Hey Happy
Wanders,

Thanks to all
of you who came out to hike with us once again and to the new members welcome.
This week’s hike was to Escondido Natural Area with two sets of
waterfalls to hike to.

Escondido Canyon Natural Area Hike

Well for a change I was the first one to arrive at the parking lot
along with Mary, but she came without the girls due to their “Grad
Night” at Magic
Mountain wiping them out.
Soon everyone else showed up Tisa
with her other daughter Katie as Morgan was feeling sick along with Brenda a
friend of hers. Lois came with two new hikers Maureen and Melissa. Carissa is
moving and Marcus didn’t show, Joyce was sick too but Athena managed to
show up after we made it to the upper waterfall.

So what
happened to “Sunny Southern California”? Once again it was cool and
overcast for the start of our hike. So after everyone that needed to put on
sweats and long pants we started out. It’s a good climb up the road about .5 miles
past several multi-million dollar homes before you come to the trail itself and
everyone had plenty to look at even before we started up the canyon. We even
saw the resident Red-Tail Hawk that lives in the area perched on a tree. Some
mornings you can also see Turkey Vultures flying around some as close as twenty
feet to you. As with all the hikes we go on snakes are something that need to
be watched for at all times as you never can tell when you will run into one on
the trail. Most of the time you will see horses on the trail or evidence of
them being there Ha-ha so watch your step while walking. Once we started down
the trail you quickly drop into the canyon and move towards the first stream
crossing. We had lots of fun crossing the stream with everyone making it across
the five times necessary while hiking to the first waterfall with out getting
too wet. It’s mostly the slippery rocks you have to walk on more than the
ten inches of water you cross that make it fun trying to keep from slipping off
them and getting wet.

So once pass
the water hazards it’s just climbing and enjoying the scenery before
coming to the reward at the end of the hike.  Everybody was chatting and the sun was trying to peek out from
behind the clouds while we hiked the 2 miles to the first waterfall. If you
have never been to this canyon you are missing out on one of the most beautiful
sets of waterfalls you will see in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The first waterfall falls fifty feet into a large pool with a large rock you
can sit on and take in the view. If you are not tired you can then continue the
climb to the upper waterfall. Now this one does require some climbing so if
you’re not up to it just enjoy the lower falls instead and don’t
try the climb. This is where the people in tennis shoes realize the importance
of hiking shoes as the trail becomes steep and slippery from the loose dirt and
rocks. Being careful you make your way up higher and higher climbing along side
the stream and crossing it several more times on the way up.

Finally we
make it to the upper waterfall and are amazed at the height of the fall at one
hundred and fifty feet it quite spectacular to look at. Katie quickly spots the
rope hanging from the branch and wants to try her hand at rope swinging over
the water. Cautioning her to be careful Katie made her way out onto the tree
branch and to the rope. After a couple of tries at pushing off and swinging back and forth Katie pushed off
as hard as she could and away she went swinging far out over the water and back
to the tree again. So while Katie was hanging out in the tree Lois was taking pictures of both Maureen and
Melissa sitting by the waterfall. Mary was nice and packed sandwiches, fruit,
and brownie bites for us to snack on so everyone ate and then we decided to
rock climb to the top of the waterfall.

Meanwhile
Katie was hanging out in the tree trying to figure out why it was so easy to
climb out on the tree limb, but was now proving very difficult to climb back
down, hum I hope she doesn’t makes it down before I eat all the brownies
bites! So after Katie climbed down it was time to tackle the rock climbing part
of the hike. It doesn’t require any special gear but if you are
afraid of heights I wouldn’t advise you to try this part either as you
will be free climbing around one hundred feet and need to walk on a cliff edge
trail one foot wide and strait down one hundred and fifty feet so no safety net
below. Once you do make it to the top you are rewarded with a view of the Pacific Ocean and your own private swimming pool to sit
in while taking in the view. So after a few minutes sitting on top of the
waterfall we climbed back down to join the group and head back down the trail
and to the parking area. Once we finished the hike we decided to head over to
The Reel-Inn for lunch as it seems to be our “hangout” now after
hiking. So with another hike finished and summer only half way over we still
have several more hikes planned including one to Catalina Island, Mt. Wilson,
and Kings Canyon Park.
Along with the “Full Moon Hikes” one of which is tonight. Looking
forward to meeting all you who are getting this newsletter but have yet to come
out to any hikes! Don’t be scared or worried you won’t have fun,
laugh, and exercise at the same time too. It’s all possible while
enjoying the outdoors with a great group of people.

So the next
hike will be at Solstice
Canyon Park
on July 23 2005 at 8:00am

The park is located off Pacific
Coast Highway on Corral Canyon Rd. There is a Union 76 Gas
Station located right on the Highway and Corral Canyon Rd. So it’s a very
easy landmark to spot. We meet at 7:45am and leave the parking lot at 8:00am
SHARP! If you want to carpool or want to offer people a ride please contact me
and I will help set it up with you.

