01-24-2010 Jackson Falls

Way up Santa Paula Canyon, beyond the graffiti painted waterfalls and slides there is a set of two waterfalls called Upper and Lower Jackson Falls. Typically these falls are dry. To my knowledge they didn't flow at all in 2009. However when it really rains, as it it did this week, Santa Paula Creek fills up and the Jackson Falls flow with majesty. It took some careful creek navigation, wet boots, a jump over the fast flowing creek, and an accent up rain slicked rocks, but we finally got to our long sought destination. Jackson Falls did not disappoint. The water was arched off the fifty foot high lip of the falls with such tremendous force that if one were completely nuts they could walk behind the water. It had taken us four hours to get there and we were hungry. We stopped for hour to eat lunch and take some pictures. We the packed up and and took a five minute walk up to the Upper Falls. These Falls are about the same height as the Lower Falls but spill out into a big pothole in the canyon floor. At this point it was time to head back. The hike back was much easier and faster. When we got back we showered up went out and ate a hundred dollars worth of Japanese food then Frank slept for 16 hours.



Lower Jackson Falls


Upper Jackson Falls

01-10-2010 Rock Creek

On a whim we decided to hike the Middle Sespe trail. It's right off the 33, just past the turn out for Rose Valley/ Piedra Blanca. The trail was a bit of a disappointment since the Sespe was quickly out of site. When we got to the Rock Creek junction we decided to head up creek towards some interesting looking rock formations instead of staying on the trail. We went up Rock Creek for a couple of miles before we decided the rock formations were to far away for the schedule we were on, and headed back.

Photos: Blackcrown

01-02-2010 Matilija

This was the first hike of the new year. The weather was pretty nice so we decided to head up one of our favorite hikes, Matilija Creek. We passed a couple of people early on, then had the canyon to ourselves for the next few hours. I've heard the the falls at the end of the trail called Arido Falls. I just call it "The Ropes" since you scale up the canyon on a couple ropes placed by previous hikers to get to the pool and falls. There's a spring right before the falls that you can refill your bottles at.

Photos: Frank Jones