American Travel Journal: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Channel Islands National Park - Anacapa Island from the water

Since part of our February 2015 wildlife viewing cruise was rained out, the captain gave us a tour of the northern side of Anacapa Island in Channel Islands National Park. Located just 14 miles from Ventura, the 700 acre Anacapa Island is five miles long and ¼ mile wide. The Anacapa lighthouse was turned on in 1932 and was the last lighthouse built on the west coast. Island Packers provides boat transportation to East Anacapa at least one day per week throughout the year. During summer, trips are scheduled six days per week. In addition, Island Packers schedules trips to Frenchys Cove on West Anacapa during the winter as tides permit. Other than taking a short hike through a small gap to a tidal pool on the south shore, visitors must remain at Frenchys Cove. Frenchy LeDreau lived here from 1928 to 1956. Visitors to East Anacapa have a two mile trail system to explore after climbing over 150 stairs from the dock to the top of the bluff.

Approaching Anacapa Island with rain in the background

The iconic Arch Rock and lighthouse of East Anacapa Island

The preserved Coast Guard buildings of East Anacapa Island

Forty foot high Arch Rock

Two hundred foot high bluff towers over another boat

Gap between East and Middle Anacapa Island

A closer view of the gap

Dozens of cormorants and sea gulls fish from this islet

Sea caves continue to form

The bluffs on Middle Anacapa are also about 200 feet high

Sea gulls populate this islet

Sea caves on Middle Anacapa

A large arch on Middle Anacapa

More sea caves

A small islet fills most of the gap between Middle and West Anacapa

Frenchys Cove

Sea caves on West Anacapa

Santa Cruz Island

There is no entrance fee at Channel Islands National Park. However, the islands are only accessible by private boat or by park concessionaire boats or planes. Island Packers (http://www.islandpackers.com) has scheduled trips to four of the five islands. San Miguel Island was closed to the public in 2014 due to concerns about unexploded ordinance. The island was used as a bombing range by the U.S. Navy from the 1940s until 1975. Channel Islands Aviation (http://www.flycia.com/) only has scheduled flights from Camarillo to Santa Rosa Island.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Gray Whale Watching in the Santa Barbara Channel

A whale-watching excursion was the next experience on our February 2015 southern California trip. In addition to providing transportation to the Channel Islands National Park, Island Packers also offers three-hour wildlife-viewing tours of the Santa Barbara Channel. During the winter, gray whales migrate through the area. These animals can reach lengths of 40 to 45 feet and weigh up to 45 tons. Unfortunately, the meteorologists had correctly predicted an overcast day with showers likely. Ventura received 0.14 inches of rain for the day. Since we had been watching the forecasts, we had already kayaked and hiked at Santa Cruz Island the previous two days. While the morning started calm and overcast, the rain didn't hold off for long. Most of the pictures were taken in a light, misting rain and are not of the best quality. However, this was the only opportunity we had to see the gray whales. After leaving the harbor, a couple of dolphins chose to ride our bow wake for a while. Although the captain searched diligently, we only saw one pod of about five gray whales which we followed for ten minutes or so. At this point, the captain had planned to head to the south side of Anacapa Island to see the seal and sea lion rookeries. However, a large rain squall in that area caused him to cruise along the north side of Anacapa Island before heading back to port.

Wildlife viewing route

Great blue heron by the dock

Still water in the Ventura harbor

Steller sea lion hauled out on the buoy again

Light beams

A curious California sea lion approaches

Another view of the California sea lion

One of the numerous oil rigs in the Santa Barbara Channel

Exhale condensate

Evidence of another whale

Three whales

A gray whale's two blowholes often create a heart-shaped plume

One whale

An out-of-focus closeup

Island Packers has scheduled gray whale viewing trips throughout the winter.

Island Packers website is http://www.islandpackers.com.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Channel Islands National Park - Hiking on Santa Cruz Island

Our February 2015 trip to southern California continued with a second day at Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. The eastern 24% of Santa Cruz Island is owned and managed by the National Park Service. However, the western 76% of the island is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. Access to the western part of the island requires a landing permit issued by The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service have worked collaboratively for decades to restore the island. This has included removing feral sheep in the 1980s, removing feral pigs in the 2000s, relocating non-native golden eagles and reintroducing bald eagle chicks in the 2000s.

Even with access limited to the eastern end of the island, there are more trails than we could hike in the short time we had on the island. We departed Ventura on one of Island Packers' catamarans and arrived at Scorpion Anchorage an hour later. We started our hike of the western half of the Cavern Point Loop by walking up the Scorpion Valley past the visitor center and the campground before turning right and heading up a steep ravine. At the top of the hill, we stopped to admire the view before turning right again and climbing up to Cavern Point at an elevation of just over 300 feet. We then retraced our steps back to the intersection with the North Bluff Trail and headed west to the Potato Harbor Overlook which is over 350 feet above sea level. We then retraced our steps back to the trail junction and down the ravine to the visitor center picnic area. From there, I climbed the slightly steeper eastern half of the Cavern Point Loop and returned to the picnic area at the visitor center. This portion of the hike is the second smaller hump in the elevation profile below. Including the short walk from the pier to the visitor center, I hiked over seven miles and my wife hiked about six miles.

Most of Santa Cruz Island is considered a wilderness area. Running water is available at the Scorpion Ranch campground. Vault toilets are located near the visitor center. There is no cell phone coverage on the island and no medical facilities. In addition, there are no fences and guardrails along the top of the bluffs. Numerous signs warn of the dangers of getting too close to the edge of the crumbling bluffs. Due to the number of kayakers, additional signs warn of the dangers of throwing rocks into the ocean from the bluffs. This is a location where parents must be aware of their small children at all times, both for their safety and the safety of others.