|
Untitled Document
|
| Mission Boney Mountain Hike Completed |
| |
| by Scott Legal |
| |
 |
| Getting ready for our adventure. |
On May 13, 2003, a small group
of Geocachers assembled at a parking lot on the Circle X Ranch
in the Santa Monica Mountains for an assault on Boney Mountain.
The Goal was to find six Geocaches scattered about in Circle
X Ranch and the adjacent wilderness. But everyone knew that
this was more than just another treasure hunt. This area is
home to the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountain range
and some of the most remarkable and awe inspiring rock formations
in Southern California. But even the greatest anticipation of
what was in store for us proved us unprepared for the wonders
and challenges that we experienced.
We left the parking lot at 7:45 AM under mostly overcast skies
with the temperature in the 60s. Our group consisted of myself
(Slegal) and my wife Linda, Campyc and her brother Terry, Trurokr
and his sister Baby Sparkle, Narlsharls, and Ecochic. The first
leg of our trip was a rapid ascent from the 2,050 foot elevation
to the 3,111 foot Sandstone Peak which was also the first cache
site. Sandstone
Peak by Tacguy is a virtual cache that afforded some fantastic
views. From our vantage point we were able to scan the surrounding
area for what lay ahead. There was still quite a bit of anticipation
ahead, for most of us had never been to this wonderful place
before.
 |
| Disk at Inspiration Point. |
On we went to our next stop, Inspiration Point. This is the
site of cache number two Inspiration
Point by Tacguy. This cache was also a virtual cache and
afforded us equally spectacular views as those at Sandstone
Peak. The monument at this site had a marker on it that pointed
the way to many landmarks not visible from lower elevations,
that are quite visible from the 2,800 foot elevation that Inspiration
Point rests. Because our chosen day was rather hazy, many of
these landmarks were not visible to us, but the view was still
incredible. Inspiration point also gave us our first glimpse
of some of the incredible wildflowers that lay ahead.
 |
| The group at Henry's. |
After leaving Inspiration Point our discussion shifted to a
cache that many of us were not sure we could fit in. Henry's
Cache by The Lazy Loppers is out there - way out there.
Feedback that Trurokr obtained from Paul and Suzanne, a pair
of Geocachers that had found four caches in the area a week
earlier was that the addition of Henry's to their hike made
the hike an 11.5 mile hike. So we knew we would have to hike
more than 11.5 miles to find the same four caches that Paul
and Suzanne found plus the two caches they did not find. We
were making excellent time at this point and the consensus was
that we should go to Henry's Cache. The hike to the cache was
about 2 miles and wasn't too difficult. This was because it
was all downhill. In fact, we dropped over 800 feet on our way
to the cache. When we got there we were treated to a view of
Plumber's Rock and a pretty easy cache find. This cache boarders
Point Mugu State Park and affords great views of the ocean,
the park and surrounding mountains.
What was an easy descent to the cache proved a strenuous ascent
back to the Circle X Ranch, where we needed to return to continue
on with our quest for all six caches. The temperature climbed
to the low 70s and the sun had come out. Despite the sunshine
and warmer temperature, everyone was feeling strong and anticipation
of our next adventure kept everyone going.
 |
| Wildflowers near Buddah's
Belly . |
Our next stop was Buddah's
Belly? by Denali. This was an interesting cache. When we
were about 400 feet from the cache we all wondered how to get
to it. All we saw was a large barrier of dense brush. But a
winding trail revealed itself through the brush and we were
treated to a large overhanging cliff with an open cave that
had clearly been used as a camp area, complete with a campfire
ring. It's scary to think that someone has burned a campfire
here, so close to dense brush. We were also disappointed to
see beer bottles scattered about. But we were also taken by
the presence of some spectacular wildflowers. Our approach to
the cache passed through a wildflower field. Our GPSs said the
cache was beyond where we found it. But the hiding place was
a little obvious. With these caches we all figured that the
difficulty of the caches is in getting to them. To make a cache
very hard to find, after all of the effort made to get there
would be cruel and unusual punishment.
We proceeded with our adventure. This was when Terry, Campyc's
brother, took leave of us. He was heading back to his home in
Santa Rosa. Nothing like a 10 mile hike before getting on the
road for a 500 mile drive! Yikes! Maybe he knew what we were
in for on our hike to our next cache Palos
Verdes to Santa Barbara View by Faveral. Our trek to this
cache led us to the Tri Peaks area, which appeared to be a formidable
barrier. We couldn't quite figure where to go, as the trail
appeared to end. Fortunately, Campyc had printed a couple of
the photos that Faveral had posted to the cache and we were
able to make sense of them and figure out where to go. What
Faveral hadn't warned us about was the poison oak. It wasn't
exactly prolific, but the loose, off camber terrain made the
stuff quite difficult to avoid. Most of us couldn't avoid it
and brushed against it. My wife and I used Tecnu when we returned
home and so far we're OK.
We made it past Tri Peaks and found the cache fairly easily.
It was time for lunch. This spot may have the best views of
our trek. Narlsharls chose a large rock to sit on while eating.
I'm still marveling over the view of Newbury Park behind him
on the photo I took of him. This was our longest stop, and probably
most essential one. I, for one, was starting to feel a little
fatigued at this point and lunch and lounging helped to recharge
my batteries for the remainder of our hike.
 |
| Our lone rattlesnake sighting. |
 |
| A lizard gets a ride on Trurokr's backpack. |
All good things must end and we
had to leave this special place. So we headed back to Tri Peaks
and all of its poison oak. When we got to Tri Peaks we decided
to explore the many caves in the peaks. Wow! They're so big!
We lost Narlsharls for a while in there. Campyc saw a rattlesnake
as we prepared to leave Tri Peaks. Trurokr (A.K.A. Dr. Doolittle)
had been catching bugs and lizards all over the place and thought
it might be neat to catch the rattler too. I saw impending doom
in that idea, but fortunately the rattler rattled and Trurokr
thought better of the idea.
|
| Balanced Rock looks like one of those Easter Island sentinel statues from this angle. |
We proceeded to the Mishe Mokwa trail, the final leg of our
long journey. Our hike was approaching 10 miles at this point
and the sign said we had about three miles to go. We were in
search of Diamond
in the Rough Returns by WM6P (and Campyc). This cache is
a virtual cache that requires you to post a picture of yourself
with a large balanced rock behind you. We found the trail to
the cache, but the heavy Winter rains had rendered the trail
impassible. We could see the balanced rock, but could not get
close to it. So we settled for photos with the rock in the background.
The cache page also offered a little bonus along the way back
and our tired, fatigued minds and bodies failed to find that
little bonus. Perhaps the crafty rangers had found it and confiscated
it. Perhaps WM6P had beaten us. The world may never know.
|
| The spoils of our adventure. |
We proceeded back to the parking area. The knowledge that a
nice cool one lay waiting in the ice chest in the trunk of my
car energized me to move forward, even though my feet were blistered
and my body was telling me that the fun stopped a couple miles
back. Fortunately, the final half mile was downhill. As the
cars came into view the pace quickened. I pulled the remote
out of my pocket and popped open the trunk of my car while I
was still 50 yards away. The best treasure of the day lay in
an ice chest in my trunk. After 13 miles of hiking with a terrific
group of people in an incredible place, it was time to pop open
a cold one and celebrate this day with our group. And guess
what? Campyc came just as prepared for our après hike festivities,
doubling our pleasure. The Boney Mountain GeoTrek is now complete.
|
| |
The number of times this page has been viewed is: |
|
|
|
