agencies and organizations, we now have the beginnings of a trail that will provide additional recreational opportunities, and once again connect Carpinteria with the local backcountry.

For more information about Friends of Franklin Trail or to donate to help reopen the remaining sections of the trail go to www.franklintrail.org.

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Posted in Carpinteria, Front Country Trails, Santa Ynez Mountains, Trail Groups/Outdoor Programs, Trail Reports

Posted by: James Wapotich | October 26, 2013

Trail Quest: Santa Barbara Island

With the government shutdown thankfully behind us, both Los Padres National Forest and Channel Island National Park are once again open and welcoming visitors. And what better way to celebrate than by hitting the trails, particularly now that the weather is starting to turn towards autumn.

If you’ve never been to the Channel Islands, now is one of the nicer times to go. Sometimes referred to as the Galapagos Islands of the north, these eight islands off the coast of Southern California are a unique world unto themselves.

Channel Islands National Park encompasses San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Anacapa, Santa Barbara, and the eastern part of Santa Cruz Islands, and offers a sense of what California looked like a hundred years ago. San Nicholas and San Clemente Islands are owned by the US Navy, and Santa Catalina Island is a mix of urban development and open area for camping and hiking.

Santa Barbara Island day hike camping Channel Island National Park

A view toward North Peak is seen from the trail

Surprisingly, Channel Islands National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the country. And of the five islands in the park, Santa Barbara Island is the furthest south, and along with San Miguel Island sees the fewest visitors.

The easiest way to get to the island is with Island Packers out of Ventura, http://www.islandpackers.com, which offers transportation to all five of the islands within the National Park. Island Packers typically offers just four trips a year to Santa Barbara Island, which can often fill up early, so its best to schedule your trip in advance.

The boat ride to the island is about three hours and can often include dolphins sightings and other marine life along the way.

Santa Barbara Island trail hike camp Channel Island National Park map

Map courtesy Maps.com

Santa Barbara Island is located about 41 miles south of Anacapa Island, and is also roughly midway between San Nicholas and Santa Catalina Islands. The island was used as a stopover by both the Chumash and the Tongva when traveling between the islands. The island was called Siwot by the Chumash and ‘Tchunash by the Tongva.

Sometimes referred to as Gabrieleno Indians, the Tongva were the Chumash’s neighbors to the south. The Tongva lived throughout most of what is now Los Angeles and parts of Orange Counties, in an area from Topanga Canyon to Newport Beach, and as far inland as the San Fernando Valley and San Bernardino. It is from the Tongva that we have such place names as Topanga, Azusa, and Cucamonga.

The Tongva also lived on Santa Catalina, San Nicholas and San Clemente Islands, and like the Chumash, built and used wood plank canoes to travel between the islands and the mainland, and along the coast. And like the Chumash the Tongva were hunter-gatherers, who were brought into the Mission system with the arrival of the Spanish, and saw their population decimated by western diseases.

Santa Barbara Island day hike camping Channel Islands National Park Webster Point

Pinnipeds congregate on the beach at Webster Point

Similar to the other Channel Islands, Santa Barbara Island was formed underwater by volcanic activity and then uplifted about 5 millions years ago. The island is roughly one square mile and is the smallest of the Channel Islands. With the changes in sea level during the different ice ages the island was at various times submerged or even 5-10 times larger than it is today.

The island itself is defined by a rugged coastline of steep cliffs, and in the interior, two large hills; Signal Peak, 634 feet high, and North Peak, 562 feet high. The different trails on the island make a circuit, as well as meet and cross at the saddle between the two hills. There are about six miles of trails in total, and several loop hikes can be crafted ranging from 2-5 miles.

At first glance, Santa Barbara Island can look somewhat barren as it’s still recovering from the ravages of ranching, most notably the damage done by sheep grazing, introduced rabbits, and feral cats. All of the non-native mammals have been removed, and native plant restoration is underway.

There are no trees on the island, but wild coreopsis or giant sunflower grows abundantly on the eastern side of the island. The island also supports a surprising amount of wildlife. Binoculars are recommended, both for birding, which can include barn and burrowing owls, and kestrels, and for viewing sea lions and elephant seals along the coast.

In the spring the island is greener, however a number of trails can be closed to protect nesting seabirds, most notably western gulls and California brown pelicans. In the fall most, if not all, of the trails are open.

In addition to hiking the island also offers opportunities for diving and snorkeling, as well as kayaking. However you will need to provide your own gear and expertise.

From the harbor landing, a short trail climbs up to the Visitor Center, Ranger Station, and nearby restrooms. The route leads past where the Hyder ranch house was once located. The Hyders were the only people to have lived on the island for an extended period of time from 1914-1929.

The campground and picnic tables are located past the Visitor Center. There is no water available on the island or other amenities, and so you will have to pack in everything you need. For camping, one gallon of water per person per day is a good amount to consider bringing.

