2017/11/18 Buena Vista Trail in Montecito with LPTR & MeetUp

Looking down at the Santa Barbara Harbor from the mountain ridge above Montecito.



Five riders took to the trails to achieve glorious views and give their animals a real workout.
We went 3 miles in a bit less than 2 hours, climbing 660' in altitude and conquering extremely rocky and technical trails. Slow going, but scenic and challenging.

Montecito is a land of great estates, fabulously wealthy and famous people living behind gates and walls.
Despite the danger of crowding their homes up into the forest, where fires periodically rage, these are the coveted acres.

To reach our trail head I traveled up this eucalyptus-lined street.

And one by one the trailers and riders and their trusty steeds arrived.

More than a dozen had RSVP'd, but then slowly schedules changed and animals injured themselves, so in the end there were but 5.






We began with the Buena Vista Trail.

Looking at the map above that is the straight shot up the canyon, and was extremely rocky. We're not talking gravel and pebbles, this is the bones of the earth causing the barefoot mule to go rock-hopping to get up the trail. And of course it is not just an ascent, it is up for a while, then descending into a crack and across a creek bed, then back up the other side.

I know, it looks like a smooth trail but it is not. These boulders are more like what it was made of, and it takes a smart mule or horse to carefully pick their way across the terrain.

But the horizon of the mountain above beckons.

In some places rocks have been blasted away to connect the trail through.

In other places the massive boulders loomed over us, with caves scooped out of them by eons of erosion.
For scale, look on the bottom right corner to see the riders, passing through a shady tunnel of tree branches.

These photos show an invasive plant that goes by the common name of Cape Ivy or German Ivy.
Delairea odorata.
It climbs up and smothers native chaparral plants, choking them and preventing them from getting the sunlight they need. It is relentless and increases the danger of wildfires moving swiftly through these canyons filled with dead brush beneath their canopy.

Once we got to the top of the canyon we turned West on the Edison Catway, a bulldozed road used by utility workers for power line maintenance.
I asked my riding companions to pose there.
From left: SP on a mule, KM on an Arabian, JM and CT on Rocky Mountain horses.
And of course, the Santa Barbara Harbor behind. The islands were just barely visible today.

The power lines make a convenient spot to rest and take a break, and contemplate the 200 miles of trails available in these mountains, so lightly used they seem a hidden treasure.

But then it was time to continue down the Catway,
me and my shadow
and my mule
flopping his ears and enjoying his outing.

Some of my favorite things about this landscape are the dramatic cliffs and boulders, breaking through the trees, showing the geography of the land.

After the Catway we turned left and started to descend on the San Ysidro Trail. 

 This is a popular hiking route and we met lots of people with their kids and dogs having a healthy afternoon.



This cactus was growing at the bottom edge of a steep rock face, having somehow found a way to take hold and cling to the sandstone and multiply.

At some seasons of the year this creek bed will have water, but now it is mostly defined by the riparian trees that send their roots deep down to thrive here.

We knew we were almost back to civilization when we saw this rustic fence.
Fashioned from gnarled chaparral branches it could almost be made of driftwood.







We turned left here to follow the Old Pueblo Trail back across to the trail head we had entered the trail system from.

At this point we are tracking along the back fences of the Great Estates. The smell of bar-b-que wafted up, and the sounds of parties on this lovely Fall day that felt like Indian Summer.

And just before we got back to our starting point we found this wind-sculpted rock with a dedication plaque to Peter Bakewell.

"For his energy and time to make our trails in the Montecito area the pleasant riding and hiking paths they are today."
Montecito Trails Foundation 1981.





So it was with appreciation and gratitude that we ended our ride. Thanks to the MTF, Montecito Trails Foundation, that keeps these trails maintained for the use of the community. To the LPTR, the Los Padres Trail Riders, who sponsored and organized this ride. To my MeetUp group, the Horse and Mule Trail Riders of the 805, that attracted riders who had not previously experienced this trail system to join us.

We will return, and hope to see more riders on the trails when we do.

HAPPY TRAILS

Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.

It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you,
Until we meet again.
Happy trails to you,
Keep smiling until then.

Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song, and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you,
Until we meet again.

      - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans 

                                                                 ##### FIN  #######

Buena Vista Trail, Montecito 9-10-11

Finally, after even more time off fretting over issues with the SubUrban tow vehicle brakes, we hit the trail again. This time we took on a very ambitious trek, starting at the base of the beautiful Buena Vista Trail on the top edge of Montecito, and going straight up into the frontcountry.


Very unusual weather, thunder booming in the distance, where a fierce lightning storm was putting on a display over the interior valleys. Heavy cloud cover, obscuring the islands off-coast and the tops of the mountains inland.



Length: 5.7 miles
Duration: 4 hours
Difficulty: Quite strenuous. Lots of single track with drop-offs into steep canyons, lots of water crossings even this late in the year. But the worst are the constant visible skid marks on the trails from the high speed mountain bike riders, who are forbidden but highly present. Hikers warned us of them and Mr Mule was ears-up alert whenever he saw or heard them.

Altitude gain: 1440 ft 

Grade: III

View Buena Vista 9-10-11 in a larger map

 This photo is actually from the very top of the ridge, the mid-point of the ride, but Tobe looks so very proud of himself and satisfied with the accomplishment of getting to the top that I want to start the post with it.

 Here we are at the bottom of the frontcountry access, starting out on the Wiman Trail. It is very civilized at this point, a mulch-strewn path frequented by dog walkers and winding between estates. Wonderful peeks through floral fencing at grand Tuscan style villas and modern architecture, all nestled into the oaks.

