Big Sur

If you have been lucky enough to drive on Highway One in California, you may have come across a small restaurant and inn called Ragged Point, located in Big Sur. It is small enough that if you blink, you will miss it. Big Sur is home to Black Swift Waterfall which is fed by Young Creek.

In 2005, a young couple, Stan and Peggy, were staying at the Rugged Point Inn. On the morning of their first day there they decided to take a hike to follow Young Creek from the waterfall all the way up into the hills to find the creek’s water source. It would turn out to be a hike that they would never want to experience ever again.

The morning of their hike was cold and foggy. The owner of the inn advised them to wait until the fog cleared to go on their hike. But Stan and Peggy de-

cided they did not have that much time. They wanted to be back on the road in the afternoon to be in Santa Barbara that evening. So, they decided to ignore the owner’s advice and continue their hiking adventure.

Stan and Peggy started their hike at the waterfall, located behind the inn. Even though Stan and Peggy were experienced hikers, they soon realized that the moisture in the air, mixed with the fog, was going to make this hike more challenging than they first thought. They started following the creek and quickly realized that they were going to get a little wet. There were several places where they had to walk in the water rather than on dry land because there was no room. The overgrown vegetation made it almost impossible to stay on the land. Luckily, the creek was not deep.

About a hundred yards into the hike, up the hill, the fog got worse. The fog was so thick in some places, they could only see about three feet in front of them. And that is when things got bad. With Stan leading the way, he took a left trying to find a clearing. Peggy, not being able to see Stan, took a right. The two of them continued not realizing they have split up.

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