For the hike, one approach is start from the Visitor Center and make a circuit around the island. Moving counter-clockwise the trail leads north towards Arch Point, the arch itself is visible from campground area. From the point, the trail continues west and offers views of Shag Rock and Elephant Seal Cove. The trail then climbs to the top of North Peak.

At North Peak the trail branches, with the trail to the left continuing down towards the saddle between North Peak and Signal Peak, and the trail to the right descending down towards Webster Point. The two trails meet back up at the saddle.

Along the trail to Webster Point, a short side trail provides views looking back out across Elephant Seal Cove, while the main route continues to an overlook south of Webster Point. Here one can view elephant seals and sea lions sunning themselves and generally carrying on.

In watching the sea lions it’s amazing to see what capable climbers they are. At Webster Point, sea lions often climb from the waterline up onto the point, gaining as much as a hundred feet in elevation. Unlike those of elephant seals, the hind flippers of sea lions are articulated and allow the sea lions to scrambled up and over rocks, whereas elephant seals need sandy beaches in order to haul out from the water. Sea lions can also easily be observed at landing harbor where they provide endless hours of entertainment with their energetic activity.

From Webster Point, the trail makes its way up towards the saddle between North Peak and Signal Peak. From the intersection at the saddle a trail leads back to North Peak, another leads east towards the Visitor Center for a shorter loop hike, and a third trail leads south to the top of Signal Peak. For the full circuit around the island, continue to the top of the Signal Peak.

From Signal Peak, the scenery includes views north to Webster Point, and west to Sutil Island, a small 12-acre island just off the coast of Santa Barbara Island. From here the trail descends down the south side of Signal Peak and begins the return loop back to the Visitor Center.

Docent led hikes are offered by trained volunteers from Channel Islands Naturalist Corps.

In 1938 Santa Barbara and Anacapa Islands were designated as a National Monument, and in 1980, along with San Miguel, Santa Cruz, and later Santa Rosa Islands became a National Park. For more information about Channel Islands National Park go to http://www.nps.gov/chis.

This article originally appeared in section A of the October 26th, 2013 edition of Santa Barbara News-Press

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Posted in Channel Islands, Trail Reports

Posted by: James Wapotich | October 18, 2013

Trail Quest: The Search for Mono Adobe

Several years ago local author Bob Burtness showed me a 1926 map of the Santa Barbara Natural Forest, the forerunner to the Los Padres National Forest. One of the things that caught my eye was an item labeled Mono Ranger Station. Bob explained that it was the Mono Adobe, but that it had been torn down. In asking around very little seemed to be known about what had happened to it or where it was specifically located, and so it just got added to my list of things to find out more about. However, this year while going through back copies of the Santa Barbara News-Press, I came across a 1966 news article that mentioned Mono Adobe. It was that article that got me motivated to try find out what happened to the structure and where it had been located.

This was the first, first person article I submitted to the News-Press for publication. Only instead of running what I submitted, they edited it, changing every first person reference to third person, creating an article that made little sense.

The article appeared in section A of the October 12th, 2013 edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press.

As part of the process to shift to the column from third person to first person I reworked the original article, leaving out the longer hike description and adding in more content around the actual search, and submitted it with three other sample articles.

The reworked version appears here, Trail Quest: The Search for Mono Adobe.

Mono Adobe, 1961, courtesy Bob Burtness

This was also the first article that Maps.com produced a locator map for. Although the News-Press didn’t run the map, it’s included here below for reference.

Los Padres National Forest Mono Adobe Creek Trail Santa Barbara hike map

Map courtesy Maps.com

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Posted in Back Country Trails

Posted by: James Wapotich | October 12, 2013

Nature as Oracle

Vision Quest ecopsychology mindfulness wilderness retreat Santa Barbara workshop nature

I’m excited to be offering this one day retreat out on our local trails. The land has been a great source of insight and wisdom for me over the years. Many times have I felt overloaded with all the goings on in my life and the world around me, and yet time spent in nature has always helped clarify my personal landscape so that not only can I see my life clearly, but also what actions actually need to be taken and how to best go about them. It is one of the things I’ve come to appreciate about being out on the land.

Nature as Oracle

Since the time of the ancient ones, men and women have journeyed into nature to seek guidance and insight. Today, more than ever, we need to step outside the narrow trance of our intellect, technology and social structures to reconnect to the more expansive intelligence of the natural world. By slowing down and becoming receptive to the non-human realms, we open ourselves to a larger collective wisdom. Nature as mirror, metaphor and teacher can reveal to us our own true nature, and give us a direct experience of the sacred web of life we are part of.