 Now, this was weird, A cage in a dug-out hole in the ground with some small red potatoes and a dead squirrel. Nasty.

 And here, guarding the locked back gate access to an estate, what looked like a plasmacut metal Smokey the Bear sign. Is the Forest Service wondering where he wandered off to?

 The Wiman Trail takes a turn and becomes the Old Pueblo, and runs a bit more horizontal along fencing above homes, and gives some nice views out to sea. But today there was very heavy marine layer cloud cover, so the islands were not visible.

 Even simple oleander bushes are lovely as the borders of the trail, which is so nicely maintained by the Montecito Trails Foundation.

 Here is an example of the kind of steps that the MTF installs. They work to combat erosion and make the trails accessible for all kinds of users.

 This big rock always impresses me, the house has been built around it in a fine compatible way. The really impressive thing is that the "house" actually appears to be just a guest house or garage, because a bit further down the trail is a gigantic building in the same architectural style.

 This fence has a neat detail, enlarge the photo to see it. The top is the raw wire, left as spikes, and about 4 grids down the wire bends out in a triangular wedge, visually quite pleasing.

Now at this point we start on the Buena Vista Trail, which will take us all the way up the side of the mountain. It gets significantly more narrow and rough, because we are now in the Los Padres National Forest and out of the area with houses.

 The trail is certainly no problem for the mule, or the quarterhorse companion, and we see lots of families and couples with dogs, runners training for marathons.

 At this point there is a tiny sign that says "trail easement ends" which I actually don't understand. Something perhaps about the legality of trails in the forest vs inside the boundaries in the incorporated area of Montecito.
Notice the ear position..... Tobe is alerting to something ahead, a hiker coming, or a wild animal perhaps.

 But we waited while I took a photo and Tobe switched his ears to the all-clear position, relaxed and ready to go on. Those 11 inch indicators are a big part of how he can communicate with me.

 This is the same spot, turning to look across the valley we will soon traverse. This is such an unusual year, so much rain in the winter has everything still lush and green. Great to lessen the fire danger, something we are constantly thinking of today as thunder booms above us and lightning strikes are possible....and I keep trying NOT to remember that I am on a 16hh mule and that puts my head 10' in the air quite exposed on a mountain.

 Zigging and zagging we make our way up the mountainside.

 At points like this neither of us can really relax, because even though off road bikes are not legal they are definitely here, and there would be very little warning if they came barreling down the hill at high speed.

Much of the trail has been constructed around boulders and huge trees, and it meanders as a way to combat erosion when the winter rains come.

Unfortunately a wet year has also caused a huge proliferation of German ivy, and it is hanging in swags from many of the trees and covering the ground. Given time it supplants the native flora.

At this juncture you can choose to go up either San Ysidro Canyon to the left, or Romero Canyon to the right. Today, we went left, to the northwest.

While this may look lush, think kudzu. As the ivy covers the native trees and shrubs it steals all the light and they die, and I fear eventually we will have a real environmental crisis here.

Finally, at the top of the canyon we come to the Edison towers, and the Edison Catway, the service road that allows vehicles to access them.

Some nice person has placed a bench near the towers, so it is a nice place to stop, let the animals graze on weeds, and have a bit of a stretch. We drank some coconut water and listened to the thunder. And marveled at the enormously long stretches that the cables span, across gigantic canyons. Quite a feat!

If you know it is there you can see the Santa Barbara Harbor. Just barely.

From the tower we could look back and that tiny thin line of track starting above Tobe's left ear is what we just traveled. I am filled with gratitude that my mule is such a sturdy guy and can carry me to such heights.

But onward we must go.
Tobe lets me know that he is concerned about something, and a hiker comes by and tells us that two mountain bike riders are on the trail ahead. We proceed with great caution, not knowing which way they are headed.

Tobe is very wary, and finally he locks on a glimpse of two mad youth going down the trail at a break-neck speed, but going DOWN and ahead of us on the Girard Trail, where we want to go next.

Tobe and the Little Red Caboose confer on strategy, and then down the Girard we go.

Many of the trees here are dead sticks, burned over in recent fires, but the ivy once again gives the impression of lush growth.

Coming back down you can bet the animals were glad to see the stream flowing briskly and giving them a chance for a long cooling drink.

Anyone who travels the chaparral develops a fondness for lichens, growing on so many rocks, the visible bones of the landscape.

Someone took a great deal of effort and care to build this stone bench at a vista point on the Girard. Now can you see the harbor? Lost in maritime mist.

Does the lad look pleased with himself? I think so. Any day out on the trail is a day of accomplishment.

The sun began to break through, but the cloud cover was still very low, like tropical island weather. Thunder booming, rain predicted, we continued down the mountain.

This dead tree had a curious fungal growth coming out of cracks in the bark.

Suddenly we hit a stretch of very old eucalyptus trees, huge trunks. I had always thought that the groves were planted to harvest for the medicinal effects of the oil, but my companion attested that they were thought to be a fast-growing wood suitable for railroad ties. And a bit of Googling tells me she is correct! The mighty eucalyptus is a very versatile tree, and we are fortunate that many old groves have survived throughout California.

Coming down to the bottom of the trail we see another lovely stream crossing. Tobe likes to drink fresh stream water, but he likes even better the tender plants that grow on the edges.

But, what's THAT? This is a perfect example of the alert system a mule uses. The rider who watches for clues gets a lot of data from those radar ears. In this case in the middle of drinking he went on alert and soon a set of hikers rounded the corner on the trail above. 

Mirror mirror in the stream, 

who is the handsomest mule in this dream?