Peter's Canyon

Kyong-Mi told Trevor she wanted to go hiking at Peter's Canyon.  She remembered it being a pretty place.  She knew there was a steep hill, but genuinely enjoyed her previous hike through there from almost ten years prior.  Before they went on the hike, they stopped by Jersey Mike's for mini sandwiches, which they ate in the car before heading to the Canyon.

When they got to the parking lot of the trailhead, it was fairly full.  Lots of families as well as cyclists use the trail.  Kyong-Mi remembered how to find the trail and wasn't even thinking about how hot it was and that she hadn't exercised for real in a long time. She used to be fit, like hiked every weekend, went jogging 4 miles a day, etc.  

Trevor asked if she wanted to go up the hill, and being the competitive person she is, she said, "Yes."  She started up that hill and was hyperventilating half way up. By the time she got to the top she was having a stinging cough, dizzy and nauseated. She sat on the bench on top of the hill for a few minutes trying to get her normal breathing back and let the nausea wear off. 

 Trevor went downhill and she followed behind, deciding to walk the flat trail, but after about a hundred feet, Kyong-Mim wanted to vomit. She was dizzy, her right knee wanted to give out, and she was salivating with a runny nose. She even thought her body wanted to pee but she didn't have the actual urge...it just felt weak down there. 

She has never felt that way from any exercise before and she had walked that hill before. She thinks she was dehydrated from overexertion, even though she was sipping on electrolyte water.

Fields of yellow

White flowers

The reservoir had water in it, as opposed to the last time Kyong-Mi hiked this canyon

Prickly pear cactus

The grueling hill (not Kyong-Mi's photo)

Thomas Riley Wilderness Park

Mike and Kyong-Mi decided to hike through Thomas Riley Wilderness Park.  Kyong-Mi heard there was an easy trail and a recent deer-sighting and wanted the opportunity for spotting deer, too.  Mike said, "Deer?  That means there are mountain lions around.  They eat deer."  Oh snap.

So, Kyong-Mi packed the backpacks, and they were on their way.

As soon as they arrived at the address, there's a sandy road on the right that leads into the parking lot.  Please note, it's near the corner of the street and can easily be passed.  If you've gone to the light you've gone too far.  The parking lot is a fairly decent size, and has a parking meter near port-o-potties.

Mike began to take pictures of stuff in the parking lot.  Kyong-Mi was anxious to get started and headed off to Mule Deer Trailhead which began near a small horse carrale.  She turned to see what was taking Mike so long, and then turned back to the trail when she was startled at seeing a light brown animal.  At first she assumed mountain lion, but immediately realized it was a deer, and then handfuls more.  

She excitedly yelled, "Mike!  Deer!  Hurry!"  Mike was trying to adjust the contents of his camera bag.  Kyong-Mi began taking pictures of the deer and kept urging Mike to hurry.  

Mike finally got his camera together Nd took amazing pictures of deer.  (Coming soon)

Kyong-Mi tried to get a little closer, but knowing there were baby deer and mamas, she tread very carefully.  Finally, the deer tired of Kyong-Mi and Mike getting too close and ran into woods.  Mike followed but they disappeared.  So, the hike commenced.  They walked passed a prairie, over a manmade wooden pathway, over some hilly area and finally made it to a fork in the trail.  They went right, which led to a peak and they could see Santiago Peak and a few of the other mountains in the Santa Ana range.  To get up to that peak, they had to endure what sounded like a rTtlesnake den that wAs disturbed.  Kyong-Mi was terrified, and Mike was annoyed by her rattler fear.  Kyong-Mi recorded a video of their argument.  (Coming soon)

They turned from that peak to head back toward the other trail l(left) which took them to a small informational billboard regarding the different wild cats in the area.  Kyong-Mi found a pile of rocks and balanced a few. (Pics coming soon)

They headed back to the parking lot in hopes of seeing deer again, to no avail.  Kyong-Mi wanted to check out the butterfly garden at the ranger station. So, they headed to the little trail to walk through the garden.  Many milkweeds, trees, poppies, and poison oak (with signs) line the trail.  Plenty of butterflies and bees were seen.

It was definitely an easy hike at the Mule Deer tail and worth it!

Upper Newport Back Bay

The first hill Kyong-Mi and Chris saw.
Chris' most "strenuous" hike.
It wasn't bad at all, but it was a mini-incline.

Many former coworkers and friends have told Kyong-Mi to hike at the Newport Back Bay.  It always sounded so wonderful.  The trailhead was easy to find at 2301 University Drive in Newport Beach.  Parking was on the street and the weather was sunshiny with a side of smog.

Mike did not go with Kyong-Mi on this particular hike. Beer and movies for Mike.

Since Kyong-Mi's youngest son Chris is out of school for summer break and just finished elementary school, she thought it would be a good idea to get him walking before starting middle school in September.

Despite the distractions of the planes leaving John Wayne Airport, massive piles of horse droppings, and the occasional cyclist flying by at full speed, there were plenty of animals and plants to look at. 