Join us on the trails for a one-day journey out on the land and see what wisdom finds you through:

Body/mind & mindfulness practices that expand perception and awareness
A “vision quest” structure for seeking guidance
3.5 mile roundtrip trail hike
Council circle sharing & shamanic teachings
An embodied experience of eco-community & interconnectedness

Guides:

Maya Shaw Gale is a Mind/Body Wellness Coach and poet, and leads workshops on Embodied Mindfulness, Creative Writing and Ecopsychology.
mayashawgale@verizon.net (805) 882-1893

James Wapotich is the co-founder of Revelation Dreamwork, a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with the Los Padres National Forest, and leads trips and retreats into our local backcountry. jwapotich@yahoo.com (805) 564-6946

1-day retreat is $75 per person. Saturday, November 2nd, from 9AM-4PM.

To sign up or for more information please contact us.

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Posted in Events & Classes

Posted by: James Wapotich | October 9, 2013

Hiking Along The Condor Trail

Los Padres National Forest Condor Trail Santa Barbara backpacking hiking hike

The Condor Trail is a 421-mile thru-hike route that traverses the southern and northern portions of the Los Padres National Forest. The route utilizes existing trails and roads, and showcases some of the best trails within our local backcountry.

The trail can be hiked in sections or as one continuous route. Many of the sections in our local area can be explored as part of a 2-3 day backpacking trip or even a day hike, and most are within two hours of Santa Barbara.

The route includes such places as Sespe Creek and Sisquoc River. Along the trail one can find waterfalls, mountain peaks, quiet potreros, hot springs, Chumash village sites, and old homesteads left by pioneers.

On Wednesday, October 30th, 7PM, the Condor Trail Association is sponsoring a FREE slideshow presentation with Q&A at the Karpeles Manuscript Library, 21. W. Anapamu St., Santa Barbra, CA 93101.

Join local author James Wapotich, as he shares images and stories from his hikes and backpacking trips along the 185-mile section of the trail that passes through Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Starting from Lake Piru in the south, Condor Trail passes through the Sespe, Dick Smith, and San Rafael Wildernesses on its way to San Luis Obispo County.

The event is a great opportunity to learn more about our local backcountry and its trails, as well as learn more about the Condor Trail itself.

James is an experienced backpacker and has hiked many of the trails in our local backcountry, he is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with the Forest Service and is the author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest.

For more info call (805) 564-6946 or email me at jwapotich@yahoo.com.

Just Added: I will also be giving this same talk in Santa Maria, Saturday, October 26th. The event is being hosted by Santa Maria Valley Open Space and is part of their Fall Dinner Social. The event is open to the public, tickets are $15 per person and includes dinner, and will be from 5-8PM. For more information go to www.smvos.org.

Condor Trail Los Padres National Forest Santa Barbara Backpacking hiking hike

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Posted in Condor Trail, Events & Classes

Posted by: James Wapotich | September 29, 2013

Trail Quest: Seasons of Jalama

North along the coast, past Point Conception, is a windswept beach known as Jalama. The beach, now part of Jalama Beach County Park, is the only beach open to the public between Gaviota State Park and Surf Beach, near Lompoc.

The beach has a rich history dating back to the Chumash, and has seen many changes over the years. The park came into existence in 1943 when Atlantic Richfield Oil Company donated the land to the County of Santa Barbara. The park is bordered by Vandenberg Air Force Base to the north, and private ranches to the east and south.

The park is open to both day use and camping.

Jalama Beach County Park Creek Point Conception Lompoc Hike

Jalama Creek Estuary and Beach

Last year, local author John McReynolds published his book Seasons of Jalama, which describes the history and highlights of Jalama Beach County Park. The book includes contributions from Karen Paaske of the Lompoc Historical Society and surfer Ken McAlpine. As well as photos by local photographer Glenn Dubock.

The inspiration for the book came from Mike Eittreim, who’s parents have owned and operated Jalama Beach Store since 1978.

“Mike knew that his mom, Kathleen, was not in good health, and he wanted a book that told the story of Jalama.” Mr. McReynolds told the News-Press. “Mike came up with a lot of the ideas, and his father, Don, is an encyclopedia. I mean he remembers everything about Jalama.”

Originally intended as a picture book showcasing the history and sights of Jalama, the book grew, into a blend of pictures and chapters relating the story of Jalama Beach as Mr. McReynolds got drawn into the subject. The stories feature such local characters as Penitentiary Paul the windsurfer, and include an account of a ghost sighting by one of the park rangers.

I recently visited Jalama Beach and met with Mr. McReynolds, who showed me some of the places referenced in the book.

Jalama Beach County Park is reached from State Route 1, between Gaviota and Lompoc. From Santa Barbara take Highway 101 north, past Gaviota State Beach to State Route 1. Continue north on State Route 1 as it threads its way through rolling ranch country. About 14 miles from Highway 101, look for Jalama Road on your left. The turn off for Jalama Beach is well marked. From here it’s another 14 miles to the park.