A Haven from
City Life

Solstice Canyon—a place where nature greets you with the sights and sounds
of a babbling brook set amidst towering alder and sycamore trees. Green leaves
surround you like a giant cocoon, even in hot, dry summers, filling you with a
sense of peace and solitude.

The solitude,
serenity, and abundant natural resources have attracted people to Solstice Canyon for centuries. The Chumash
historically used the land for food, water and shelter. Ranchers grazed cattle
in the area for many years. Around 1865, Matthew Keller built a stone cottage,
which is still visible from Solstice Canyon Trail. The cottage is believed to
be the oldest existing stone building in Malibu.

Another home
was built on the property in 1952. Renowned African- American architect Paul
Williams designed the house for property owners Fred and Florence Roberts. The
house was later featured in an issue of Architectural Digest for its stunning
blend of natural features within the design, including waterfalls, creeks and
trees. Today, you can see a small part of the past in the horseshoes and
colorful pieces of glass glittering in the walkways at Tropical Terrace, near
the building’s foundations.

Other evidence
of human interaction with the land includes two tall, tan buildings on the
hillside, which stand as landmarks to another era. Space Technology
Laboratories, Inc., a subsidiary of Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge (TRW), rented 10
acres from the Roberts family from 1961-1973. TRW tested satellite equipment
for space missions, including the Pioneer series, and conducted medical
research in magnetic resonance imaging. Solstice Canyon
was chosen to conduct such tests, due to its convenient location, and its lack
of human-made and natural disturbances.

Today, Solstice Canyon still serves as a haven from city
life. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy first opened Solstice Canyon
as a public park in 1988. It is now managed by the National Park Service.

Visit Solstice Canyon,
where the old meets the new help us preserve and protect its serenity and
beauty for all to enjoy.

Trails

Dry Canyon
Trail 1.2 miles round trip, easy— Don’t let the name fool
you—this canyon isn’t always dry. Walk through woodlands next to an
intermittent stream. Look for signs of wildlife, including deer, quail and
bobcat. At the end of the trail, winter rains bring a 150-foot waterfall to
life.

TRW Loop Trail
1.5 miles round trip, easy— Begin at the trailhead across from the
bulletin board. Continue past the TRW Buildings, through chaparral and oak woodland.
Cross Solstice Canyon Trail by the bridge to connect with the southern portion
of the loop. From the picnic area, the trail follows the road back to the
parking lot.

Solstice
Canyon Trail 2.1 miles round trip, easy—Stroll down Solstice Canyon Trail
and look for the Keller House, believed to be the oldest existing stone
building in Malibu. On your way to Tropical Terrace, see if you can spy the low
concrete retaining walls of a former fish pond in a grassy area overlooking the
creek. Many other clues to the past remain even though the Roberts’
Family home, once located at Tropical Terrace, burned in 1982. Look for house
foundations and a concrete bomb shelter. Walk across the creek into a hidden
sanctuary and garden. It’s hard to imagine now, but at one time giraffes,
camels, buffalo, African deer and exotic birds roamed the canyon on the
Roberts’ Ranch.

Rising Sun
Trail 1.5 miles, moderate—This trail is believed to be named after the
Rising Sun Vineyard, a winery established in the Los Angeles area by Matthew Keller. Consider
hiking the trail as a loop in conjunction with Solstice Canyon Trail for a
variety of scenery from canyon floor to ridgeline. Look for a postcard-perfect
view of the ocean, framed by the canyon walls at the TRW Buildings. Sostomo
Trail/Deer Valley Loop 3.9 miles, moderate to strenuous—Locate the
trailhead off of

Solstice
Canyon Trail, southwest of Tropical Terrace. Hike through chaparral and coastal
sage scrub to the west ridge of Solstice Canyon, to see some of the best ocean
views in the Santa Monica
Mountains. Look for
“Deer Valley,” an area near an oak
woodland and meadow known for its abundance of wildlife.

Note:
Bicyclists are limited to the paved areas only. Carpooling is encouraged since
parking is limited.

Information
& Safety

Be prepared:
take water, food, flashlights and first-aid supplies when hiking, biking or
horse- back riding. Watch for and avoid rattlesnakes and poison oak.

Water from
streams is not safe to drink due to possible contamination or the presence of the
giardia protozoan.

Dogs must be
on leash at all times. They are allowed only on trails and access roads.

Trail closures
will be in effect during and following significant rainfall to protect park
resources. Trails will be re-opened when dry enough to sustain public use.

Fire is a
constant danger. Fires and barbeques are prohibited. Smoking is not permitted
while traveling on trails.

Natural and
historic features are protected by law and may not be collected.

Bicyclists
must ride courteously and yield to hikers and horseback riders. Bicycles are
allowed only on fire roads and designated trails. Speed limit is 15 mph.
Bicycles are required to have lights when riding at night.

Hikers must
yield to horseback riders.

Firearms are
not allowed in parklands.

Daniel

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PacificCoastHikers.Com 2005

310-394-6500