On Friday, October 3rd we hiked the Eagle Rock Trail in El Chorro Park. The park has a lot going for it (like the Botanical Gardens) and was surprisingly empty this time of year. Lots of well-marked parking. The weather was great and we got to visit the hidden Sims Oasis which is rivaled only by our discovery of the Lost Chromium Mine in the Irish Hills. Although the water falls were not running, it still had the feeling of a tranquil garden around a small fresh-water lagoon. Signage indicated that it was originally sponsored by the now defunct National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

 

Looking at our actual track shown below, by hiking in a counter-clockwise direction we placed most of the 479 foot elevation change at the start of the hike making the descent less steep which is easier on the toes and knees. We also benefited from the Coriolis force, such as it is. As we headed out, we took the right fork to the lower right hand corner of the map where Eagle Rock is located. We retraced some of our steps to rejoin the trail and head north. In the upper right you can see a small “hook” which was the pathway to the hidden oasis. Refreshed by our stop at the oasis, we headed southwest to the trailhead. The “official” hike distance is 2.6 miles. It took an hour and 43 minutes. The maximum elevation was 765 feet, and the total of all the UP waypoints was 608 feet.

 

​Almost exactly one month ago on Friday, September 5th Barbara Newsom jointed us on her birthday. This time, Shiana Seitz (pictured below in front of Eagle Rock) was with us for hers.  We love it when the girls come along.  The picture at the bottom is Cuesta College as seen from Eagle Rock.  Remember you can enlarge any of the pictures below on a mobile device by touching with two fingers and spreading them apart.