The drive along Jalama Road offers a lot of great scenery. In fact, the road, as Mr. McReynolds points out in his book, has been featured in a number of automobile and motorcycle commercials. With its idyllic setting and light traffic, the road lends itself well to filming. And the last curve of the road, above the park, before descending down to the beach, provides locations with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop.

Several films have also made use of the road, most notably A Walk in the Clouds, with Keanu Reeves, which featured the area as a stand in for Napa Valley. And Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse, which made use of the large red barn with distinctive yellow moss, seen along the road, on the left, while driving in.

Jalama Road ends at the entrance to the park. At the far end of the parking lot, along the beach, is Jalama Beach Store. From the store a short walk can be made along Jalama Creek that takes in several sights mentioned in the book.

To the west of the store is the estuary of Jalama Creek, and it’s here on the small bluff overlooking the creek that the Chumash village of Shilimaqshtush was located. The village benefitted from its coastal location and nearby formations of Monterey Chert. The chert was used for making arrowheads and blades, and was a major trade item.

Jalama itself is named for the nearby village of Xalam, which was located further inland, roughly halfway between Shilimaqshtush and Mission La Purisima.

Upstream from the village site, one can see the train trestle that crosses Jalama Creek. First built in 1899, the trestle was part of a 50-mile section of uncompleted track known as “The Gap”. Opened in 1901, the route linked Santa Barbara and San Francisco by rail along the coast. A small depot was established at Jalama to provide water for the steam engines that operated at the time. The depot was managed by the Scaroni Family and they pumped water up to tanks located next to the track, from a small dam built across the creek.

From the beach one can also make a hike towards Point Conception. The hike is nine miles roundtrip and requires planning your hike in advance in order time it with the requisite minus low tide to safely hike towards the point.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Jalama is its transformation from what might be described as a rough and tumble hangout, at the end of long county road, into a family vacation destination complete with cabins for rent.

In his book Mr. McReynolds traces the changes and events that helped put Jalama on the map. “Jalama began to be known for the surfing. That was the first incursion of people from outside the area. During the 70s and 80s the surfers took it from nothing, to a point of some interest.” Mr. McReynolds reflects.

That interest eventually captured the attention of Sunset Magazine, which included Jalama Beach in its Spring 1993 “Best of the West” edition. According to Mr. McReynolds, many people attribute Jalama’s jump in popularity as a travel destination to that article. The next year Sunset Magazine featured a full-length article on Jalama Beach and the secret was out.

Mr. McReynolds recalls seeing long lines at Jalama during the summers as visitors waited to get into the park. The park now sees close a quarter million visitors each year. And just last year, Santa Barbara County Parks introduced a reservations system for camping.

Over the years improvements were made to the park, palms were planted and the dirt parking lot was paved. And through it all, Jalama Beach Store continued to turn out its famous Jalama Burgers.

When Don and Kathleen Eittreim first starting making burgers at the store for visitors, little did they realize that Kathleen’s secret sauce would be the key their success. In the early 80s Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, visited Jalama and pronounced the Jalama Burger as one of the best burgers he’d ever eaten, and even asked Kathleen for the recipe to her sauce. Which only added to the burger’s legend.

The store’s website, http://www.jalamabeachstore.com, includes a webcam showing the beach and current conditions.

Mr. McReynolds first visited Jalama in the spring of 1978, after having moved to Lompoc with is his wife the year before. After working for the Lompoc Record as a sports writer, Mr. McReynolds retired in 2006 and began working on his own writing projects.

His first book, Lompoc: Padres to Pinot, was published in 2009 and traces the history of Lompoc. His second book, Vanished: Lompoc’s Japanese, came out in 2010. The book has received recognition for telling the story of the people of Japanese descent living in Lompoc, who were interned in camps in California and Arizona for the duration of the Second World War. And addresses the question of why out of 100 families interned from Lompoc only two returned to live there. Mr. McReynolds research included interviews with the Japanese families who lived through those times, and explores the underlying motivations behind the internment, a story that played out in rural areas throughout California.

Seasons of Jalama is available at Chaucer’s, and other local bookstores.

For more information about visiting and camping at Jalama Beach County Park, go to http://www.countyofsb.org/parks/parks06.aspx?id=9186

This article originally appeared in section A of the September 9th, 2013 edition of Santa Barbara News-Press.

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Posted in Coastal Hikes, Santa Maria/Lompoc

Posted by: James Wapotich | September 14, 2013

Trail Quest: Backcountry beach camping on Santa Rosa Island

While all five of the islands within Channel Islands National Park offer opportunities for camping and hiking, Santa Rosa Island is unique in that it offers backcountry beach camping.

