Santa Barbara Adventure People

Nov 12 Update: current weather forecast for Saturday, 90% rain, 54F-61F, calm 5 mph wind
This part of the earth is entering the winter raining season. For the next few months, rain encounters would be more common.
I consider myself having a good sense of adventure and can-do mindset, yet very safety conscious. Unless the rain is heavy, with lightning, and wind turn stronger than 10 mph, I will go forward with this hiking & exploring adventure. Some rain and wet trails are minor issues that could be mitigated or resolved. Bring rain coat, umbrella, good traction shoes, hiking poles, and move more cautiously to prevent slip & fall. Keep a set of clothing in the car for change post hike.
However, driving in rainy traffic increases risk. Leave earlier to account for slower speed and focus on traffic safety. Getting late to trailhead would be very understandable.
You could stay dry at home, or join this more adventurous, more memorable, or less mundane, or more insane hike. It is all up to you. I like to read your feedback.

This is a socializing hike to explore in beautiful and exciting nature, and get a great workout. The hiking and exploring adventure starts at San Ysidro Trailhead going north to check out the San Ysidro Falls after the recent rain. A major part of this trail is along the creek, forested and very scenic. After getting to E Camino Cielo Rd, we go west to connect to the East Fork Cold Spring Trail. Have fun ascending Montecito Peak. Then continue to Montecito Hot Springs via Cold-Hot Springs Connector Trail. Checking out and relaxing at the hot springs. Then take Edison Catway back to San Ysidro Trail and trailhead.

If you are also passionate about hiking & exploring in beautiful nature, committed to health, fitness & vitality, and meet the quality below by self assessment, you are very welcome to submit your intent to join. 🙂

Trailhead: San Ysidro Trailhead

Estimated Distance & Climb: up to 12 mile, 4500’

Experience & Skill: uneven terrain hiking, creek crossing or traverse, bush whacking

Ability: assess and manage risks effectively, carry on meaningful conversation

Supply & Equipment: rain coat, umbrella, hiking poles, adequate hydration, food, reliable headlamp with sufficient runtime and windbreaker as needed for potential night descent, optional things for the hot springs

Physical & Mental: healthy & fit for hiking & exploring adventure, mentally & emotionally sound

Personality & Character: authentic, sincere, down to earth, enthusiastic, cheerful, good sense of humor, cordial and pleasant to chat with, effective in communicating

Mindset: adventurous yet very safety conscious, self responsible & self accountable, intellectually curious, independent thinking, open-minded worldview, continuing self improvement & can do attitude

This is a backup plan in case I have to reschedule San Ysidro Falls, Montecito Peak, Hot Springs Hike to another day due to rain and group well being concerns. Surf Beach is a shorter and relatively easy hike, and on sandy beach & dunes, much less possibility for slip & fall.

I am fascinated and captivated by life within the context of the universe, and therefore also with our collective effort in space exploration - a beginning step of life going beyond the confines of Home Planet Earth and its atmosphere.

SpaceX rocket launch is getting relatively consistent with scheduling. The next launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled on Sunday, Nov 16 at 9:21pm. However, due to safety precautions, Surf Beach will be closed that day. What I want to do the day before is hiking to see the Falcon 9 rocket being prepared for launch, and the adjacent hangar complex. I have done those a few times before, but not recently.

If you are also passionate about space exploration, hiking & exploring in beautiful nature, committed to health, fitness & vitality, and meet the quality below by self assessment, you are very welcome to submit your intent to join. 🙂

Trailhead: Surf Beach Parking Lot

Distance & Climb: up to 8 mile, 600’

Experience & Skill: uneven terrain hiking, casual & fast pace sandy beach walking

Ability: assess and manage risks effectively, carry on meaningful conversation

Supply & Equipment: rain coat, umbrella, binoculars, camera with telephoto lenses, adequate hydration, food, headlamp and windbreaker as needed for potential night descent and cold windy conditions

Physical & Mental: healthy & fit for strenuous hiking & exploring adventure, mentally & emotionally sound

Personality & Character: upright, authentic, sincere, down to earth, enthusiastic, cheerful, good sense of humor, cordial and pleasant to chat with, effective in communicating

Mindset: adventurous yet very safety conscious, self responsible & self accountable, intellectually curious, having sense of adventure, independent thinking, open-minded worldview, proactive, ongoing self improvement & can do attitude

Do you know what exactly is the Santa Barbara Funk Zone? I had no idea of this place until about 2.5 months ago, when a friend responded to my text that she was at the funk zone. I thought what FUN zone?

