FROM TOP TO BOTTOM; BONEY MOUNTAIN TO THE SEA IS EXTREME.Byline: BRETT PAULY There is something about bagging a summit, no matter how small or inconsequential, that prompts prose. Some of the finest area examples are found in the registry at the top of Sandstone Peak, at 3,111 feet the tallest point in the Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. . ``I made it alive. Everest was easier than this.'' ``Mountains. Bold, intense, massive. Always climbing.'' ``We all look for strength, love, divine order and happy thoughts. We all find it in our own way.'' Now string that hike out from the mountains' high point to its low point - the ceiling to the sea - and you're talking real poetry. It's the result of tackling the 11-1/2 mostly downhill but strenuous miles from Circle X Ranch to Sycamore Canyon in Southern Ventura County. The route that travels over the Backbone, Old Boney, Serrano Canyon and Big Sycamore Canyon trails is a study in extremes of elevation and environment tied together by a common ruggedness and stellar vantages. ``It's undeveloped and it's supposed to be kept as such,'' Point Mugu State Park Point Mugu State Park is a large park located in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in Southern California. It is in the Western Santa Monica Mountains. The park can be accessed from the north in the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center and from the south ranger Tom Evans said of the segment that passes through Boney Mountain State Wilderness. ``The protection of it has gotten to the point whereas I can't even patrol it on a routine basis, so that would make it more lonely.'' At its most remote sections, don't expect to see any other trekkers; Evans therefore recommends logging a detailed trail plan with friends or family beforehand and traveling with a hiking buddy. And don't depend on an entirely well-groomed pathway, so only the hardy need consider the journey. The Old Boney Trail is overgrown overgrown said of a part that has not been kept trimmed. overgrown hoof overgrown hooves put unusual stresses on bones and tendons and allow for distortion of the wall and sole. and infested in·fest tr.v. in·fest·ed, in·fest·ing, in·fests 1. To inhabit or overrun in numbers or quantities large enough to be harmful, threatening, or obnoxious: with ticks and poison oak poison oak: see poison ivy. poison oak Species of poison ivy (Toxicodendron diversilobum) native to western North America and classified in the sumac (or cashew) family. , while the portion of the Backbone Trail that exits the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: see National Parks and Monuments (table). has been in disrepair most of the decade following fierce fires and floods. ``They are primitive trails, meaning they haven't been built up to standard,'' said Mike Zenan, the recreation area's maintenance work leader for roads and trails. But inspiring vistas are regular occurrences. ``You can't get many places with as many views from the Western Santa Monica Mountains as there, which includes pretty much ocean views,'' Evans said. The course commences in Circle X Ranch, the masterpiece of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area with Boney Mountain and the vast, parched parch v. parched, parch·ing, parch·es v.tr. 1. To make extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat: The midsummer sun parched the earth. chaparral and craggy outcrops that define it. It concludes by meandering under a lush, cool creekside canopy of sycamore and oak in Serrano Canyon. Beginning at the Backbone Trailhead (elevation 2,100 feet), a wide fire road climbs steadily, passing a connector to the stunning Mishe Mokwa Trail (2,350 feet) in three-tenths of a mile before cresting crest·ing n. An ornamental ridge, as on top of a wall or roof. out at a saddle (2,800 feet) a half-mile later. Here view renowned Balanced Rock teetering to the north, above Echo Cliffs and striking Carlisle Canyon. ``I can't understand how that rock stays there with earthquakes going on,'' said English outdoorsman Peter Smith, who makes the ascent during an annual holiday vacation to the Southland. A milder grade takes hikers in another three-tenths of a mile to the first significant plateau (2,950 feet), identified by a major jog to the right and a poorly flagged signpost on the left pointing the way up a series of stairs to Sandstone Peak, a worthwhile diversion of a few hundred feet. Smith said the popular destination ``combines the highest point and good views with . . . a lot of wildlife and flowers. A couple of years ago, I was sitting here on a rock that had fallen down, and I spotted two hummingbirds in the branches. So I sat still and one came within inches of my face and hovered around it, sort of viewing me wondering what I was. It was amazing.'' Spring is wildflower wildflower Any flowering plant that grows without intentional human aid. Wildflowers are the source of all cultivated garden varieties of flowers. A wildflower growing where it is unwanted is considered a weed. season, and as the Backbone Trail descends gently over the next 1.1 miles to a junction (2,660 feet) one can spot the blue flowers of the hairy ceanothus ce·a·no·thus n. Any of various shrubs or small trees of the genus Ceanothus, native mostly to western North America and having showy clusters of usually blue or whitish flowers. Also called redroot. , pink prickly phlox phlox, common name for plants of the genus Phlox and for members of the Polemoniaceae, a family of herbs (and some shrubs and vines) found chiefly in the W United States. and rose-purple owl's clover. Turn left at the sign that directs visitors to the Backbone through and through; thoroughly; entirely. - Lord Lytton. See also: Backbone Trail and Tri Peaks, and left again in 30 feet at the post pointing toward