Hike #2 Piedra Blanca Formations

Hike Number 2 took us to the same area of California, but the scenery was very different than the first hike. Yesterday our hiking adventure took us to the Piedra Blanca Formations in the Los Padres National Park.

Last weekends hike was about waterfalls and pools, and this weeks hike was about white sandstone formations in the middle of the forest.

In the background you can see where our destination is, just over 1.25 miles away. This hike was an easy hike with little elevation climb and plenty of beautiful views. The beginning of the hike offered up two quick creek crossings for us to maneuver through.

Here is my hiking partner standing in the creek.

The trail led us from the water crossings to a nice dirt trail that would take us to the rock formations. Time to sit and take a break.

Around one of the bends you are greeted with this wonderful piece of Mother Nature.

As you get closer to the formations, more of the rocks come into view. The Hiking book we are using informed us there are caves in this rock formation for us to explore. We went looking for them, but came up empty handed. I don't really think you can consider this is cave. Here are a few pictures of the rocks, makes you wonder how and why they are where they are.Here is Nish hanging out in the rocks. Here is a view of the mountains from the rock formation. When we started the hike there was a sign stating that there was some rock art and to keep an eye out for it. On the way back to the car we found some, for some reason I don't think this was the rock art the sign was talking about.

This hiking things is actually turning out to be something I look forward to doing and sharing the day with my son. Since my hiking partner is ditching me for a birthday party next week, I will be hiking one of the city hikes solo. If you feel like joining me next week I will be conquering "The Bubbling Spring Recreational Greenbelt" in Port Hueneme.

Happy Hiking

Hike #1 (Rose Valley Falls)

Today was the start of something fun, exciting, and unknown. For starters I am not much of a fan of hiking, and secondly it was about time my son and I started doing something together that we could both learn to enjoy and love. I was given this book,

and decided that this would be a great way to spend Saturday mornings with my son. We will be picking out one hike a week from this book until all 82 hikes have been completed.

For our first hike we chose, from the book, Hike #8 Rose Valley Falls. What a perfect hike to get our feet wet on and see how much we can enjoy hiking. After about an hour in the car we finally arrived at our destination.

After loading up the pack with our water and snacks we headed out onto the trail. As my son pointed out many times on the hike, "It is very calm out."

Here is my hiking partner standing in the tunnel of trees.

The weather cooperated nicely for us on our first hike and we were rewarded with a wonderful view of the mountains north of Ojai.

Just past mid-point of the trail, to your left you will come across the first waterfall. It is not the biggest one, but still made some wonderful music.

Like the old saying goes, Good things come to those who wait. At the end of the trail you are greeted with this wonderful piece of Mother nature.

All in all it was a great hike to start out on and we are already looking forward to next Saturday, where we will try to conquer hike #2 Piedra Blanca Formations. See you out on the trails.