Lost Valley, Coast Ridge, Arroyo Seco
May 10-12, 2002

This was a solo backpacking trip in the Ventana Wilderness.

Day 1: Memorial Park to Lost Valley, 10 miles, 1500' gain.
Started out on a cool, breezy, but sunny day.  The gate to Indians
Rd was open, but I hiked all the way to Escondido, enjoying the
views, such as a blooming yucca, then descended the trail to Arroyo
Seco creek and hopped across with care.  There was lots of poison 
oak to avoid as I headed up to the divide at 2800', but the rewards
were more views and cool breezes amid the pines.  

Coming down, I spied a cool, inviting swimming hole just below the
trail.  The path down to it was treacherous, however, and lined with 
razor-sharp yucca blades.  After taking a few pics, I continued on, 
and soon arrived at Lost Valley camp.

True to its reputation, the camp was spacious, well-watered,
sheltered, and dominated by tall Coulter pines.  I decided to see 
what lay beyond, passing through lupine-perfumed fields, hopped 
a few creeks, and spotted two horned lizards, a species I'd only 
observed once before.  Shortly after crossing Higgins Creek before
Pelon I decided I'd had enough of the poison oak and headed back 
to camp, where I spent a pleasant evening.

[I didn't see the famed memorial plaque to Bill Cotta, who drowned 
with his horse in the winter of '63.  Maybe a winter storm carried
it away.]

Day 2: Lost Valley to Cook Spring, 10 miles, 3000' gain.
I headed up the Lost Valley Connector, the remains of a steep, 
2.5-mile tractor trail from the valley (1800') up to the Coast 
Ridge (3500').  The ridge view was rewarding, with the sea on one side, 
and the valley and distant ridges on the other.  The Coast Ridge 
trail from there up to Rodeo Flats was dotted with wildflowers, 
and I saw two more horned lizards on the way.  From there to Cook 
Spring (4600') the landscape changed from chaparral to mostly oak 
to mostly pine (sugar, Coulter, etc).

Cook Spring camp was sunny and warm, and the spring was still 
flowing happily.  The usual complement of flies and gnats were out, 
and I donned a headnet, but was surprised by the number of bees.  
I'm not allergic to their stings, so seeing 10 or so bees buzzing
around my gear was mainly just fascinating to watch.  Maybe there
was a hive nearby.  Later, I watched the stars come out, and 
saw a meteor before falling asleep.

Day 3: Cook Spring to Memorial Park, 7 miles, mostly downhill.
Awoke with relish and headed out ASAP.  Heading back down the Coast
Ridge, I observed thin wisps of clouds blowing in from the sea, then 
watched the morning light play amongst sandstone, blooming Indian 
Warrior and the storm-weathered pines.

Continuing down the ridge trail to Arroyo Seco, I descended through 
chaparral to the oak-lined creekside, then rock-hopped the creek 
just before Madrone camp, marvelling at how I'd had to wade across 
back in January. I recalled the icy pains in my hamstrings, cursing 
at the cold rushing water, and in the warm spring air this made me 
laugh.  The next two crossings were similar, and I recalled sliding in 
up to my thighs in one place.  *That* was cold.  

But now the creek was just sort of tame and pretty, lots of nice cool 
water flowing through a deep, boulder-strewn canyon, the chilling
fury of winter a distant memory...

Back at my car, I was amazed at all the car-campers at Memorial Park 
this time of year.  A ranger had mistakenly issued me a ticket for 
parking without an Adventure Pass.  On the drive back, I thought about
how soon I'd be able to apply Tecnu, then popped some poison oak pills.