WWII Sunday

Elevation Profile of Road to Camp Cactus

Date: 22 May 2011

Who hiked:  Me, Hubby, Things 1 and 2, SuperC

Where:  Camp Cactus

When: 1255 - 1420

Weather:  overcast at first, turning mostly sunny; temps in 70s

Distance: 2.9 miles (measured on GPS)

Elevation Range: 480 - 780 ft
See end of post for a zoomed-out view of location.

Today the family plus a 10-year old friend (SuperC) took a short hike to Camp Cactus. We had first seen these buildings during our Bullrush Canyon hike. We didn't know anything about the site then; later I learned that it had been a radar facility during World War II.

We parked at the bar gate where Camp Cactus Road meets Middle Ranch Road and hiked up the hill. The road is marked with a trail sign. In just a short distance we were at the crest of the hill, where Hacking Tower Ridge Road makes a T-junction with Camp Cactus Road.  

Thing 2 poking water striders.

We headed down the hill to the creek bottom, which we reached at about 1325. In the standing water of the creek we saw water striders, including one eating an insect, tadpoles (Pacific treefrog, Pseudacris regilla), and a dead Jerusalem cricket. Of course, Thing 2 had to get a stick to poke the water striders.

The road is wide and easy to hike, with oaks and toyon along the path. The lemonade berry bushes are setting fruit now and a few wildflowers are still around. There were some huge live-forevers (genus is Dudleya) along the road too -- bigger than Hubby's hand! The road is not flat, but the gradients are all reasonable and the differences in elevation are mild.

About 10 minutes after hitting the creek, we were about half-way up the ridge on the other side.  We could see the remains of Camp Cactus on the hillside.  There is a trail that branches to the left, which takes you to the abandoned buildings.  The road to the right continues up the hill to the ridge.

The remnants of Camp Cactus

By 1345, we were at the ruins of Camp Cactus. Camp Cactus was a radar station during World War II.  At one point, as many as 500 men lived and worked here. Today, there are tumbled-down remains of about five buildings. We looked around, being careful of the nails and splintered wood scattered around the site. We also saw a concrete pad, a remnant of either the motor pool or the showers/latrines.

Thing 2, SuperC, and Thing 1

The hike back was uneventful, though we were lucky enough to see a male Anna's hummingbird displaying to a female.  The hummer would hover about 15 ft in the air, then rise high in the sky and swoop down rapidly in a j-shaped dive. The bird would them return to its 15 ft hovering height, climb high (100+ ft), and dive again.

On the way home, we stopped at Ben Weston overlook to go through the WWII bunker. Military emplacements were located all along the windward side of the island during WWII.  Today the bunker is home to barn swallows and filled with graffiti and smashed beer bottles. Entirely below-ground, the bunker consists of two rooms connected by a short tunnel. The Things and SuperC had a good time exploring while Hubby and I constantly admonished them to be careful. SuperC even found an unexploded bullet, which Hubby promptly confiscated.

"Can I keep it?"
"No."

For more information about Catalina Island during World War II, check out this great collection of pictures and stories.

We had a time prying the boys away from the bunker, but we eventually loaded them into the truck and headed home, dropping SuperC off at his home on the way.

I recommend the Camp Cactus hikes for history buffs and for those who are looking for a less strenuous hiking experience.


Birds seen (includes drive): Mallard, California quail (+ chicks!), Western gull, Mourning dove, Anna's hummingbird, Common raven, Barn swallow, Bewick's wren, Northern mockingbird, European starling, Orange-crowned warbler, Western tanager, Spotted towhee, Chipping sparrow, House finch

Zoomed-out view of hike