Hiking in the Santa Monica Mountain

The Santa Monica Mountains are just North of Santa Monica. A ride in the Honda Fit - along the coast on the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) through Malibu, then up the mountains at Yerba Buena Rd. took Rebecca and myself to Circle X Ranch. A few miles after Circle X Ranch starts the Mishe Mokwa Trail at the Sandstone Peak trailhead. Circle X Ranch is a great place to stop for water, a restroom, and a map though.

The Road from Circle X to Sandstone Peak Trailhead

Manzanita...with the peeling red bark

Here I am holding a pebble and...
voila! I placed it on the mountain in the distant! I tricked you, didn't I? ;)

Mishe Mokwa means Great Bear in Native American. To be specific "Grizzly" and he is the spirit keeper of West.

Funnel Web Spiders? Fortunately we only saw there beautiful structures, no encounters with the home owner.

Volcanic Rock near Inspiration Point


Mt. Allen also known as Sandstone Peak, which is ironically made from volcanic rock, not from Sandstone.

On the peak we were welcomed by circling vultures and a raven. The photo credit of the vulture on the picture below goes to Numoon, but the birds we saw sure looked like him.

After the heat on the mountain and a 4 hour hike, we needed some ocean breeze. Photos below from El Matador Beach - just north of Malibu.


More beautiful land creations...and the million dollar home in the back. The owner didn't think there was sufficient water in the pacific - the deck comes with a pool ;)