Escondido Canyon Hike June 25, 2005

Hey Hikers,

Glad to see so many of you again this week
thanks Joyce, Tisa, Giselle, and Athena for coming
out again to hike with us Saturday. We also had several new people join us this
week including Mary and her twin daughters Amanda and Katie, along with Frank and his son Jack, and Lori, Marcus and
Carissa. The morning was cool with low clouds, which quickly burned off to reveal
a beautiful sunny summer day. The hike started on time and with a quick step we
found ourselves in a lush canyon with Large Oaks and Sycamore Trees. Crossing
the stream that flows down the canyon was fun and presented a few in the group
with a chance to see how waterproof their boots really were along with
practicing their balance on the slippery rocks too. While Joyce serenaded us with songs by the
“Police” we all managed to make our way up the trail to the first
waterfall.

If
you have never have been to Escondido Canyon you are missing out on one of the best sets of
waterfalls in the Santa Monica
Mountains you can see.
After a short rest we started the climb to the upper fall which took us pass
several smaller waterfalls and a large patch of Poison Oak, when the second
fall came into view everyone in the group were amazed how high and beautiful it
was making the hard
climb to it well worth the effort. Frank
decided to try his hand at rope swinging along with showing us how to skip
stones, which Jack was very happy to try too. I asked if anyone wanted to try
some free climbing up to the top of the waterfall about 100ft up and had Joyce,
Athena, and Marcus join me on the adventure. Of course they didn’t tell
me they were all scared of heights! So it turned out to be funny watching their
faces as they looked down 100 feet from a trail barely wide enough to walk on.
The view from the top was well worth the climb as you could see all of Santa Monica Bay
from Point Dune to Palos Verdes
Peninsula. After climbing
back down and joining the group it was time to start the hike back. After
getting to the parking area we all decided to drive to the Reel-Inn for lunch
which was great. Mary won a box of Cliff
Bars, the prize for
saying the “Secret Word” that day which was “Horse” and
after a two hour lunch we all said our good-byes till next weekends hike.

Thanks again to everyone for coming out and
making the hike so much fun. Our next hike will be to Mt Allen and Sandstone Peak via the Mishe Mokwa Trail. This is one
of the most beautiful hikes in the Santa
Monica Mountains.
Highlights include the spectacular Echo Cliffs where rock climbers ascend shear
cliffs, a house sized boulder delicately balanced on a small rock beneath, a
giant split rock where kids can dash between the sheer walls, stunning giant
sandstone formations, and breathtaking views from the top of Sandstone Peak and
Inspiration point.

Make sure you park at the “Mishe Mokwa Trailhead” not
the Sandstone Peak/ Backbone trail parking lot! They
are only ½ mile apart so look for the group and me please.

Meeting Time 7:45am

Hike Starts at 8:00am SHARP!!

Length of hike 6.2 miles

Bring water and food as we will be stopping
several times to rest and eat on this hike. Remember to bring a camera if you
have one and wear a hat as it will be sunny and hot too.

Mishe Mokwa Trailhead: The trailhead is 1
mile east of the Circle X Ranch, which is located 5 ½ miles from Pacific
Coast Highway on Yerba Buena Road in Malibu. Alternately, from Westlake Village, exit on Westlake Blvd from the 101 Freeway, and
follow it south for several miles as it merges with Mulholland highway. Turn
right onto Little Sycamore Canyon and it will become Yerba Buena Road as you cross the county
line. Proceed on Yerba Buena Road
for about 4 miles to trailhead (about a mile before you hit the Circle X Ranch
Ranger Station). (Lat:34.11161 Lon:-118.92643)

Daniel