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Events Scrapbook - 2004

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Hiking -- Cold Springs Trail, West Fork -- March 27, 2004
Note the date change!
Elden Dellanina and Bob Lilley plan to hike on March 27!  Join us at 9:00 AM!
West Fork Cold Springs Trail and Tangerine Falls 

The hike begins at the main Cold Springs Trail, gently in shade by a creek that almost always has plenty of water. After a gentle uphill for 3/4 of a mile you reach a bench by the creek where you can sit and clear your mind with the gentle sounds of small waterfalls. This bench is at the junction to the West Fork of Cold Springs. Cross the creek at the bench and continue up the hill for about 3 more miles to the summit at Gibraltar Rd.

For a variation, there is a small junction you come to well before the summit at Gibraltar Rd. Follow this primitive trail along the creek to a waterfall known as Tangerine Falls. It's quite an adventurous rock-hopping good time of a trail, and at some places, a challenge.

Also, not far along after you turn off toward Tangerine falls there is another turnoff to the left. You can find this one by looking leftwards as you follow the water pipe. When you see a trail, that's the one. This trail will take you steeply to a nice rock outcrop at the top of the falls. You can't see the falls from this outcrop, but you can enjoy the lofty perch just as well. Continuing along this trail, a little exploration on your part and you might discover something interesting at the end of this trail�an structure some of us call the homestead. Or you may find yourself sweating up a steep hill toward the top of the mountains, cursing the madman who made this illegal trail. It depends on whether or not you take a wrong turn. (Discovery is most of the fun!)

The total mileage for the basic West Fork to Gibraltar Rd. trail is 3.5 miles round trip. 

Directions: Take Cold Springs Road (turn toward the mountains at the fire station on Sycamore Canyon Road - Rt. 192; it's between Ashley Road and Stoddard Lane), turn right on Mountain Drive, go 1/2 mile and park near the creek crossing. 

Description: Beautiful trail in lush canyon with creek, small pools, and alder trees. Chaparral vegetation at the higher elevation section of the trail. 

Helpful hints: Be sure to bring drinking water. Watch out for poison oak. (Elden can spot it even without its leaves!)

Friends: Bring 'em all!

Cost: None -- unless you join us for a lunch on-your-own after the hike!

Reservations: None -- Rain cancels.

More information: http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/hikes/frontcountry/westfork.shtml
                         
 

Photos by Bob Lilley

 
Hikers were Elden Dellanina and Bob Lilley, Mary and Karl Stork, and Ilan Levi