On Aug 31 this year, Santa Barbara was experiencing a heat wave. My solo midday hike up the south facing hillside of Flores Peak was brutal and exhausting, in what felt like 110-115F ambient radiant heat. The boulder surface was scorching hot, most likely sufficient to cook eggs. The risk of heat exhaustion was real and I had to monitor my vital signs and mental alertness, and took periodic covers in the shade of sparse manzanitas and sumacs.

I got to the top of Flores Peak all fine, except to descend in that kind of heat, the hydration could be a potential concern. The solution was to shade myself behind a large boulder for about two hours, waiting for the temperature to drop. That turned out to be an amazing and fascinating opportunity to observe paragliders soaring above the beautiful coastline.

I descended the hillside when the sun got lower on the horizon. On the way down to Gibraltar Rock, a search & rescue helicopter circling above Arlington Peak could be seen, and heard loudly in the distance.

I texted a friend to see if she could see the helicopter from her house. Helicopter search & rescue was something she had mentioned or warned me about quite a few times in the past. But from the funk zone, it was not visible.

I have put off checking out this area of Santa Barbara for more than 2 months. On this trip, I am following my curiosity to explore something different and that I have not been to for the most part. This will be a trip of exploring, discovering, and walking for fitness.

If you are also passionate about hiking & exploring in beautiful nature, committed to health, fitness & vitality, and meet the quality below by self assessment, you are very welcome to submit your intent to join. 🙂

Start at: Dolphin Fountain area, Cabrillo Blvd & Stearns Wharf

Distance: up to 10 miles of casual to fast pace 4.5 mph walking

Ability: fast pace 4 mph walking, manage urban traffic safety effectively, carry on meaningful conversation

Physical & Mental: healthy & fit for walking, hiking & exploring, mentally & emotionally sound

Personality & Character: authentic, sincere, down to earth, enthusiastic, cheerful, good sense of humor, cordial and pleasant to chat with, effective in communicating

Mindset: adventurous yet very safety conscious, self responsible & self accountable, intellectually curious, independent thinking, open-minded worldview, continuing self improvement & can do attitude

5.4 mile, 670’ climb & descent, a moderate hike that provide some great workout in beautiful nature.

Ongoing learning and adapting is a fun challenge. I am breaking up my 26.2 mile hike into smaller segments so others could join for some workout and meaningful socializing.

In the larger context, I am using this beautiful nature preserve as conditioning & simulation for more strenuous hiking & exploring to Mt Whitney, High Sierra Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, JMT, etc.

If you are also passionate about hiking & exploring in beautiful nature, committed to health, fitness & vitality, and meet the quality below by self assessment, you are very welcome to submit your intent to join. 🙂

Trailhead: Pismo Preserve Trailhead

Distance & Climb: 5.4 mile, 670’

Experience & Skill: uneven terrain & relatively fast pace hiking

Ability: assess and manage risks effectively, carry on meaningful conversation

Supply & Equipment: adequate hydration, food, windbreaker as needed for potential cold windy condition

Physical & Mental: healthy & fit for hiking & exploring adventure, mentally & emotionally sound

Personality & Character: authentic, sincere, down to earth, enthusiastic, cheerful, good sense of humor, cordial and pleasant to chat with, effective in communicating

Mindset: adventurous yet very safety conscious, self responsible & self accountable, intellectually curious, independent thinking, open-minded worldview