San Mateo Canyon Wilderness 12/12/2010

Well, Several of my family and friends called me and asked me to take them on a hike. I know I just hiked here recently but I just couldn't resist introducing them to Tenaja Falls. This time though, we visited the falls, then explored upstream, then back to the falls again for a nice lunch. The trail upstream gains elevation, leaves the creek and goes high up on the chapparal covered slopes offering a view of the mountains and valleys below. It was an unusually hot day in December, Upwards of 85 degrees! needless to say we didn't last too long up on those shadeless slopes so we headed back down to the falls.

San Mateo canyon Wilderness, Tenaja Falls 11/27/10

I've driven past these mountains hundreds of times not really paying any mind for some reason what could lie within. I soon realized what an exquisite wilderness there is protected within these mountains. I hooked up with Ron and Robie early in the morning for an adventure into the san Mateo Wilderness in the Santa Ana Mountains. Our minds, bodies and spirits were definitely rejuvenated on this trip. We hiked several miles through much diverse terrain, oak woodlands, grasslands, chapparal, Sycamore lined creeks with potential swimming holes, nice backpacking campsites, and to top it off, Tenaja Falls, a 150 foot 5 tiered waterfall with a nice swimming hole at the first tier. As you see, we encountered a large tarantula and another hiker found part of what looked like a spine from some kind of animal at the trailhead. Leftovers from a mountain lion kill?? Who knows.