The Grotto Trail

It's been a rainy week with sick kids.  Nathaniel was sick from Sunday to Thursday.  Then after being in the house so long he felt well enough for a little walk.  During a break in the clouds we went to a small canyon where they have a Chumash Indian cultural center.

 The whole area was filled with California Live Oak whose branches reached down to the ground making large dome enclosures.

 Seems like something is always blooming around here.

 It was good to get some fresh air after almost a week indoors.

 This is a Chumash reed hut.

 Nathaniel imagined having this to play in with his buddies.

 Saturday, during another break in the torrential rain, we drove way up into the Santa Monica Mountains to Circle X Ranch.  Our hike took us down along a stream, past a couple waterfalls.

 It was called the Grotto Trail.  Very muddy after the rains.

 The water went through giant boulders.  We did a little rock climbing, but with our muddy boots and the wet rocks, we were pretty conservative.

It's very pretty after a rain - bright clear colors.  A lovely place to hike if you can stomach the twisty narrow mountain road to get there.

Hiking Boy



Nathaniel found a throne in the rock wall.

  I have found a hiking buddy.  Davis has refused to go hiking with me since he was 3 1/2 (it was a huge tantrum at the Echo Canyon trail head where I had met a toddler hiking group with the hopes of making friends with outdoor interests, having just moved to California from Jersey City.)  I have only occasionally convinced (coerced) him to go.  But last Saturday, not even the bribe of bacon and eggs for breakfast would move him.  Chris isn't a morning person so he isn't often interested in jumping out of bed and trudging up a trail.


Cool and comfy on a mossy seat.

  But, last Saturday, Nathaniel said he'd go along.  Since winter time in California means water, it was time to go find a waterfall.  Not far from our house in the Santa Monica Mountains is an area called Satwiwa.  There are so many trails to explore. 


The waterfall curves up above and cascades run down channels carved in the rock.  We thought it would be an awsome slide for a lego guy, but it would take him a long time to walk back up for another run.



 True to form in Southern California, we shared our back-to-nature experience with about 40 other hikers.  I have to say though, it is a little different crowd out here than when we lived closer to Los Angeles.  Most were families or groups of friends - teens to young adult.  They'd all sit down on big rocks for their snacks (just like anywhere) but instead of the cheetos and funyuns, they had baby carrots and passed around strawberries (we are just over the hill from the strawberry fields of Camarillo).  We didn't see anyone swimming in the stream in their underwear.  We commonly found underwear in the streams on hikes nearer LA.


California poppies are starting to bloom already.




Sycamore Canyon

 Our hike ended up being about 5 miles when we planned on a little less than 3 and it was much warmer than we expected.  The only complaint from Nathaniel though, was that he wished he hadn't worn his lined track pants because they were too hot.  He says he is up for hiking to a different waterfall tomorrow.  That makes me very happy.