Santa Cruz Island Geo-hikes 3 days & 2 nights stay at the Field Station

EVENT IS CLOSED TO MORE RSVPS, IT'S FULL.

MEMBERS THAT HIKE WITH GEO-HIKES FREQUENTLY WILL HAVE PRIORITY.

PLEASE DON'T SIGN UP FOR TRIPS THAT REQUIRE ORGANIZATION THEN CANCEL-OUT RIGHT BEFORE THE TRIP.

IF YOU ARE ADDED TO THE TRIP (FROM WAITLIST TO ATTENDEE LIST), SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND FULL NAME ASAP TO [email protected]. YOU'LL NEED TO PROVIDE YOUR FULL NAME, NAME OF THE TRIP YOU ARE ON, & YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (DON'T ASSUME WE HAVE OR KNOW YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS). IF WE DON'T RECEIVE YOUR EMAIL QUICKLY YOU'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE TRIP. FURTHER INFORMATION: BOAT RESERVATIONS, WAIVERS, WHAT TO BRING, ETC. ARE SENT TO YOU BY EMAIL.

DO NOT MAKE YOUR BOAT RESERVATION UNTIL YOU ARE CONFIRMED ON THE TRIP AND WE HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

This is a unique experience to learn about the natural sciences of the Northern Channel Islands and to make short hikes to beautiful beaches and geologically interesting locations on Santa Cruz Island (SCI) that are closed to the general public. There are only a few spots available for this trip. All of the beach hikes are along pristine and lovely coastlines that provide a glimpse of what southern California beaches looked like hundreds of years ago. The geology, history (including the prehistoric record), and flora and fauna of the island will be discussed. Thom Davis, the trip leader, is lead author on The Geological Society of America's 2020 Field Guide (#59) to Santa Cruz Island and the contents of the guidebook will be used extensively during the trip:

https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/2279/chapter/126263829/Santa-Cruz-Island-field-trip-Geology-history-and

Trip is designed for non-geologists and key earth science concepts will be explained in a manner for all to understand. Geologists are welcome too. The cost is $295/person and covers the cost of our stay at Christy Ranch, vehicle rental, and vehicle fuel. Payment will be by check to the Geologic Maps Foundation and payment instructions will be provided later by email. See cancellation policy. Cost does not include the Island Packer's boat trip fare to the island and return that are $93.00/adult-roundtrip and $88.00/senior-roundtrip (805-642-1393). You are responsible for making your boat reservations. We will be taking the 9:00 AM 12/6/2024 boat from Ventura to Prisoners Harbor & returning on the 12/8/2024 PM late afternoon boat.

We stay at the historic Christy Ranch on the western end of the island that has bathrooms with showers, a well-equipped kitchen with stove, oven, and refrigerators, dining room, and wifi. We cannot sleep inside Christy Ranch as the building are not seismically retrofitted. You will need to bring a sleeping bag (nightly lows are usually above 40 degrees F), a tent, sleeping pad, and a backpacking-size ground tarp. You are responsible for bringing all your meals and drinks (potable water is available at the Ranch), preparing your meals, and clean-up. More information on what to bring will be provided later.

No stores are on SCI, cell coverage is poor. Christy Ranch and the Main Station may have wifi.

This is a fund raiser for the nonprofit Geologic Maps Foundation (GMF), www.geologicmapsfoundation.org. GMF is a 501 (c) (3) organization and donations are tax deductible.

Itinerary: First day, land at Prisoners Harbor, pick-up vehicles, orientation, driving tour of the Canada del Puerto to the UC SCI Main Field Station, check-in, lunch, followed by a drive to Christy Ranch along the Southern Ridge Rd. On the drive we will stopping for landscape panoramas, discussions of the geology, rock types, and flora and fauna. For example, at one point there is a very good view of gully offsets along active SCI fault that bisects the island, https://youtu.be/n5jfomHlgyA. At Christy Ranch we will set up our camp, possibly take a short beach hike, and prepare our dinners.

Second Day: We will make two short hikes: 1) outcrops south of Christi Beach, and 2) a sea-cliff exposure of the SCI fault. If the road conditions are good, we will drive out to Frazer Point to do more beach hiking, view the rich-assortment of bird life around the point, and discuss the marine terraces and sea-level changes during the late Quaternary. If time allows we will hike down to Sauces Beach and Kinton Point.

Third day: We will pack up, tidy up the Ranch portions we used and head back to the Main Research Station and Prisoner's Harbor via the Central Valley Road. If time allows and half-way back to the Main Station, we may make a detour to hike to the top of Diablo Peak (elev=2450 ft) that provides a great panorama of the Northern Channel Islands, Santa Barbara Channel, and the Santa Barbara-Ventura coastline and mountains. The top of Diablo is also a great place to see and discuss the Santa Cruz Island Volcanic Complex that underlie most of the northern portion of SCI. When we return to Prisoners Harbor, and if time allows, we'll do an optional hike towards Pelican Bay. catch the boat for the return to Ventura.