5th annual Fall Equinox Nature Hike

Ojai nature guide Lanny Kaufer will lead his 5th annual Fall Equinox Nature Hike in the peaceful Mixed Conifer Forest on Pine Mountain (elevation: 7000 feet) at the time of year when the pine nuts usually are dropping. Kaufer promises that first time visitors to this area will be surprised and delighted to find a thick forest of pines, fir and cedar so close to the Ventura coast.

The outing will start at 9:00 a.m. with an optional carpool caravan of about 35 miles up Highway 33 from the Maricopa Plaza, (1201 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA 93023) to the Reyes Peak trailhead. The final 5.5 miles are on a narrow, winding paved road and the very last half-mile is dirt. Trucks or SUV’s are preferred for the last stretch but most passenger cars with high clearance can also make the drive.

The group will start walking into the Sespe Wilderness from the trailhead (where there is a restroom) at about 10:30 a.m., stopping for lunch in the pines, before reaching a vista point with views of five Channel Islands on a clear day. They will return to the trailhead at 3:00 p.m., arriving back at the Maricopa Plaza by 4:00 p.m.

The group will hike on a well-used trail, stopping often to identify and discuss native plants, birds and wildlife. Hikers can expect to see several conifers such as White Fir and Sugar Pine more common in the Southern Sierra than Ventura County. There will be some elevation gain and loss skirting the north side of Reyes Peak, sometimes traversing hillsides on a narrow trail. The total hiking distance will be about 3 miles.

This intermediate level hike is suitable for moderately experienced hikers or physically fit beginners. It is another in a series of Kaufer’s backcountry hikes under an Operating Permit from the Ojai Ranger District Office of the U.S. Forest Service designed for guides who provide recreational and interpretive services to the public.

For registration or more information, visit www.herbWalks.com. There is no prepayment required, just a promise to notify Kaufer in a timely fashion if plans change. Registrants will receive a confirmation email several days before with all necessary info.

The cost is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 62 and older, and $15 for students 13-18. Lunch is not provided. Kids 5-12 can go free, one per adult, by prior arrangement. No dogs or smoking, please.

Calendar Listing:

• Fall Equinox Nature Hike on Pine Mountain with Lanny Kaufer
• Saturday, September 23, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Learn identification and uses of native plants and explore the ecosystem of the Mixed Conifer Forest
• Cost: $25 adults; $20 seniors 62-up; $15 students 13-18
• Kids 5-12 free, one per adult, by arrangement.

Register at www.HerbWalks.com or call 805-646-6281