the Backbone Trail and Sycamore Canyon. A half-mile farther on, veer left again at the next T in the trail (2,700 feet), following the sign to Sycamore Canyon as you enter the state park. Overcast days can bring low-flying clouds that funnel over the precipitous ridges to the south like, dare I say, Mount Everest; must be the mountains' poetry catching up to me. The next 3.1 miles loses the most altitude of the trip, more than 1,500 feet, as the track slides down the west shoulder of Boney Mountain. A curious monolith split in two with a plaque dedicating it to ranch owner and wealthy Los Angeles industrialist Henry Chamberlain (1889-1954) - ``Who loved these mountains'' - is passed along the way over several zigzags to Old Boney Trail (1,150 feet). Turn left, departing the Backbone Trail that is identified by a skinny plastic sign, for nine-tenths of a mile, passing oaks, Indian paint brush, California poppy California poppy: see poppy. California poppy Annual garden plant (Eschscholzia californica) in the poppy family, native to the western coast of North America and naturalized in parts of southern Europe, Asia, and Australia. , overgrowth overgrowth Rapid growth in the sales of a mutual fund's shares to the extent that the fund has difficulty finding promising new investments or it must take such large positions in individual investments that its trading flexibility is reduced. and those pesky ticks. (Beware: Ticks collected in the mountains in February tested positive for Lyme disease Lyme disease, a nonfatal bacterial infection that causes symptoms ranging from fever and headache to a painful swelling of the joints. The first American case of Lyme's characteristic rash was documented in 1970 and the disease was first identified in a cluster at for the first time; wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts, and check often.) At the next junction, veer left on Serrano Canyon Trail (1,010 feet), which in 3-1/2 miles connects with Big Sycamore Trail (115 feet). Serrano Canyon offers gentle grasslands and awesome shots of Boney Mountain before crossing its namesake creek a dozen or so times to the croaking of tiny beige frogs with booming voices. The final 1-1/4 miles of the ugly fire road that is Big Sycamore Canyon Trail brings visitors back to reality that this verdant ver·dant adj. 1. Green with vegetation; covered with green growth. 2. Green. 3. Lacking experience or sophistication; naive. oasis is surrounded by concrete metropolis. But the diversion brings out the verse and ballad in all of us, if only for a day. A MOUNTAIN BY ANY NAME Climb to the zenith of the Santa Monica Mountains and you face a choice. No, it's nothing as monumental as whether to return to your car and the workaday world. You can call the rock that rises to 3,111 feet Sandstone Peak, as officially identified on topographic maps, or Mount Allen, as the lonely bronze plaque stationed atop it proclaims. It may be confusing, but, take your pick, the panoramic view of Circle X Ranch and its surroundings are just as stellar. The plaque notes the mountain was named in honor of W. Herbert Allen; it was presented in 1965 by the Exchange Club of Los Angeles to commemorate ``his gift of the mountains to the Boy Scouts of America Noun 1. Boy Scouts of America - a corporation that operates through a national council that charters local councils all over the United States; the purpose is character building and citizenship training .'' Allen's bespectacled image appears with a Boy Scouts emblem on the lapel. Further research reveals that Allen was a title insurance executive who began acquiring land in the mountains in 1949 with other members of the Exchange Club, a service organization for downtown businessmen, to create a camping area for various youth groups. Allen's wealth and vision were instrumental in preserving the area as the scout's Circle X Ranch, named for the Exchange Club's icon - an encircled en·cir·cle tr.v. en·cir·cled, en·cir·cling, en·cir·cles 1. To form a circle around; surround. See Synonyms at surround. 2. To move or go around completely; make a circuit of. C and X. The property was leased to the Boy Scouts in 1951 for 99 years at an annual rate of $1. In turn it was purchased by a conservation group in 1987 and sold to the National Park Service two years later. - Brett Pauly IF YOU'RE GOING . . . This is a shuttle trip, requiring two vehicles. Meet at Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park and leave one rig in the $6 day-use parking lot. With everyone in the second ride, drive east of Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Coast Highway may refer to:
Allow at least seven to eight hours to complete the 11-1/2-mile route. Maps: Triunfo Pass, Newbury Park and Point Mugu 7.5-minute series topographic maps, and Tom Harrison Cartography's ``Trail Map of the Santa Monica Mountains West.'' Information and camping opportunities: California State Parks This is a list of state parks and reserves in the California state park system. Jump to: External links A : Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
- Daily News CAPTION(S): 4 Photos, 2 Boxes, Map PHOTO (1--Color) The northern rim of Serrano Canyon offers one of many views of Boney Mountain during the highs and lows of an 11-1/2-mile Santa Monica Mountains trek. (2--Color) Los Angeles' Rich Martin examines a split rock on the Backbone Trail. (3--Color) Despite its precipitous profile, the top of Boney Mountain in Circle X Ranch is largely an open plateau. (4--Color) Peter Smith pauses to sign the registry atop Sandstone Peak, or Mount Allen. Brett Pauly/Daily News BOX: (1) A MOUNTAIN BY ANY NAME (see text) (2) IF YOU`RE GOING . . . (see text) MAP: (Color) HIKING FROM SANDSTONE PEAK TO THE SEA Dionisio Munoz/Daily News |
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