Santa Barbara Adventure People

Nov 12 Update: current weather forecast for Saturday, 90% rain, 54F-61F, calm 5 mph wind
This part of the earth is entering the winter raining season. For the next few months, rain encounters would be more common.
I consider myself having a good sense of adventure and can-do mindset, yet very safety conscious. Unless the rain is heavy, with lightning, and wind turn stronger than 10 mph, I will go forward with this hiking & exploring adventure. Some rain and wet trails are minor issues that could be mitigated or resolved. Bring rain coat, umbrella, good traction shoes, hiking poles, and move more cautiously to prevent slip & fall. Keep a set of clothing in the car for change post hike.
However, driving in rainy traffic increases risk. Leave earlier to account for slower speed and focus on traffic safety. Getting late to trailhead would be very understandable.
You could stay dry at home, or join this more adventurous, more memorable, or less mundane, or more insane hike. It is all up to you. I like to read your feedback.

This is a socializing hike to explore in beautiful and exciting nature, and get a great workout. The hiking and exploring adventure starts at San Ysidro Trailhead going north to check out the San Ysidro Falls after the recent rain. A major part of this trail is along the creek, forested and very scenic. After getting to E Camino Cielo Rd, we go west to connect to the East Fork Cold Spring Trail. Have fun ascending Montecito Peak. Then continue to Montecito Hot Springs via Cold-Hot Springs Connector Trail. Checking out and relaxing at the hot springs. Then take Edison Catway back to San Ysidro Trail and trailhead.

If you are also passionate about hiking & exploring in beautiful nature, committed to health, fitness & vitality, and meet the quality below by self assessment, you are very welcome to submit your intent to join. 🙂

Trailhead: San Ysidro Trailhead

Estimated Distance & Climb: up to 12 mile, 4500’

Experience & Skill: uneven terrain hiking, creek crossing or traverse, bush whacking

Ability: assess and manage risks effectively, carry on meaningful conversation

Supply & Equipment: rain coat, umbrella, hiking poles, adequate hydration, food, reliable headlamp with sufficient runtime and windbreaker as needed for potential night descent, optional things for the hot springs

Physical & Mental: healthy & fit for hiking & exploring adventure, mentally & emotionally sound

Personality & Character: authentic, sincere, down to earth, enthusiastic, cheerful, good sense of humor, cordial and pleasant to chat with, effective in communicating

Mindset: adventurous yet very safety conscious, self responsible & self accountable, intellectually curious, independent thinking, open-minded worldview, can do attitude

Do you know what exactly is the Santa Barbara Funk Zone? I had no idea of this place until about 2.5 months ago, when a friend responded to my text that she was at the funk zone. I thought what FUN zone?

On Aug 31 this year, Santa Barbara was experiencing a heat wave. My solo midday hike up the south facing hillside of Flores Peak was brutal and exhausting, in what felt like 110-115F ambient radiant heat. The boulder surface was scorching hot, most likely sufficient to cook eggs. The risk of heat exhaustion was real and I had to monitor my vital signs and mental alertness, and took periodic covers in the shade of sparse manzanitas and sumacs.

I got to the top of Flores Peak all fine, except to descend in that kind of heat, the hydration could be a potential concern. The solution was to shade myself behind a large boulder for about two hours, waiting for the temperature to drop. That turned out to be an amazing and fascinating opportunity to observe paragliders soaring above the beautiful coastline.

I descended the hillside when the sun got lower on the horizon. On the way down to Gibraltar Rock, a search & rescue helicopter circling above Arlington Peak could be seen, and heard loudly in the distance.

I texted a friend to see if she could see the helicopter from her house. Helicopter search & rescue was something she had mentioned or warned me about quite a few times in the past. But from the funk zone, it was not visible.

I have put off checking out this area of Santa Barbara for more than 2 months. On this trip, I am following my curiosity to explore something different and that I have not been to for the most part. This will be a trip of exploring, discovering, and walking for fitness.

