sbrobert
By Robert Bernstein
With so many other events lately, I am a bit behind on my Sierra Club hike photos!
Here are my photos from a hike I led at Gaviota on the “Trespass Trail” with some enjoyable side trips!
Regular hiker Poorva brought her parents along who were visiting from India for the first time! Here is Poorva with her parents along with Sierra Club Outings Chair Tony Biegen and Santa Barbara Hikes Web Site Wizard Diane Soini
We had twelve happy hikers for the occasion!
We started at the Gaviota Peak trailhead, near the Gaviota tunnel, along Highway 101. We soon branched off of that trail onto the Trespass Trail. Then we soon branched again onto the Tunnel View Trail which is not well known. As you can see, it is very dry out there!
But there were still a few flowers and berries
But then I mentioned the side trail leading down to and under Highway 101. New signage shows it as the “Underpass Trail”. Most of the group wanted to check this out even though it meant adding a mile to the hike as well as hundreds of feet down and back up.
The highlight of this area: Gnarled oak trees
Someone has been maintaining this trail in fairly good condition
But the lower part near the freeway is a bit overgrown
But we pushed through and soon made it to the “secret” tunnel under the northbound lanes!
Then we continued under the southbound lanes!
That area has become a popular home for swallows to build nests, too!
My wife had been waiting with Poorva’s mother Jignasa above under the shade of the oak trees.
Then we made our way back up to the Tunnel View Trail.
Did I mention how dry it is out there?
We paused for some photo ops at the Gaviota Pass, above the Gaviota Tunnel
After going a bit further, Outings Chair Tony Biegen was kind enough to escort Jignasa on a short cut over to the Hot Springs to meet us. The rest of us climbed up to the Trespass Trail and looped back around for some higher (and even drier!) views.
We continued back on the Trespass Trail to the main Gaviota Peak Trail. Then to the little side trail leading to the Gaviota Hot Springs.
Several of us planned ahead and wore bathing suits and lounged in the wonderfully warm and relaxing sulphur springs. Others just soaked their feet.
We joined in with some other bathers, too!
As we headed out, a big group came up from below. Good timing, as we had finished enjoying the experience!
It was good to see that area was not so dry as where we had been hiking before. We even spotted this flower.
Stand by for more hike photos!
Please note: At http://www.santabarbarahikes.c
