Hiking - "The Other Side of the Mountain" - Saturday, February 17, 8:30 AM
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The Hike to Forbush Flat

For a change, this hike starts at the top of the mountain and heads down the other side! 
We will be hiking down toward the Santa Ynez river, but will stop after a little over two miles at Forbush Flat - a camping spot which looks like it could be an old homestead. This is a moderately steep hike, but with the cool weather we've been having, it should be a comfortable morning "do". 
See below for a more complete description.

Note: Please help us out with the carpooling plans -- 
Call Elden Dellanina (565-3727) or Bob Lilley (967-9394) if you plan to hike. Thanks!

When: Meet the group at 8:30 AM, Saturday, February 17, 2007
Where:Meet at the parking area in front of the Mission. (We will carpool, since parking at the top is very limited.)
Helpful hints: Be sure to bring drinking water. Shoes with good tread are recommended (the trail is narrow and shaley in places). A sun-hat is a good thing.
Friends: Bring 'em all!
Cost: None, unless you join us for brunch on-your-own afterward.
Reservations: None, except for brunch afterward, on your own, if you desire -- Rain cancels

The hike to Forbush Flat begins on Camino Cielo Rd across the road from a cement water tank. There is a rusty metal sign marking the trail that says "Forbush Flat". The trail is actually the Cold Springs Trail which begins in Montecito and goes all the way over the mountains, down into the Forbush Flat area, and down into the deeper back country to Mono Campground and Little Caliente Hot Springs. But this hike is the Forbush Flat hike, and all we are doing is hiking downhill to the meadow where the camp is located.

At about 1/2 mile down there is a bench and a square concrete water trough for horses. At about the 1 mile mark you find yourself on a ridge with sweeping views into Blue Canyon to the right. In the distance you can make out Jameson Resevoir which provides water for Montecito. At the bottom of the canyon you reach a rusty metal sign and a trail junction. This is actually under 2 miles, but close enough. The sign marks the junction to the Blue Canyon trial.

If you continue straight up and over the ridge you will resume the descent and in about 2 more miles reach the Santa Ynez River. This hike is just to Forbush Flat, which we have already reached at the 2 mile mark and the rusty metal sign. Just turn left at the rusty metal sign marking Blue Canyon and Mono and head into the meadow. You'll find some picnic tables, firecircles, and appletrees.

Look above Forbush Flats to the north and see the rocky cliff just above. A little exploration of that cliff may yield the discovery of an unnamed trail that traverses the ridge of that cliff. That trail is not described here. It is left for you to discover.

To return to your car, turn back and head uphill the way you came.

You will see our intrepid group of hikers: Bob Lilley and Elden Dellanina, Genie (Gable) and Jeff Moore, Dale Haslem from Newcomers,
Barb Kane and Ellie Freese. Dale brought his GPS unit, which confirmed that we hiked first down, and then up 1,000 feet in elevation. As you will see,
there were smiles all around, beautiful scenery and even a bit of jogging by Elden and Bob, just to show off at the end of the hike! Finally, after some photo ops
in front of one of those Santa Barbara postcard scenes, a well-deserved Italian lunch at Via Vai in Montecito's Upper Village.


 

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