Backcountry beach camping provides a way to experience the remoteness of the Channel Islands and see parts of Santa Rosa Island that can’t be reached by day hiking. Beach camping can also be a lot of fun.

Backcountry beach camping, however, is not for everyone. There are no established campsites, water sources are limited, and the hiking can be strenuous. For these reasons it is only recommended for experienced backpackers. Backcountry beach camping is also open to experienced kayakers.

Santa Rosa Island Ford Point Backcountry Beach Camping Channel Island National Park

Ford Point Beach

Along the south shore of Santa Rosa there are several beaches that have potential for beach camping including San Augustin Canyon, Ford Point and La Jolla Vieja Canyon, with Ford Point being the largest of the three. Beach camping is only allowed in the sandy areas, above the tide line, that are free of dune vegetation. Available water sources on the south shore can include San Augustin, Wreck and La Jolla Vieja Canyons, with Wreck Canyon being the most reliable.

Because conditions regularly change on the islands it is best to check with the ranger about current conditions regarding both water availability and suitable camping areas, either before your trip or during the ranger-led orientation on arrival.

Backcountry beach camping along the south shore of the island is allowed mid-August through December and requires a permit, which can be obtained through Channel Islands National Park.

Johnson's Lee Officers Beach Santa Rosa Island Backcountry beach camping Channel Island National Park

Officers Beach is seen in a view towards Johnson’s Lee

Information and regulations pertaining to backcountry beach camping on Santa Rosa can be found on the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/backcountry-beach-camping-on-santa-rosa-island.htm. Another useful resource is National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated Map of Channel Islands National Park.

There are several ways to reach Santa Rosa Island, including Island Packers, http://www.islandpackers.com, which offers regularly scheduled boat trips to the island, and Channel Islands Aviation, http://www.flycia.com, which offers air service to the island.

Because Island Packers’ schedule lends itself well to a four-day weekend on the island, one approach to backcountry beach camping on Santa Rosa is to plan a three-day backpacking trip, and spend the last night in the campground. This allows one to take it easy on the last day while waiting for the boat, which typically arrives in the afternoon.

Water Canyon Campground includes modern amenities such as flush toilets and a solar shower. Depending on one’s pace, hiking out on the last day to meet the boat can also be accomplished.

With a good pace one can make it to Ford Point on the first day. And then one option for the second day is to day hike to Johnson’s Lee and take in the sites, and then hike back out to Water Canyon Campground on the third day. Or just enjoy more time at the beach. The hike to Ford Point is about 9 miles one way, and the hike from Ford Point to Johnson’s Lee is about 8 miles roundtrip.

To reach the south shore, from the pier, continue south along Coastal Road towards Water Canyon Campground. At about the 1-mile mark the road arrives at the turnoff for the campground. At Water Canyon Campground, which is less than a quarter mile from from the turnoff, one can fill up on water. The next available water is at Clapp Spring, roughly another 4 miles.

From the turnoff to Water Canyon Campground, continue south along Coastal Road. The road crosses Water Canyon Creek and arrives at Wreck Road. Stay to the right and follow Wreck Road as it climbs away from the coast and cuts across the interior of the island to the south shore. The hike is steep at times and can be strenuous when it’s hot out.

There is very little tree cover on Santa Rosa Island. Roughly 85 percent of the island is covered with non-native grasses, a remnant from more than 150 years of ranching that once took place on the island.

At the about the 5-mile mark from the pier, Wreck Road arrives at the turnoff for Clapp Spring. From here it’s less than a quarter, downhill, to the spring along an old ranch road that leads eventually towards East Point. The way to the spring is marked and water, which is piped from the actual spring, is available from a spigot next to an old cattle trough.

Because one can also reach Ford Point via San Augustine Canyon, one approach is to continue past Clapp Spring, along the ranch road, and take the route through San Augustine Canyon on the way there, and return along Wreck Road on the way back. This has the advantage of letting you see more of the island. The mouth of San Augustine Canyon is about three-quarters of mile east of Ford Point.

From Clapp Spring it’s roughly 1.25 miles to the beginning of the trail through San Augustin Canyon and from there another 1.25 miles down to the beach. The trail is not shown on National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated map of the Channel Islands, but the turnoff from the road is marked with a sign, and the route itself is fairly easy to follow.

From the road the trail through San Augustine Canyon descends along the ridge line that defines the eastern side of the canyon’s drainage. The trail is grassy most of the way, at times appearing little more than an animal path. About halfway down the trail passes the wreck of a small airplane.

The trail then descends rapidly down to the edge of a small bluff overlooking a side canyon that joins San Augustine Canyon. From this overlook double back up along the edge of San Augustine Canyon a short way to find the short, but somewhat steep route down to the creek. From there it’s a short hike to beach. The beach itself is mostly cobblestone, but there is a small open area large enough for a couple of tents between the mouth of San Augustine Canyon and the small rocky point that defines the beach.

