Ben Weston Beach Overlook

View of Catalina Harbor in the distance
Ben Weston Beach is to the right

This hike features great views of the backside of Catalina Island and of Ben Weston Canyon and Beach. The first section, to Camp Cactus, is fairly easy but the rest is more difficult. On the whole, I would grade this as a moderately difficult hike.

Hermit Gulch Trail (the Cub Scout version)

Date: 18 February 2012

Who Hiked: Me, Hubby, Thing 2, and two other Cub Scouts

Route: Hermit Gulch Trail (out and back)

Time: afternoon -- didn't much keep track of time

Weather: sunny, clear, warm (70s)

Distance: probably a bit less than 2 miles roundtrip

Did you know that California public schools celebrate both Lincoln's birthday and President's Day?  Isn't the point of President's Day to roll the whole Lincoln/Washington thing into having one holiday rather than stealing two days from the shortest month of the year?

I vote that we convert Lincoln's birthday to "Darwin Day" -- they were born on the same date after all (yes -- day, month, and year) and then I won't be so annoyed by the whole thing and the kids will still be happy with their two days off during February.

What does this have to do with hiking?  Yeah, I'm getting to that...

Bolsa Chica V

Date:  10 February 2012

When: 0745 - 1100

Where:  Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach

As I've said a number of times on this blog, I love to bird at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. I was there earlier in February and had a banner day...  

Today I parked in the lot off of Warner Avenue and hiked about 3.8 miles along the tidal marsh and then along the canal. I've included a map below.

Two of the best things about this foray into Bolsa Chica was meeting Ramon, a wildlife photographer, and Steve, a docent with the Bolsa Chica Conservancy. Ramon showed me some lovely pictures of a loggerhead shrike and great action shots of American kestrels mating and Steve was a great source of information about where to find birds and other animals on the Conservancy lands. Thanks very much to both of you!

The highlights:

• a Cinnamon teal! All by itself in the canal, just hanging out.   
• a Loggerhead shrike perched on the chain-link fence between Bolsa Chica and the adjacent land.
• A flock of American coots, foraging and loafing in the grass near the Warner Avenue visitor's center.  Coots are common at Bolsa Chica, but this was the first time I'd seen a large flock on land.
• A Black-chinned hummingbird - a new species for my life list!
• Some interesting omissions:  Western gull, for example. I don't have it on the list, but I've rarely gone to Bolsa Chica and not seen one...  but I'll trust the list I made in the field...

Catalina Island from the Sky

A friend of mine just sent me a link to a video of Catalina from the air.  It's a beautiful world we live in, my friends.

Bolsa Chica #4

Date:  4 December 2011
When: 0830 - 0945
Where:  Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach

I try to go birding at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve every time I go over town. [As an aside -- "over town" means the mainland, "to town" means Avalon, and (often) "downtown" means Two Harbors.] I was over town getting some Christmas shopping done and didn't get to the birding thing until Sunday morning...

Ben Weston Beach for Thanksgiving

We had fabulous weather over Thanksgiving this year and decided to work off some turkey and stuffing by hiking.  Thing 2 had requested a hike to Ben Weston Beach, so we set off on the Saturday afternoon after Turkey Day.

This hike is an easy out-and-back flat path to one of the loveliest beaches on Catalina. 

Peek of Ben Weston Beach from the road.
The trail follows the canyon floor.
(Photo from 2008)

Hermit Gulch to Lone Tree (er, Shrub)

The Palisades

My motivation in my 24 hike challenge is waning and I know that I need something to get me going again. Today I took advantage of an opportunity to hike on the East End.

I hiked from Avalon on the Hermit Gulch Trail to Lone Tree overlooking the Palisades.  I recommend the first part of the hike (Hermit Gulch Trail), but the Lone Tree leg was mediocre. Overall though this is a good hike to get you up and out of Avalon, with fabulous views of the town, the mainland (visibility permitting), and San Clemente Island. Because of its eastern exposure, it is probably best to hike this trail later in the day, especially in the warmer months of the year.