Flores Peak is at the top of a primitive and very steep trail above Gibraltar Rock. The Wednesday night hiking group occasionally does this starting from the Rattlesnake Trail, but I have made it into a much shorter hike by starting at Gibraltar Rock. I led this hike once again for the Humanist Society.
Here are my photos. Here are my videos.
The very first section is one of the toughest parts, which is a good thing. It means that people find out right away if they are up for the full hike. We had eleven happy hikers and we all posed at the deck above this first challenging section. I flew my little drone for this short video of all of us. Notice Gibraltar Rock below us and to the right.
Manzanitas are my favorite local tree. I love their soft, smooth bark. Many were destroyed in the Thomas Fire in 2017, but some like this one are doing OK now.
We were also treated to these Indian paintbrush flowers in bloom.
By coincidence, two other sets of hikers were doing this hike, but starting all the way down at the Rattlesnake trailhead. They started around 8AM and were on their way down as we were heading up. Phil (left) sometimes leads, but this hike was being led by Ella (right).
Here our group posed with some of their group. You can see Gibraltar Road below.
We climbed up the steep, rocky trail to the final overlook before the last section up to Flores Peak. In the past, some of our group would end their hike here. The view is almost as good as at Flores Peak, but without the slippery final section!
I flew my little drone again so we all could be in it.
After that has always been a steep, slippery section to the top. When I last led this a year ago I was told that there is a much safer way to the top. I was pretty clear what that route was and was ready to lead it. But Martin Dent had actually done it already, so I was happy to let him lead the way!
From the top of Flores Peak it is possible to get this clear view looking up the upper section of Gibraltar Road. Flores Flat is a small community in the center of this image. It was once home to the Sunburst Community.
Hiromi kindly posed for this photo on the ocean side of Flores Peak.
And here was most of our group in one photo.
Overhead we saw hang gliders like this one.
And paragliders like these.
We hung out on the ridge for awhile, snacking and taking in the views. We then walked back along the ridge to the hidden relatively safe passage back down. Martin Dent is at far left in this photo.
After this, Martin, John and Adam went off on their own adventure, bushwhacking their way back to Gibraltar Road near Flores Flat (but not going onto their property). It seems to be a challenging bushwhack, including some poison oak.
The rest of us made our way back down to Gibraltar Road. Then we crossed the street to Gibraltar Rock. On top of Gibraltar Rock I flew my drone one more time to take us all in along with the scenery.
Just as we were about to leave, one of the hikers in our group just happened to look down to see quite a surprise: Slack line walkers had set up a slack line across the canyon below Gibraltar Rock! We then stayed quite awhile longer to observe what they were doing. Quite a bonus!
This panoramic photo took in the full extent of their slack line.
This photo shows the full line from a very different perspective. You can see one of the walkers in orange, half way across.
Here is a closer view of him.
Here was the other gentleman coming back the other way when he was done.
This video shows the first walker in motion. The video runs for over six minutes, but it just shows part of the walk.
This one shows the second walker from the very beginning. Both videos show how they are able to fall with safety lines. And then get back on the slack line. Very impressive!
You can see the schedule of all of our local Humanist Society hikes and other events here on Meetup. Everyone is welcome!
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