Summary: (as approved 1-28-04)
Hike Barranca Loop: Great exercise, great companionship, and spectacular ocean, mountain and canyon views.  On this vigorous hike, you will view Montaña de Oro and Morro Bay from the Ridge and Barranca trails while enjoying wildflowers, birds, and native vegetation.  Bring water and lunch.  Wear hiking boots.  Meet at Ridge Trail parking lot 2.3 miles south of park entrance.  1000 foot elevation change, 8 mi., 4.5 - 5 hrs.

Outline/Plan -- longer description (rev. 2-25-04, 4-12-04)   Docents: Anita Zehnder, Mike Baird
Hike Barranca Loop: Great exercise, great companionship, and spectacular ocean, mountain and canyon views.  On this vigorous hike, you will view Montaña de Oro and Morro Bay from the Ridge and Barranca trails while enjoying wildflowers, birds, and native vegetation.  Bring water and lunch.  Wear hiking boots.  Meet at Ridge Trail parking lot 2.3 miles south of park entrance.  1000 foot elevation change, 8 mi., 4.5 - 5 hrs.

Category: (H) "Hike -- Active to strenuous, no interpretation." (Strenuous)

Theme:  We gain inspiration and fully appreciate nature by pooling insights with like-minded companions on active hikes. 

Hike along a well-defined but at times steep single-track path, crossing over several 1000 foot peaks on the Ridge and Barranca loop trials.  In these coastal scrub and chaparral  environments,  you will discover many native shrubs, trees, and beautiful seasonal wild flowers.  Optionally bring binoculars to better view birds and the magnificent distance views of the mountains, sea, and bay.  By briskly hiking with other outdoor-loving companions, you will find that your knowledge and curiosity will mix with that of the others, and the expert training of qualified State Park docents, to provide an enriched unique experience, satisfying to both your body and your soul.  You may well meet others on this hike that you will run across again and again on other docent-led walks, making the outdoor experience even more enjoyable and valued.  When you are hiking and see something interesting in nature, you can appreciate it more if you can share and discuss your experience with others.  Some guests may  take photos and share them with others after these walks using Internet web sites and e-mail.

The docents will be prepared to discuss natural history topics as they come up, or may choose to give one or more short talks depending on the guests’ interests.  However, the hike will generally proceed with only a few brief rest or interpretation stops to make sure we maintain an aerobic and healthy experience.  At the one-third way point on top of Hazard Peak, and/or at the two-thirds-way point, as we transition from the Ridge Trail to the Barranca Loop Trail, we will rest for a snack for about 15 minutes, before continuing on to the Islay Creek Road leading back to our starting point.  The hike will be paced to meet the needs and abilities of the participants.  This hike is conducted by two docents... one leading, and one following.  In this way, if any hikers need to proceed at a slower pace, or need to return without completing the loop, the follow-docent is available to assist those guests.  We invite suggestions for improving our hikes and walks, and we encourage your feedback and evaluation during and after the event.  Our objective is to make sure that you thoroughly enjoy and benefit from the natural beauty of our State Parks, and learn the importance of, and your role in, preserving these precious resources.

Note:  Rain (or very wet trails) cancels the hike. If this hike is cancelled due to weather, it will be so noted at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hikemorrobay/ by 7-8 AM on the day of the hike.  Check your e-mail or the web messages there to be sure.