The Channel Island National Park

The Isolated Lands of the California Coast

Channel Island National Park - In celebration of the 100th Years Anniversary of our National Parks my kids and I decided to backpack the rugged country of Santa Cruz Island the largest of all the Channel Island chains. Preparation and careful planning for the trip is very essentials because of the lack of facilities and lack of water in the island. Once your in the island it's like you are on your own world. Transportation arrangement or reservation and camp ground permit is a must before going. Careful planning includes food supplies and other essentials on which a seasoned backpackers should know. My two kids who came with me is my 13 year old perky active pretty girl, and my very reserve handsome son former boy scout himself, it's just a perfect combination of being blended to a father who is always seeking adventures and explorations (with a wink). Both were being trained by me on how to 'be prepared', survival techniques, wilderness etiquette's, packing techniques, and the advantages of being resourceful. The island is like going back in time when California still an inhabited place. Lot's of artifacts here left behind by the Chumash Tribe who have hunt and fish in this islands for thousand of years. Very important not to touch any of the artifacts or moving it from another place. Practice the Leave No Trace wilderness etiquette's guideline.

ISLAND PACKERS - The most knowledgeable crews you will ever meet in regards to oceanography, wildlife, and knowledge of the island. Just ask questions and they will gladly give you an answer in regards to your trip, the islands itself, what to expect, and its environment. Channel Island NP encompasses all the sea waters around it, a National Marine Sanctuary a protected realms of the vast ocean paradise. Whales, sharks, school of fishes, and kelp forests are just a few of the millions wild life under the ocean floor. Commercial fishing and sports fishing are not allowed all along the protected ocean perimeters of the marine sanctuaries.

Ventura Harbor - The Gateway to the Channel Islands - is a lively way to begin your visit to Ventura County. Hotels, Resort Hotels, restaurants and shops dotted the waterfront harbor and its also the place where you can experience the Channel Island National Park Museum and Park Headquarters. Free long term parking for the Island visitors with an issued permit thru Island Packers.

Island visitors will gather here along the harbor for the inter island ships that will bring us to our destinations. Rules and regulation regarding transporting flammable items, and the whole national park does not allow campfires. The place itself is very fragile and very susceptible to wildfires.

Adventure Begins

All bags are packed and ready to roll.

The two explorers Ami and Theodore.

Ami on the deck looking for whales and dolphins.

Theo checking out the girls... nope looking for wildlife at the bow.

Spotted the second largest animal in the world the Fin Whale about a mile away, very shy.

The common dolphins.

Common dolphins showing up.

Video of the pods of dolphins racing with our boat.

Island's Spotted

Among the misty fog an island emerges from the distance - the wild Santa Cruz Island.

The largest of all the island in the Channel Island chains and more than half of it is being manage by

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. Be a member be a stewards of our wilderness and national and state parks.

THE PRISONERS HARBOR

The North Coast of the Santa Cruz island lies a harbor that use to be the embarkation of criminals from the mainland during the early 1800's. But now it's the gateway to the famous island hiking trail, The Del Norte. The Harbor is a gathering place for day use individuals who have a interpretive guide about the island of Santa Cruz. The pier is great place to swim, just on the look out for sharks there's plenty of them around the area. The clear water of the harbor where you can spot large mammals and fishes swimming around it.

Embarkation pier.

Prisoners Harbor - The old ranch house and the presidio.

Pssst... Sharks...

Day 1 - THE HIKES

Several trails and roads traverse eastern Santa Cruz Island, providing visitors with spectacular hiking opportunities. Hikers need to assume individual responsibility for planning their trips and hiking safely. To increase your odds of a safe hike, decrease your disturbance to wildlife, and lessen damage to resources, visitors should be in good physical condition and must follow the regulations and guidelines in the “Limiting Your Impact"

DEL NORTE TRAIL - Follow the rugged Del Norte trail east to the backcountry camp. Carry water. No water at this place. This is a strenuous trail of up and down switchback with an elevation gain of more than 1500 ft. starting from the Prisoners Harbor up to backcountry camp.

CHINESE HARBOR TRAIL - A VERY long hike via the Del Norte trail or Navy Road that ends at a cobblestone beach. Strenuous -

Putting things in order before the long hike going up the trail.

Carrying precious water supplies.

View of the Prisoners Harbor.