From here one can hike up to the bluff that overlooks the ocean and continue west to the next beach over, which is Ford Point Beach.

Ford Point Beach is a long white sandy beach that is broken in two by a large rocky outcropping. Camping can be typically found along both stretches of the beach. From the first section of beach one can find a route that leads back up to the bluffs and lets one access the second stretch of beach.

Past the second beach there is again a route that leads up to the bluffs and connects with the ranch road that then leads three-quarters of a mile up to Wreck Road.

If one is heading directly to Ford Point, instead of via San Augustine Canyon, at the turnoff to Clapp Spring, continue along Wreck Road. The road climbs just a short way past the intersection before beginning its long descent toward the south shore. At about the 8-mile mark from the pier, Wreck Road arrives at the turnoff for Ford Point.

From the turnoff to Ford Point it’s roughly another half mile west along Wreck Road to where the road crosses Wreck Canyon Creek and one can usually find water.

To visit Johnson’s Lee, continue west along Wreck Road, past Wreck Canyon Creek. About a mile and quarter later the road arrives at the mouth of La Jolla Vieja Canyon, which can also offer beach camping.

From La Jolla Vieja Canyon, Wreck Road continues along the south shore of Santa Rosa Island towards Johnson’ Lee, passing what’s referred to as Officer’s Beach. The beach takes its name from when the Air Force had a station at Johnson’s Lee. Only one building remains from the installation.

While backcountry beach camping is not for everyone, the rewards can include quiet, unspoiled beaches and the feeling of traveling back in time to another era.

This article originally appeared in section A of the September 14th, 2013 edition of Santa Barbara News-Press.

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Posted in Channel Islands, Trail Reports

Posted by: James Wapotich | September 7, 2013

Trail Quest: Friends of California Condors

The California Condor is for many people an iconic symbol of our local backcountry. With a wing span of nine and half feet, condors can be an impressive sight. One can find representations of the condor in Chumash cave paintings.

California Condors date back to the Pleistocene Era and feed exclusively on carrion. With their large wing span they are able to ride thermals much in the same way as hang gliders, often covering 150 miles a day looking for food and new territory, and moving between nesting and roosting sites.

The first recorded condor sighting by westerners was in 1805 during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. And it’s tragic to consider that the demise of the condor has been largely precipitated by humans. Adult condors have no natural predators.

Since the late 1800s the California condor’s population has been steadily declining. Factors include urban encroachment on traditional habitat, egg collecting for museums, DDT poisoning, micro-trash ingestion, and lead poisoning from lead ammunition.

Historically the condor’s range in North America extended from British Columbia to Baja California and into parts of the southwestern United States. By the 1940s their range had been reduced to just the coastal mountains of southern California.

In 1982 the number of California condors both in the wild and in captivity reached its lowest point of 22 total birds. And by 1987 with the wild population down to just 9 birds the drastic step was taken to begin a captive breeding program.

In 1992 the first condors were released back into the wild. Over the past 10 years close to a hundred condors have been released back into the wild in California.

In addition to the release of birds into the wild, another key component of the recovery has been the monitoring of condor nests. Condors do not reach sexual maturity until they’re 5-7 years old. Condor pairs mate for life and typically only produce one egg every other year. And so nest monitoring has proven instrumental in reducing infant mortality, particularly from the ingestion of micro-trash that has been brought back to the nest by its parents. Micro-trash include bits of glass, bottle caps and other types of liter found in our backcountry. It’s still not clear why the parents bring the items to the nest.

However, the single biggest obstacle to the recovery of the California condor is lead poisoning from lead ammunition. Unlike copper bullets, lead bullets fragment on impact, these fragments are left in whatever was shot. The fragments are then consumed by condors when they feed on the gut piles from animals left by hunters, or the carcasses of animals put down by ranchers, such as coyotes.

All of the California condors in the wild have some level of lead poisoning in their system, and more than half of them have been captured at one time or another and taken to the Los Angeles Zoo to undergo chelation therapy.

The outcome California State Assembly Bill 711 in many ways will define the future of the California condor. The bill would ban lead in all types of hunting. The bill would expand on the provisions of the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act, which bans hunters from using lead ammunition in areas designated as part of the California condor’s range. AB 711 was passed by the State Assembly in May, and now awaits a vote by the State Senate.

“If we can get the lead out, the condor would become self-sustaining, and their numbers would increase dramatically on their own, in the wild.” Vince Gerwe, Vice President, Friends of California Condor Wild and Free told the News-Press. “If we just maintain the status quo, and continue to treat birds, the population will still grow because of the breeding programs and birds we’re putting out there.”

However that growth is dependent of the recovery program being funded and the active, ongoing intervention of the biologists managing the program. “If the recovery program were to just stop, with lead [bullets] still in use, I would venture to say the condor would become extinct within 20-30 years.” Mr. Gerwe added.

