Give Yourself a Gift - Backpack Catalina this December

I know December is busy for many of us, but my children are adults now, so I am not nearly as busy as I used to be. As such, I'm organizing a backpacking trip to Catalina Island. I was initially going to propose the Trans Catalina Trail, but I didn't really want to spend 4 days on the island. Instead, I propose two nights on the island's northern shores, a hike to Starlight Beach, and a casual Sunday in Two Harbors. Thus far, I have reserved sites at Parson's Landing for Friday night and sites at Two Harbors for Saturday. The itinerary for this trip:

Day 1:
* Catch the Catalina Express from San Pedro to Two Harbors at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, December 13. The cost is $42 one way for adults under 55 and $37.50 for adults 55 and over. You must make your own reservations here: Catalina Express (fareharbor.com)
* Hike from Two Harbors to Parsons Landing, 7 miles, mostly flat. Two Harbors to Parsons Landing via West End Road, California - 808 Reviews, Map | AllTrails
* We should arrive to camp early afternoon. There is also a boat that arrives into Two Harbors at 2:55. If you hike fast, you can catch the second boat and arrive in time for sunset.
* There is no water in camp; however, the Catalina Island Conservancy will bring water, firewood and firestarter to Parson's Landing for a fee. When I did this hike, I did not use all of my water. I recommend we coordinate the water drop.

Day 2:
* Hike to Starlight Beach - Starlight Beach via West End Road and TCT, California - 57 Reviews, Map | AllTrails The trail to Starlight Beach may not be in good condition. We can hike up to the ridgeline which is equally pretty. This is roughly a 9 mile roundtrip hike from Parsons Landing to Starlight Beach.
* We will camp at Parson's Landing Saturday night.

Day 3
* Return to San Pedro on either the 11:45 a.m. boat or the 4:45 p.m. boat. If the weather is good, a day in Two Harbors is not a bad way to spend the day. There is plenty to explore, including a hike to Catalina "Harbor" or up the hill to the overlook above Little Harbor. You may also rent kayaks and paddle boards.
* The return boat to San Pedro is also $42 for those under 55 and $37.50 for those 55 and over.

Camping is not free, averaging $30 per night per person. It doesn't seem to matter how many people are in a tent. I currently have two sites reserved at Parson's Landing for a maximum of 16 people.

For the most part, this is not an advanced hike. Nearly all of the trail to Parson's Landing is a road walk, elevation is minimal. The hike to Starlight Beach is longer and the trail may not have great tread. If we carry our backpacks to Starlight Beach and then on to Two Harbors, it is a long hike. However, if you are a beginner backpacker and want to attend, the hike to Starlight Beach is optional and you can spend the day at Parsons or return to Two Harbors. I don't want cost or skill level to be a barrier to participation, so please reach out to me if you have any concerns.

As for weather, December will bring cooler temperatures and possibly rain, but I have found my favorite time of year in Southern California is when it's snowing everywhere else. Average high is 65 degrees and average low is 50 degrees. We will have wood for a campfire.