West Camino Cielo to Cathedral Oaks (AS to MC)

Tom Hnatiw April 2020 Los Padres National Forest

Perhaps not quite the title I would have liked to use for this post but considering some recent circumstances it will have to do. A few years ago our pal Tom Hnatiw dreamed this up. Unfortunately Tom passed away before we could see it through. There were several places he and I along with Nathan Wickstrum were putting together logistically that Tom wanted to visit. I promised him we would go and dammit we plan to keep those promises. My friend Stephen recently told me that he felt a person never truly dies as long as they are remembered. Well, we remember you pal. There isn't a hike that goes by without some reminisce of the good times. Hnatiw will see these places now through our eyes. This one was for you buddy.

Lost in the Los Padres & Nathan Wickstrum

Into the abyss

This post will have no directions, no track to follow. Nothing will be said of the details aside from the fact we walked (bushwhacked/crawled) fought or way through rain and dense fog down the south sloping, "iron hard" (stole that from Jack) chaparral hills of the Santa Barbara front country (Santa Ynez Mountains). Starting at West Camino Cielo and ending on Cathedral Oaks Rd. We were gifted a unique encounter with a zebra and got to see several newts, a Red Legged frog (protected species), great horned owl and a bobcat. While many of the images wont be shared I have selected a few that you might enjoy. 

How pretty is that?

Crazy Difficult to navigate these hills in such fog

Yankee Barbareno Sighting

California Newt Taricha Torosa

Love the yellow feet on these little guys. Video Credit NW

"The California red-legged frog is a rare amphibian species found almost exclusively in this state."

Bartlett Canyon

African Safari in the Los Padres?

Video of our friend the zebra. Audio featuring Nathan Wickstrum, Jack Elliott and Lost In The Los Padres. 

That's pretty much it for this post, short and sweet. I know several of you have most likely read between the lines and figured out more of story here. I tried to "tell you what we did, without actually telling you." Tom we still miss you my friend.

Tom Hnatiw Santa Ynez Mountains 2020 photo credit: NW

Chumash Painted Cave

Painted Cave Santa Barbara

High above in the hills of Santa Barbara a cave can be found carved into the towering Sandstone boulders. Here one can gaze upon some of the finest Chumash Pictographs remaining from a long lost culture. Anthropologists estimate the paintings to be from the 1600's and possibly even earlier. The rock art here is in pristine condition and provides a great visual opportunity for the observer.

Nice informative sign

With very few exceptions I almost always keep these locations secret however this particular site is well known and very well guarded. A steel locked gate has been installed to prevent vandalism. 

Steel Gate protecting the art

It is extremely important that these sites are protected and treated with respect. These are sacred places to the Chumash people, and quite possibly some of the only remaining links to there ancestral past. Vandalism and forms of mismanagement has played a major role in the destruction of paintings in other locations. I hope that places such as this help to educate the public on how important it is to preserve these sites. If your in the area I highly recommend a visit especially if you have been wanting to see Chumash Rock Art but have yet to stumble upon any in the wild.

The site is located off of Painted Cave Road. A quick google search can give you exact directions. Parking is limited to about 2 maybe 3 cars max.The Cave is located directly above the parking turnout.  I saw nobody else while we were there. The views here from atop the cliff toward the Channel Islands are incredible and in itself worth a visit. I hope my two girls enjoyed the spot as much as I did.

My Girls