On the Trail

A Passport to Paradise



Once again vacation time is upon us.


For me, my ideal vacation would be for the construction crew pulverizing a wild canyon into rubble across the road to go on hiatus — or better yet, be swallowed up whole by an avenging Earth Mother deity, never to be heard from again.


For when peace and quiet reigns supreme in my own backyard, where a native oak woodland shades little island plantings of flowers and ferns, I’ve no yen for travel — I’m already at a scenic and blissful destination without hours lost in travel time, hours of waiting in line at admission gates, the expense of gas, lodging, meals, etc.


But here was my 6:45 a.m. wake-up call the other morning:


Four to six massive bulldozers plus a contingent of well-digging equipment going full-tilt boogie. It’s not even legal for construction work to begin until 7 a.m. Now, I work evenings until 3 a.m., getting to bed by 4 a.m., so at 6:45 a.m., reveille is just plain horrible.


This construction crew was so raucous I feared they’d come divining for water in my driveway. And with those ringing devices (there in place of operators’ brains) attached to their perpetually backing up vehicles, they sounded like some hyperactive hand bell choir. Oh boy, time to plan a quick escape to a setting more conducive to hearing your own thoughts and sneaking in a serene siesta.


But what do you do for a spur-of-the-moment, one-day vacation from the Invasion of the Noise Nuisance Squad?


During all my years spent back east, "escape" meant taking a plane somewhere or driving two hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic just to reach the outskirts of a city, then four to six hours to get someplace lovely in the mountains or countryside where an ill-timed downpour usually put the kibosh on any outdoor recreation plans.


But home is sunny Southern California now, specifically the Santa Monica Mountains of rural Agoura, and the easiest solution to my dilemma turned out to be right outside the door: flee to nearby parkland of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA).


A collection of park maps I keep on hand for reference served as my passport to paradise. Packing some victuals and libations, I hit the highway — Mulholland, that is.


So far, I’ve "escaped" to Arroyo Sequit, Charmlee Natural Area, Solstice Canyon, the Oak Bowl of Trancas Canyon, Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and Point Mugu State Park. On visits to each different site I set a "pleasure goal" for that day’s outing:


At Charmlee, I wanted an oceanview picnic table and wildflower-fringed trails to meander in the cool shade of old oaks;


At Solstice, a beautiful creekside setting for contemplation and relaxation;


At Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and adjacent Point Mugu State Park, a big open view of the glorious panorama of fog draped like a loose silk scarf across the rugged shoulders of Boney Mountain;


At Arroyo Sequit, a shaded spot from which to survey deer-dotted golden meadows framed by mountain views; and


At the Oak Bowl, a respite from the day’s heat among breeze-stirred oak groves speckled with the aristocratic blooms of Humboldt lilies.


It’s all been free and all been so good, despite passing those mountain lion and rattlesnake warning signs, despite being stung by a yellow jacket and having the inside of my knee swell to the size of a golf ball, and even despite encountering park maintenance work at both Solstice and the Oak Bowl. (I’ve learned to time my escapes to later afternoon when workers quit for the day).


Talk about re-charging your batteries!


A change in scenery, a quiet trail enveloped in wildness and beauty where only the voices of the wind and birds reach one’s beleaguered ears.


I passed more butterflies than people on each outing.


Plus, the closing chapter of this year’s exceptionally long wildflower season still brightened dry summer trailsides: bush mallow, buckwheat, coast penstemon, California fuchsia, scarlet delphiniums, pearly everlasting, squaw spurge.


So if neighborhood noise is driving you batty and the prospect of a crush of tourists at major vacation destinations is discouraging — just head for the hills (creeks and canyons, too) of home, the SMMNRA.


For a free brochure detailing the many summer activities available at parks within the SMMNRA, please call National Park Service headquarters at (805) 370-2301.





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