Mr. Gerwe emphasizes that Friends of California Condors is not opposed to hunting or hunters. The group’s focus is to see lead removed from the food chain to support the condor’s recovery.

Today there are more than 400 condors, with roughly half of those living wild and free. The remainder of the population is found in a half dozen zoos in North America including five condors at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Several zoos are involved in the captive breeding program, and a percentage of the condors in captivity are there temporarily, typically for treatment for lead poisoning.

A monthly update on the condor’s population and distribution can be found on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hopper Mountain website, http://www.fws.gov/hoppermountain/, under California Condor Recovery Program.

Currently there are six sites where condors have been released back into the wild and have nesting sites. In California the sites are Hopper Mountain and Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuges, Pinnacles National Park, and the Big Sur area. In Arizona at Vermillion Cliffs, and in Mexico at Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park in Baja California.

In our local area one can tour Hopper Mountain and Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuges. Tours are arranged by Friends of California Condors Wild and Free, a non-profit organization which offers 2-3 tours a year at each of the two sites. The tours are free and open to the public.

Recently I joined the tour of Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge. Located in the mountains behind Fillmore, the 2,471 acre refuge is adjacent to and just south of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary and Los Padres National Forest.

Visitors for the tour meet with the volunteers from Friends of California Condors in Fillmore, and from there carpool and caravan to the site. Tours typically have 20-30 visitors, and Friends of California Condors tries to have enough volunteers to have one for each vehicle to be available for questions.

The tour can often include an opportunity to see condors in flight and view one of the nesting sites. Nesting sites are typically located in steep sandstone canyons, as condors do not actually build nests, but make use of small natural caves.

The tour I was on provided an opportunity to view a nesting site in Pole Canyon. From the observation post regularly used by volunteers monitoring nests in Pole Canyon, visitors, with the aid of a viewing scope, were able to see a condor chick in its nest. Later, at the field station, we would see that same condor chick on a computer monitor. Several of the nests now have a webcam in them, which has greatly eased and improved nest monitoring.

There is a plan to make the Pole Canyon nest webcam available online within the next year. Clips from the webcam can be seen on The Condor Cave Facebook Page, which is managed by the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Another interesting resource regarding the California condor is Jeff McLoughlin’s recent documentary The Condor’s Shadow, which premiered at this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The documentary is an excellent summary of the condor’s plight and the recovery effort. The documentary is expected to air on PBS this fall and can also be purchased online at http://www.thecondorsshadow.com.

Surprisingly one of the easiest places to see condors flying in the wild is near Lake Piru. The lake is just east of Sespe Condor Sanctuary and Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge.

The next tours of Hopper Mountain and Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuges are in October. For more information about Friends of California Condors Wild and Free, and upcoming tours, go to http://www.friendsofcondors.org.

This article originally appeared in section A of the September 7th, 2013 edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press.

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Posted in Santa Paula/Fillmore, Trail Groups/Outdoor Programs

Posted by: James Wapotich | August 24, 2013

Trail Quest: Perspectives on Goleta Slough

Historically, Goleta Slough was part of a series of wetlands that extended west to Devereux Slough and covered roughly 1,150 acres. Topographically the slough is the central feature of Goleta Valley, which itself is a large basin bordered to the south by More Mesa and the mesa where UCSB and Isla Vista are located. The mesas were uplifted over time by More Ranch Fault, which parallels the north side of the mesas.

Up until the early 1860s the slough was deep enough for ships to anchor in, and was often described as a lagoon. In fact the City of Goleta takes its name from la goleta, which is Spanish for the schooners that used to anchor there.

During the winter of 1861-1862 the region experienced unusually heavy storms. These storms combined with the cumulative impact of cattle ranching in the area and recent drought and wildfire set the stage for heavy flooding and sedimentation. As the waters receded the capacity of the slough was substantially reduced.

Tecolotito Creek Goleta Slough day hike trail UCSB

Tecolotito Creek is seen in a view towards the airport from North Bluff Trail

Encroaching development culminating with the construction of Santa Barbara Airport and Ward Memorial Boulevard further reduced the slough’s size. Today Goleta Slough covers just 430 acres and is managed by California Department Fish and Game as the Goleta Slough Ecological Reserve.

Goleta Slough is also rich in native history. At the time of European contact there were four Chumash villages, referred to as rancherias by the Spanish, located in and around the lagoon. The two largest villages were Helo and S’apxili.

Helo was located on the top of what is now called Mescaltitlan Island, near the mouth of the slough. The island covered 64 acres, was about 160 feet high, and dotted with oaks. At the time, the village was separated from More Mesa by nearly a quarter mile of open water. The Chumash used their wood plank canoes or tomols and tule reed boats to access the island. The island takes its name from when the Spanish visited the area in 1769 during Portola’s expedition and were reminded of a similar island in Mexico of the same name.