Kyong-Mi and Chris saw loons, horses, and turkey vultures.  It was definitely an easy hike, although Christopher and Kyong-Mi only went 1 mile in and 1 mile back, following the markers on the side of the trail.

Christopher did a great job at keeping up and being a good sport.

Desert apple cactus flower.

Peter's Canyon

Kyong-Mi & Mike in Peter's Canyon

Kyong-Mi chose Peter's Canyon for a less strenuous hike, as opposed to the Santiago Peak hike from the Thursday before.  That hike left her sore till Monday.

Peter's Canyon's address of 8548 E. Canyon View Ave., Orange, CA 92869 did not show up on the GPS, so they took to Google Maps via cell phone to find it.  Once in the parking lot the trailhead begins. Kyong-Mi took a right on the trail and it took her to the upper part of the reservoir where picnickers were enjoying lunch.  Up there, it also had a sign pointing in the opposite direction to begin the trail through Peter's Canyon.  Kyong-Mi told Mike, "Other direction!"

The trail began near the street, lots of highway noises and airplanes above.  It wasn't a sweet sound for a "nature" hike.  Further along, the hike it took them to a gravel and dirt road, where the reservoir was to the right and a hill with a steep trail could be seen in the distance.

For Kyong-Mi and Mike, Peter's Canyon was "meh."  Having walked through the forest and near beaches, Peter's Canyon was a trail lined by either highway or homes.  The reservoir was depleted of water from the drought.  Sunflowers lined the trail leading up to the East Ridge Loop which made the hike less boring.

The East Ridge Loop begins at a fork in the road.  They both go in the same place, but the view from the top of the hill is far more spectacular.  In the distance, the old El Toro Marine Corps base could be seen.  Rattlesnakes could be heard throughout various parts of the canyon.

Here are a few pictures from the hike-

Kyong-Mi walking up the gravel road.

Mike jogging to catch up.

Dried out reservoir.

Reservoir.

Full view of reservoir.

View from peak of East Ridge Loop trail.  Tustin Marine Corps Air Station.

Cleaveland National Forest to Santiago Peak

Kyong-Mi and Mike decided today was a great day to hike Santiago Peak.

Kyong-Mi walking her motion sickness off.

To get to the general area of Holy Jim Trail, they had to drive up Laguna Creek Road till they got to a parking lot.  The rude was horrendous for Kyong-Mi.  The road was extremely rocky and uneven.  People who drove behind them had to turn around to avoid wear and tear on their vehicles.  About a half mile away from the parking lot Kyong-Mi was practically hanging out the truck window, trying to get air as her motion sickness came about at full-force.  She demanded to be let out.  She told Mike to keep driving because he was driving slow enough for her to keep up with.  After about ten minutes of walking, she got back in the truck and they continued to their destination.

On arrival, there is a parking lot on the left hand side. There are 3 trails.  One is off limits to the public, leading to a private property.  The other is a road going up to the upper Holy Jim Trail, and the other is the one closest to the parking lot with a sign on a fence saying, "Holy Jim Trail."  That's the road to go on, however that is not the trail head, and your car is not welcome as it also includes homes.

While walking along the dirt road there are homes and cabins on both sides.  At the end is a fire station.  They have a wagon of waters for a small donation.  Take one and give a small donation, even if you have water, just to make sure you have enough.  If at the end of the hike you have enough, return the water or give it to someone else who might not have enough.  Once passed the fire station, the trailhead to Holy Jim Falls begins.

The first part of the walk is forest and rocky.  There is even a small creek.  It's beautiful.  At about a half mile from the trailhead, there is a sign where the trail forks.  Going right will take you to Holy Jim Trail.  Going left takes you to the Main Divide road.  Kyong-Mi and Mike took the Main Divide road as it takes you up to the peak.

Mike taking a picture of the sign with his phone.

Mike's picture of the sign.

The beginning of the trail to Main Divide Road wasn't bad at all.  At about 3 tiers up, Kyong-Mi's cursing began.  It was mainly just dirt paths on the edge of a cliff, and at the end of each path is a turn.  Each turn meant a new incline.  Each incline felt a little tougher on the calves.  Kyong-Mi would temporarily stop to stretch, rest, or sip water.  The pain was immense for her.  Mike is used to walking a lot at work and has always had good leg strength so for him it was a cake walk (at least for awhile).

Kyong-Mi looking beat from walking 3 miles upward.

About half way up is a 3 mile mark.  It was a bittersweet moment.  Kyong-Mi was excited to see a milestone, but at the same time, it was a reminder that they had 4.5 miles of inclines.  She stopped to rest near it for two minutes.


After passing the 3 mile mark, there is a small enclave created by trees and inside there's a few rocks.  Mike and Kyong-Mi took a five minute break to sit and enjoy the breeze and shade. An old man walking back from Santiago Peak stopped to chat with them and asked if they have enough water.  Kyong-Mi and Mike thought they did.  He said he didn't think so and that Mike should take Kyong-Mi back, or at least show her the wildflowers growing just around the bend, but then take her home.  Kyong-Mi was very irritated.  She wouldn't let a man with his legs taped up and 40 years older tell her she couldn't do it.  So, after he left, she looked at Mike and said, "Let's go."

