Please join us on this vigorous/Strenuous docent-led hike in beautiful Montana
de Oro State Park.

May 27, 2006 Sat 9:00AM - 1:30PM, Barranca Loop in Montana de Oro State Park,
led by State Park volunteer docents Anita Zehnder & Mike Baird.
Meet at Ridge Trail parking lot 2.3 miles south of park entrance.
Optional return along the East Boundary Trial instead of Barranca Loop, in order
to see better wildflowers

See http://morro-bay.com/docents/anitaz/ for hike details. ~8 miles, 1000 foot
elevation change.
Minor stops for rest or optional interpretation. Short 15 minute lunch at
half-way point.
Wear boots, weather gear, have water and food.

http://morro-bay.com/docents/anitaz/ says

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.


Mike Baird mike at mikebaird dot com