The village of S’apxilil was located near where Hollister and Fairview Avenues now intersect.

Two other villages near the slough were Heli’yuk, near where UCSB is now located, and ‘Alkash near the eastern end of the slough. Collectively these four villages had a population of roughly 2,000 people and represented one of the more populous areas in the region at the time.

While there is no single trail that leads through or around the slough, there are a number of different routes that one can take to view the slough from a variety of perspectives.

The best place to start is from Goleta Beach County Park. The 29-acre park is located off of Sandspit Road, which can either be accessed from South Fairview Avenue via Fowler Road and Moffett Place, or from State Route 217 by taking the Sandspit Road Exit. The park is open from 8:00 AM to sunset, and parking is free.

The parking area at Goleta Beach stretches along the coast for about a quarter mile in either direction from the park entrance. From the eastern end of the parking area it is a short walk to the mouth of the slough.

The mouth of the slough is the terminus of a 47 square mile drainage basin that includes Tecolotito, Carneros, San Jose, Atascadero, Maria Ignacio and San Antonio Creeks and is home to a variety of wildlife.

From the entrance to Goleta Beach County Park one can hike north and east along Obern Bike Path. The route follows Atascadero Creek and passes near where the Chumash village of ‘Alkash was located.

For this route, from the park, follow Obern Bike Path as it crosses Tecolotito Creek and continues along Atascadero Creek. The route passes to the east of Mescaltitlan Island. At about the quarter-mile mark the trail crosses San Jose Creek; here one can find a social trail on their right that leads down to the edge of Atascadero Creek and eventually rejoins the bike path.

At about the .75-mile mark, Atascadero Creek transitions from a broad channel to a narrow, woody creek. Obern Bike Path continues alongside the creek and at the 1.5-mark crosses Patterson Avenue, which can make for a good return point. The Patterson Bridge over Atascadero Creek offers an unobstructed view of the creek. Here one can also find parking.

Another route from Goleta Beach that offers views of the slough is Fairview Bike Path, which crosses the slough’s wetlands and continues north towards Santa Barbara Airport. From the park entrance continue west along Coast Route Bike Path. The bike path soon branches with Coast Route continuing to the left up towards UCSB and Fairview Route continuing to the right, towards Goleta.

Fairview Bike Path crosses over Tecolotito Creek offering views to the west across the slough towards the mesa where UCSB is located. At about the quarter-mile mark, where the trail meets Moffett Place, one can find three interpretative signs installed by the City of Santa Barbara describing the history and wildlife of the slough.

The bike route continues north, to the west of Mescaltitlan Island, following Moffett Place and Fowler Road. At the one-mile mark the route arrives at the airport viewing area just past the main entrance to the airport. Here one can find three interpretative signs installed by the City of Santa Barbara describing the history of the airport. The signs are across from the World War II Memorial.

The airport dates back to 1928 when a cattle pasture near Hollister and Fairview Avenues was first used as a landing strip. In 1931 hangars were added and in 1941 Santa Barbara voters approved the purchase of the privately operated airport. During World War II, the airport was used as a Marine Corp Air Training Base, and was turned back to the city after the war. Much of the land from Mescaltitlan Island was removed and used to fill in the slough for the construction of the airport and later Ward Memorial Drive,

A hike along the North Bluff of UCSB can also be reached from Goleta Beach and offers views out across the slough and towards the airport. Starting from the western end of the parking lot continue along the bike path as it makes a short climb onto the campus mesa. The route offers some nice views out towards Campus Point.

Just past Henley Gate, where State Route 217 transitions into Mesa Road, cut north across the road onto a small grassy area. There is no trail here, but continuing northwest one quickly arrives at what looks like a small pull out for maintenance parking. At the far end of the pullout one can find an unsigned footpath, which is the beginning of North Bluff Trail.

The trail follows the edge of the campus mesa and immediately offers views to the north and east out across the slough and towards the airport. The trail continues along Mesa Road, before then dropping down the front of the mesa towards the edge of the slough area. The trail passes through oaks before then joining an access road that eventually leads back up to Mesa Road. Just before the access road reaches Mesa Road, it branches with a short trail on the left leading up to an overlook, which can make for a good return point. The overlook is near the intersection of Mesa Road and University Plaza, near Campbell Hall. The trail can also be reached from the UCSB Campus. The hike from Goleta Beach to the lookout is about 1.5 miles roundtrip.

Regardless of how far you hike there’s an opportunity to reflect on the changes the slough has seen over the years.

This article originally appeared in section A of the August 24th, 2013 edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press.

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Posted in Coastal Hikes, Front Country Trails, Goleta, Trail Reports