Subject: Sycamore Canyon/Boney Mountain Hike

Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 11:32:55 -0700

Hi All, The hike last Saturday was GREAT! We started with free breakfast at the McDonalds on Wendy Drive, then started the hike to the Boney Mountain Waterfall from the trailhead at the end of Wendy Drive.  This is a very large recreational area consisting of three adjacent parks with trails throughout (Santa Monica Mountains Federal Recreation Area, Boney Mountain State Park, and Point Mugu State Park).  Hikes can be scaled from relatively easy to very challenging (Boney Mountian is considered second only to Mount Whitney). As we hiked South we stopped at the Satwiwa Natvie Amiercan Cultural Center.  This area was originally home to the Chumash Indains.  The Ranger on staff was very helpful and informative about the trails and area history.  This is the only facility in the area where there is water and restrooms available.  So on a hot day be sure to pack plenty of water.   Continuing South would have us entering the Point Mugu State Park on a trek to the beach.  Instead, we took the Satwiwa Loop Trail East to the Old Boney Mountain Trail East (entering the Boney Mountain State Park).  We arrived at the rough rock hewn waterfall, and with the limited water flow we were able to climb up the face of the Waterfall. From the Boney Mountain Waterfall, we headed back West, taking the NorthEast side of the Satwiwa Trail Loop North to the Wendy Trail, and back the the trailhead, enjoying the nice green vistas along the trail.  One striking feature of the entire are is how much green tree and plant growth there is.  Obviously being close to the beach brings higher moisture levels to the area, accounting for the growth.  Michael Daly commented that this area had the most plant growth he had seen since White's Landing (in Catalina). We ended the hike day with a free late lunch at the McDonalds on Wendy Drive (Thanks to Paschen Management - the owners of that McDonalds for donating the meals for all hikers). Below are a few photos from the hike: