Parks

O U T DOO R J O U R NAL

Summer 2016 summer 2016

RETRO, RUGGED, RECLUSIVE Camp peeps use their rides to get away

NATIONAL PARKS Celebrate 100 wild years

GIRL GONE WILDLAND

FireямБghter leads copter crew

Ode to our

National Parks St ory and ph o to s By C h uck G raham Island Scrub Jay

A tribute to America’s National Park Service—all 84 million acres of it—must begin at the beginning, with its presidential forefathers Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Each of these men acted on something unheard of at the time, protecting lands to ensure generations upon generations could access their natural wonders.

In 1872, Grant signed Yellowstone into law as the first national park. During Roosevelt’s presidency (1901 – 1909) he created five new parks, plus a bevy of national monuments, refuges and national forests. Finally, Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service. At the time there were 35 national parks and monuments.

One hundred years after the formation of the NPS on August 25, 1916, I wonder what those former presidents would have to say today now that there are currently 59 national parks.

Perhaps they would like to see more. I would.

Twenty-seven states have national parks, and California has the most with nine. It only makes sense being the Golden State is the most diversified state in the Union. So to celebrate the centennial of the NPS we’ve chosen a handful of national parks to commemorate those iconic landscapes, the wildlife that thrives within, and their potential for epic escapes.

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Channel Islands

Known also as “the Galapagos Islands of the north,” five islands comprise the windswept, volcanic archipelago. Santa Barbara, Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel islands are equally unique with flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth. Established as a national park on March 5, 1980, half of the park is underwater. Island Packers (www. islandpackers.com) transports visitors to this remote national park. Best time to visit is year-round.

North Bluff Trail

From Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz, hike west first to Cavern Point then Potato Harbor. It’s 5 miles roundtrip to Potato Harbor. From there a nameless trail heads south toward Montanon Ridge, passing Coche Point and Chinese Harbor. Once on the ridge, breathtaking views of Anacapa Island and the Santa Monica Mountains dominate the seascape.

Wildlife

Endemic Island foxes abound on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel

islands. The island scrub jay is found only on Santa Cruz Island and is one of the rarest birds in the world. The island spotted skunk is found but rarely seen on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands. Bald eagles have reestablished historic territories across the entire chain. The islands are important breeding and nesting habitat for seabirds, and the largest seal and sea lion rookery in North America is at Point Bennett on San Miguel Island.

Did you know?

The oldest human remains in North America were discovered on Santa Rosa Island by Dr. Phil Orr in 1959. A complete skeleton of a pygmy mammoth was also discovered on Santa Rosa in 1994. www.nps.gov/chis.

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Craig Fernandez and friends in Potato Harbor, Santa Cruz Island.

Graham on Social Trail, Santa Cruz Island

Pygmy Mammoth skull, Santa Cruz Island Summer 2016

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Yosemite We couldn’t devote pages to California’s national parks without this breathtaking granite icon in the Western Sierra. Once the NPS was created in 1916, Yosemite was immediately added to the mix.

El Capitan Hike

Only the best, most skilled big wall climbers scale the daunting granite face of El Cap, but you can also make the long hike to the top. Its summit of 7,569 feet offers ridiculous views of the Yosemite Valley floor and another granite icon, Half Dome. Sometimes you can hear the voices of climbers ascending some of El Cap’s sheer routes. The trailhead is at the Tamarack Flat Campground, and the hike is 16.8 miles round trip. Best time to go is summer.

Trail to El Capitan trails, especially its higher elevations, surely come in contact with another Sierra resident, the yellow-bellied marmot. Both big and small are crafty critters possessing voracious appetites that keep granite lovers on their toes.

Did you know?

Along with its array of sweeping meadows, dense woodlands and dry, scrubby chaparral, Yosemite holds over 225,000 acres of old-growth forest. www. nps.gov/yose.

Black bear

Wildlife

Black bears and Yosemite are synonymous with one another. However, hikers, climbers and backpackers who explore Yosemite’s many backcountry 36

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Zabriskie Point

Death Valley This rock hound wonderland of desolate mountains, colorful badlands, glaring salt pans, broad alluvial fans and majestic sand dunes was designated with national park status on Oct. 31, 1984, with the creation of the Desert Protection Act. It’s the largest national park in the lower 48 states. Badwater is the lowest point in the U.S., and the second lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level. It’s the hottest and driest place in North America, even reaching 134 degrees in July 1913. It was the highest temp ever recorded on the face of the Earth. Best time to visit is fall through spring.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail

There aren’t many maintained trails in Death Valley, and this walk across the Mesquite Sand Dunes is no different. It’s a 2-mile walk to the tallest dune. It’s best to hike in the early morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the mid-day sun.

The colors of the dunes at this time are magnificent.

Wildlife

Fauna that has adapted to the arid landscape is some of the most impressive. The Mojave rattlesnake is rare in Death Valley, and if seen, it’s in the southern region of the park. Death Valley’s largest creature is the nimble desert bighorn sheep. It’s typically seen in the higher elevations blending in to the desert landscape. Death Valley is a birder ’s paradise. Hundreds of species have been documented with fall and

spring migrations being the best time to post up a spotting scope.

Did you know?

It was discovered that the salt and gravel beds of the Devil’s Golf Course, located along Badwater Road, extend to a depth of more than 1,000 feet. Studies suggest that in certain places the depth ranges up to 9,000 feet. It’s been noted that only the devil could play golf on its extremely rough surface. www.nps.gov/deva.

Mesquite Sand Dunes

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Collared lizard

Joshua Tree Named after the tall, gangly stands of Joshua trees amongst the giant clusters of majestic granite boulders, the mysterious high desert landscape was deemed a national park on Oct. 31, 1994. A favorite retreat for hikers and rock climbers, Joshua Tree is mystical and otherworldly.

Best time to visit is fall through spring.

49 Palms Oasis Trail

This moderate 3-mile round-trip trail leads to some hardy groves of California Fan Palms, a gathering spot for desert wildlife. Beyond the first grove of palms lie more palms. From here you’re scrambling off-trail over granite boulders.

Wildlife

Go where the water is. Hang out in an oasis, sit and watch and the desert fauna will emerge. Begin in the morning as the sun begins to warm the boulders. Look for desert tortoise, chuckwalla, collared lizards and black-throated sparrows. Keep an eye out for desert bighorn sheep descending the canyon for a morning drink.

Did you know?

Desert Tortoise

Joshua trees get all the attention in the park and deservedly so, but the other trees hidden in the canyons are equally impressive. The only palm native to California is the California fan palm. It grows naturally in several oases within Joshua Tree. In these rare areas where water occurs year-round, desert wildlife abounds. www.nps.gov/jotr.

Park's namesake

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Pinnacles America’s newest national park was signed into law in January 2013. Remnants of an extinct volcano, Pinnacles lies along California’s Pacific Coast Ranges.

Its unique craggy and clustered rock formations jut majestically in the eastern Salinas Valley luring hikers, rock climbers and nature lovers alike. Best time to go is fall through spring.

High Peaks to Bear Gulch Loop Trail

Oak woodland

North America’s largest flying landbird. Once in the High Peaks, look for them perched on the Pinnacles or soaring in warm afternoon thermal updrafts.

However, there are at least 160 bird species documented in the park. Pinnacles boasts one of the densest populations of prairie falcon in North America.

Did you know?

The talus caves of Pinnacles are a nice diversion to the High Peaks. Bear Gulch and Balconies Caves may be closed periodically due to storms and flooding but also because of active colonies of Townsend’s big-eared bats. www.nps. gov/pinn. |

View from High Peak Trail

This round-trip 6.7-mile loop is a beautiful hike (and also a terrific trail run) through the park’s namesake of Pinnacles. The route begins in shaded meadows and creekbeds and climbs to the highest points in the park. Trails are well maintained, and the elevation gain is 1,425 feet.

Wildlife

Pinnacles is arguably the best venue to see endangered California condors, Summer 2016

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