WARNING: While backcountry camping is an incredible experience, it is not for the inexperienced backpacker or kayaker. Due to difficult weather, rugged terrain, and off-trail hiking, backcountry camping is an arduous endeavor and should be undertaken only by experienced, well-conditioned backpackers and kayakers.

The trail to Del Norte is not an easy task with its up and down trail that leads to the high country camp ground. The strenuous trail is much harder because of all the extra water we have to carry. The backcountry dont have any water during the hot summer season.

The trail goes up in one point and go drastically and go up drastically once again. Like a yoyo.

Despite of it all the view is absolute beautiful, got a chance to take a picture of this ship passing through the Prisoners Harbor.

A view from the top is just absolutely beautiful.

One more mile to go in our campsite.

The campsite among the coastal oak trees.

The camp has a bear proof food storage bin.

The Oak Grooves

Home away from home - total isolation from the outside world.

WE HAVE VISITORS

The island fox, a descendant of the mainland gray fox, is the largest of the Channel Islands'native mammals, but one of the smallest canid species in the world. Scientific Name

Urocyon littoralis - This animal are found nowhere on earth a unique species that lives in the island

Mother father and son, playing along the sunrise. Guarding our camp during the day time.

Day 2 - The Long and Winding Road

Ami leading the way to the far away Chines Harbor.

Yes it's long and difficult terrain along the way more than 8 miles of walking.

After miles of walking, we finally found a sign that lead us to our destination.

This is the view of the Chinese Harbor up the top of the ridge around 3,000 feet high.

Sister and brother enjoying the view.

Dad having a great time with Ami.

Looking down at the bottom - the Chinese Harbor about 3 miles to go, going downhill.

Overlooking the beautiful beach.

Theo and Ami leading the way going down the hill.

Five miles out from the top of the ridge.

Theodore looking like an ant walking down the trail.

Ami solo hike down the trail.

A remnant of the ranching days, a dead eucalyptus tree near the beach.

Finally reach the bottom of our destination, The Chinese Harbor.

The beach is not the usual sandy beach, it's smooth pebbles and rocks. Not an easy terrain to walk into. The weather is warm enough for us to take a little dip on the cold water.

The area along the coves dotted with caves and carved out rocks from the waves.

After a day of picnic and a bit of swimming we head back up to the trail for a grueling two miles of uphill and switchback. Going back to Del Norte camp is good 8 miles or more of walks. For the day we made 16 miles of hiking.

We're almost into our camps and the sun going down along the ridge and into the western Pacific.

One of the most awesome view we have encountered along the trails.

Magnificent sunset tucked along the westernmost side of the island.

So surreal, magical and absolutely awesome display of mother nature.

One of those moments that you can feel the glory of God in all it's creation.

THE SUNLIT IN THE MORNING WITH OUR CAMP COMPANIONS

MORNING HAS BROKEN

Mine is the sunlight

mine is the morning

born of the one light

Eden saw play

praise with elation

praise every morning

God's recreation of

the new day

THE BIRDS

The Channel Islands are vital habitat for seabirds and shorebirds, providing essential nesting and feeding grounds for 99% of seabirds in southern California and important wintering areas and stopover points for shorebirds. Thirty shorebird species have recorded, including snowy plovers, willets, wandering tattlers, whimbrels, black turnstones, and sanderlings.

The Bald Eagle

The symbol of America - it's the national bird. The eagles was reintroduced into the island by NPS and the Nature Conservancy. Bald Eagles tribes in this island but because of the use of the chemicals DDT they disappeared. Today, bald eagles are again an important part of the island ecosystem. 2006 marked the first successful bald eagle nest on the Channel Islands in over 50 years, and since that time, the recovering bald eagle population on the islands has grown. As of 2013 there were five breeding pairs on Santa Cruz Island, two on Santa Rosa, and one on Anacapa, and a total of over 40 bald eagles on the northern Channel Islands.

From the Superintendent of Channel Island National Park this is what he says:

Like the Galapagos Islands of South America, isolation has allowed evolution to proceed independently on the islands. Marine life ranges from microscopic plankton to the blue whale, the largest animal to live on Earth. Archeological and cultural resources span a period of more than 13,000 years of human habitation.

The protection of these fragile island resources was ensured when Congress, in the act that created Channel Islands National Park in 1980, established a long-term ecological monitoring program to gather information on the current health of resources and predict future conditions. This information provides park and natural resource managers with useful products for recreation planning, conservation and restoration programs, and early identification of critical issues.