If you are also passionate about hiking & exploring in beautiful nature, committed to health, fitness & vitality, and meet the quality below by self assessment, you are very welcome to submit your intent to join. 🙂

Start at: Dolphin Fountain area, Cabrillo Blvd & Stearns Wharf

Distance: up to 10 miles of casual to fast pace 4.5 mph walking

Ability: fast pace 4 mph walking, manage urban traffic safety effectively, carry on meaningful conversation

Physical & Mental: healthy & fit for walking, hiking & exploring, mentally & emotionally sound

Personality & Character: authentic, sincere, down to earth, enthusiastic, cheerful, good sense of humor, cordial and pleasant to chat with, effective in communicating

Mindset: adventurous yet very safety conscious, self responsible & self accountable, intellectually curious, independent thinking, open-minded worldview, can do attitude

This will be my second time using this beautiful nature preserve as conditioning & simulation for strenuous Mt Whitney Trail and Franklin Trail Hikes. And I also plan to cover all the trails in one trip, watch the sun setting, and have fun observing the nocturnal living things and seeing this place at night in a different perspective.

The upper part of this nature preserve has a significant amount of oak forest and is scenic. Lots of branching large oak trees for fun climbing. The lower section of this area has nice views of the ocean, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Avila Beach, and the freeway traffic. The sunset view from Avila Overlook is quite spectacular. All the trails are relatively close to the parking lot when the training needs to be cut short, and for anyone that joins with a shorter distance goal.

If you are also passionate about hiking & exploring in beautiful nature, committed to health, fitness & vitality, and meet the quality below by self assessment, you are very welcome to submit your intent to join. 🙂

Trailhead: Pismo Preserve Trailhead

Distance & Climb: up to 26.2 mile, 3300’

Experience & Skill: uneven terrain & fast pace hiking, trail running

Ability: assess and manage risks effectively, carry on meaningful conversation

Supply & Equipment: adequate hydration, food, headlamp and windbreaker as needed for potential night descent

Physical & Mental: healthy & fit for strenuous hiking & exploring adventure, mentally & emotionally sound

Personality & Character: authentic, sincere, down to earth, enthusiastic, cheerful, good sense of humor, cordial and pleasant to chat with, effective in communicating

Mindset: adventurous yet very safety conscious, self responsible & self accountable, intellectually curious, independent thinking, open-minded worldview, can do attitude

Bishop Peak is my favorite place to hike, climb & explore in San Luis Obispo. There are a few interconnecting trails and trailheads. The mixed terrain and environment is interesting, passing through beautiful forest with mixed vegetation. The boulder field on the peak is always fun to climb and also some of the very best places to see the sun setting and the surrounding cities below.

Video of Bishop Peak Hike & Explore from Oct 04, 2025:
https://youtu.be/6iMK1EFTf2c?si=fXjRiWqyCPaKz6MK

Many photos from the same hike:
https://www.meetup.com/santabarbaraadventurepeople/events/311196822/

If you are also passionate about hiking & exploring in beautiful nature, committed to health, fitness & vitality, and meet the quality below by self assessment, you are very welcome to submit your intent to join. 🙂

Trailhead: Highland Dr Trailhead, San Luis Obispo

Distance & Elevation: up to 6 miles, 1500’ ascent

Bring: adequate hydration & food based on weather and individual need

Experience & Skill: rocky & uneven terrain hiking, scrambling, boulder climbing optional

Ability: assess & manage risks effectively, carry on meaningful conversation

Physical & Mental: healthy & fit for hiking & exploring, mentally & emotionally sound

Personality & Character: authentic, sincere, down to earth, enthusiastic, cheerful, good sense of humor, cordial and pleasant to chat with, effective in communicating

Mindset: adventurous yet very safety conscious, self responsible & self accountable, intellectually curious, independent thinking, open-minded worldview, can do attitude