Piedra Blanca loop 06/08/10

cougarmagic · Post by **cougarmagic** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:12 pm

Norma will write up a better TR (with better pics) but since I have nothing better to do tonight, here is mine!

Hiked with a small group today among the very cool boulders and formations of Piedra Blanca, near the Sespe River in the Los Padres NF. The leader, Camille, was impressively good at navigating the confusing terrain (Like Joshua Tree, the formations all start to look the same after a while) We intended to hike a whopping 14 miles, but with multiple snack breaks, and warm weather, we ended up hiking a whopping 5 miles instead. (Some in the group wanted to stretch that to 6, but GPS don't lie)

Some people say I have a 'horse face', but I don't see it:

Still, there is always time for a dust bath in the morning:

Norma strikes a pose:

There were a few "window" rocks that we saw:

And this big wall (200' +?) that begs for a rappel...:

Stats (try not to be intimidated)

Post by **Taco** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:34 pm

Any evidence of climbing on those formations?

Cool pics, J.

cougarmagic · Post by **cougarmagic** » Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:42 pm

TacoDelRio wrote:Any evidence of climbing on those formations?

Not that I saw, no. But I can't figure out why not. It looks great.

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:21 am

How do you maintain the stamina for such a hike? Don't think I could do it . Nice Pix.

Post by **Taco** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:15 pm

Elwood wrote:How do you maintain the stamina for such a hike? Don't think I could do it . Nice Pix.

Someday you too will be able to endure extremely long hikes. Until then, you can only dream... 8)

Johnny Bronson · Post by **Johnny Bronson** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 5:19 pm

TacoDelRio wrote:Any evidence of climbing on those formations?

Cool pics, J.

....lets go for a climb? hahaa

norma r · Post by **norma r** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:35 pm

thanks Johanna for coming along on the hike yesterday! it turned out not to be a hike of distance but of exploration in the Sespe Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest.

i had first seen Piedra Blanca (White Stone) from the summit of the Topa Topa Bluff's last November and i knew i wanted to go there someday. i had no idea of how massive the formation is. once we got up onto the rock there was something interesting everywhere you looked. having Camille there to guide us to some of her favorite sites and over and through the formations easily was great. it's funny how you can put grown adults on rock and we all become kids again! it was a very fun day of playing on and with rocks. can't wait to go back!

Rock ledge

Home to Cliff Swallows...

...and other interesting formations

Exploring along

Sara checks out the view

Rock window

Watch out for the indigenous Sespe Land Eel! Johanna will learn to canyoneer with one arm i'm sure.

In the meantime she will occupy her time being a chockstone.

Camille finding peace in the labrynith that she spent several hikes constructing

The gnag knackered from what has only been 3.5 miles so far!

and Yes, i agree, it would be fun to rap off this monster!

rest of my pix are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ryan.norma8 ... Blanca6810#

Terry Morse · Post by **Terry Morse** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:47 pm

Looks like a fun trip. Surprised that the area isn't crawling with snakes; especially the off-trail portions.
Camille-Love the circular maze. I'd like to see that in person.

lilbitmo · Post by **lilbitmo** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:18 pm

norma r wrote:In the meantime she will occupy her time being a chockstone.

Looks to me like you finally got caught between a "Rock and Hardspot" with all those long distance hikes you go on

Johnny Bronson · Post by **Johnny Bronson** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:43 pm

really nice trip and pictures!