EISPIRATEN

Warning: this TR has nothing to do with outdoor vandalism and/or the destruction of rock wind shelters atop local peaks.

Summary: short and scenic jaunt along the East Fork Cold Springs trail to the summit of Montecito Peak.

Where: Santa Barbara front country.

When: Last Sunday.

Why: Because.

Distance: A mere 3.5 to the summit. Trip can be extended to 4.5 by continuing to East Camino Cielo along the crest or to about 6 if you drop down the north side to Forbush Flats. This would make a nice little over-nighter.

Bonus: Beer at IBC in Carpinteria.

Some Pics:


The beginning.


In the shade.


Cold Springs.


Into the light.


Hump in the middle is the objective.


Trail.


The "peak."


Summit register.


View south.


Channel Islands.


View north. Trail crests at trees along ridgeline. San Ysidro trail right middle. Camino Cielo East just above that.


Descent.


Yay beer! I disclaim ownership or responsibility for the 2 dead soldiers.

The end.

Yay beer.

Nice views from that peak.

Looks like a nice one. I've been up that trail before, but not all the way to the peak.

HJ

As a continuation from the original post, here's some pics from yesterday along the Cold Springs trail dropping off the back side of Camino Cielo into Forbush Flat and then down the Mono Trail to the intersection with the Gibraltar Trail. The trail was surprisingly empty. It was just me, the poison oak, and the ticks.


Looking off the front side from Camino Cielo. Montecito Peak is on the left.


Dropping down the Cold Springs trail into the upper Santa Ynez River drainage.


Monument to Edward Addison Bulkley (whoever that is) about 1/2 mile down.


Looking east into Blue Canyon toward Cottam Camp.


Trail near the canyon bottom.


One of the two campsites at Forbush Flat.


The other site. Pretty plush for the backcountry.


Looking up Blue Canyon from the Mono trail.


Seashell fossils along the fault line.


View down the Mono trail toward the Santa Ynez River.


The Mono Trail crosses the creek a few times near the bottom. Flow in the creek was light.


One of many pools along the trail.


Near the intersection of the Mono and Gibraltar trails.


Climbing back out just above Forbush.


Back on top. Looking down on Santa Barbara.


San Miguel Island from Camino Cielo.


Met this handsome devil while out and about.


On the Rincon heading home.

Return trip to Montecito Peak.

http://wildsouthland.blogspot.com/2015/ ... pring.html

That looks like a really nice area. Too bad it's a lot of windshield time from my place in the OC. Thanks!

Nice Uncle Rico! One more trip for my to-do list!

Is this trail (the original post) closed or open due to the mudslides/fire?