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nature fun
18 years ago
General
i went on a crazy waterfall hike in malibu canyon yesterday. it was my second visit to the location, my first being last summer 'round August.
it's required that you park relatively far from the trail head, in a small lot immediately off PCH. so the first bit is a lame, 1 mile, uphill walk amongst piles of horse shit & million dollar homes. soon enough, we reached the main trail, winding through dense brush, crossing wide creeks, & passing under some impressive old oaks until it comes to a halt at the base falls, which is also somewhat of a sulphur spring (stenchy!). since it was raining, no one was there, and everything was a great deal more lush than the first time we went (ferns & flowers all over the place).
from the base falls, there's another trail which is easily overlooked. this one is a real test of will. an ultra steep, 1/2 mile strenuous climb, complete with bush tunnels, boulders, and very loose soil. but it's totally worth it. the pay-off is a 150 ft waterfall, cascading down multi-tiered shelves of algea & moss to a very cold clear pool inhabited by bright orange newts.
upon closer inspection, we found a roilling cluster of mating newts, about five of them, with a sixth trying to wedge it's way in. by the time we decided to leave, all six had formed an Escher-esque knotted up ball of newt. i forgot to bring a camera : (
when we left, the whole mountain was encased in a thick fog-ish mist which, though very beautiful, made our descent all the more treacherous (i fell in some saw grass, fuuuuuuck!). over all, a highly enjoyable outting.
it's called Winding trail & Escondido falls. if you folks would like to attempt it, watch out for poison oak, that shit's EVERYWHERE.
if you do go, please leave it as found. the place has been trashed in the past, and that sure as fuck doesn't help anyone.
it's required that you park relatively far from the trail head, in a small lot immediately off PCH. so the first bit is a lame, 1 mile, uphill walk amongst piles of horse shit & million dollar homes. soon enough, we reached the main trail, winding through dense brush, crossing wide creeks, & passing under some impressive old oaks until it comes to a halt at the base falls, which is also somewhat of a sulphur spring (stenchy!). since it was raining, no one was there, and everything was a great deal more lush than the first time we went (ferns & flowers all over the place).
from the base falls, there's another trail which is easily overlooked. this one is a real test of will. an ultra steep, 1/2 mile strenuous climb, complete with bush tunnels, boulders, and very loose soil. but it's totally worth it. the pay-off is a 150 ft waterfall, cascading down multi-tiered shelves of algea & moss to a very cold clear pool inhabited by bright orange newts.
upon closer inspection, we found a roilling cluster of mating newts, about five of them, with a sixth trying to wedge it's way in. by the time we decided to leave, all six had formed an Escher-esque knotted up ball of newt. i forgot to bring a camera : (
when we left, the whole mountain was encased in a thick fog-ish mist which, though very beautiful, made our descent all the more treacherous (i fell in some saw grass, fuuuuuuck!). over all, a highly enjoyable outting.
it's called Winding trail & Escondido falls. if you folks would like to attempt it, watch out for poison oak, that shit's EVERYWHERE.
if you do go, please leave it as found. the place has been trashed in the past, and that sure as fuck doesn't help anyone.
dad, bro & i went to Belize last summer. upon our visiting the Mayan ruins of Lamanai, i discovered the fully intact, hairy exoskeleton of a large tarantula, just outside it's webed den (at the base of a tree). i'm guessing ants dragged it & ate it from the inside-out. the fucker's fangs were HUGE !!!
honestly man, rain forests are the coolest!