EISPIRATEN

Happy New Year 2010!
I was able to get out again this year and hike on New Year's day with some good friends of mine in the Santa Monica Mountains. It was a WONDERFUL day to hike and was glad to keep up this tradition of hiking (4th year in a row!) on the first day of the new year!
We started at the Mishe Mowka trailhead just off Yerba Buena Rd. with only 1 car in the parking lot! This was going to be a loop trip of about 6.5 miles. Here are a couple of pictures from our adventure:

panorama from the top of Sandstone Peak (3,111 ft.)

Echo Cliffs


Balance Rock and Split Rock





I attempted to climb Boney Peak but could only get to this point of the rock.
I'm sure there must be an easier way up to the top but didn't want to battle the chaparral any longer!

We also had some other outstanding views from the top of Sandstone Peak:


A great view of the Channel Islands today!




All in all it was a great day to hike in SoCal!
The rest of the pictures are here: http://drhabes.smugmug.com/Backpacking/ ... 1931_7bDF8

Those are some great photos, especially with Baldy and friends in the background!

Nice write up drhabes1.

Impressed with the vibrant colors you can see in all your pictures, even more impressed that you were able to get clean picture of the snow capped mountains in the distance.

Keep those reports coming

Definitly looks like a perfect day. Beautiful area.