While passing the wildflowers, there was a rocky point and then forest to go through with more rocks.  It was a small climb up the rocks and it took them to an actual road.  The signs said, "Bear Springs" and "Upper Holy Jim Trail" on the right and nothing for the road on the left.  Kyong-Mi thought she would take the Upper Holy Jim Trail.  At about a mile of walking, a man coming down the hill from the towers at the peak pulled over and asked them if they had enough water, as they stood against the wall of the mountain to let them pass.  Kyong-Mi and Mike were not positive they did.  The man with the Tower business truck got out of his vehicle and gave them 4 ice cold waters.  He told them to share with anybody who needed it if they didn't drink it all.  He drove off.  They walked in the direction he was headed.

After about 2 miles of walking, according Mike's Smart Watch, and the consistent decline down the mountain, Mike stopped Kyong-Mi and said, "We're going the wrong way.  We should be at the peak by now.  We just need to turn around and go home and do this another day or we'll lose light.  We don't have the time and we've wasted our energy on this decline."

It all clicked, the man who gave them water thought they were walking uphill to the peak where the towers were.

Kyong-Mi turned around to look up the hill they just walked down.  She wanted to scream.  She began cursing and was mad at herself for the error.  Mike got very annoyed with her negativity.  She swore that if someone were to come up the hill, she would stick her thumb out and hitch a ride up hill to where the fork was.  Nobody came.  Once they got to the top of the road, at the plateau, Kyong-Mi pulled out her sandwich to eat.  It tasted nasty and hot.  She drank the rest of her cold water and they headed back to the forest.

Despite the disappointment, Kyong-Mi was all smiles.

Before they got to the end of the road, they stopped to take a picture.  Kyong-Mi and Mike set up their camera, sat on a rock and took a picture to bid farewell.

While half way down the mountain, a few bikers in white/black uniform came up the mountain.  Kyong-Mi said, "You scare me.  I'm afraid you'll hurt yourself," as their wasn't enough space on the path for walkers and bikers at the same time.  Kyong-Mi pressed her body against the wall of the mountain and the biker slowed and said, "It isn't me I'm worried about.  I'm worried about you guys.  Have a nice descend down."  He and his cycling partner went up around the curve and then came back down and Mike and Kyong-Mi let them pass.

By the time they got to the bottom of the mountain and back into the Cleveland National Forest, the sun was beginning to set.  There were no other people in sight.  Everything was a little darker but the fact they could see all the early landmarks they first saw was a happy moment.  They were closer to their vehicle and closer to home.

All in all, it was a great day to be in the Cleveland National Forest.  Next time, they know to make a left.  Kyong-Mi and Mike WILL do this hike again...the right way (more water, and make a left at the divide).

Note:

• Lots of deer flies.  They WILL bite you and follow you.  Wear Deet or some other bug repellant.
• Lots of water.  Mike and Kyong-Mi brought 4 Electrolyte drinks at about 24oz each.  After someone gave them 4 12oz bottles of water, they drank all those, as well.  
• Trail mix and/or well-balanced lunch.  It's energy-draining walking up many inclines.
• Camera - take many pics, it's breath-taking.

Black Star Canyon Falls

Kyong-Mi checked out AllTrails.com for a waterfalls hike last week, and found Black Star Canyon, where a waterfall would conclude the trail.  On June 2nd, Mike felt like going for a hike and asked Kyong-Mi if she wanted to check out that waterfall.  She had to get back on AllTrails to find out the actual location, and by 10:30am they were on the road with GPS leading the way.

After passing a Christmas tree farm at the corner of Santiago Canyon and Black Star Canyon Road, Mike and Kyong-Mi took a sharp left down Black Star Canyon Road till they found a parking lot.  There was a gate that blocked the parking lot from the rest of the road.  To the right was a sign talking about the dangers and what to expect:  mountain lions.  Kyong-Mi was instantly afraid.

Once on the other side of the gate was the trailhead, the road was gravel, and Mike was capturing pictures of the foothills in the distance.  There were hawks flying above, the sounds of woodpeckers in the distance, and blue skies.  Kyong-Mi still had the mountain lion sign on her mind and everything began to become a weapon (rocks, glass beer bottle seen on the ground, sticks).

Kyong-Mi leading the way.

The gravel road eventually brought them to a dirt road.  On the left of the road was what appeared to be a junkyard or a dumping ground for cars and trucks.  On the right was a sign regarding private property of Edwards Ranch.  The genealogist in Kyong-Mi made her want to research that particular Edwards name to the Huntington Beach street with the same name (soon).

Electrical fencing and barbed wire blocked off each side of the road and Kyong-Mi was openly grateful for that, still thinking about mountain lions.

They came across two bridges.  The second bridge passed by a private wooden cabin and you could hear a peacock making a kazoo-sounding "cock-a-doodle-doo." After passing the residence, and walking further, there was a fork in the road.  The one on the left led to tall brush and up a hill.  The one on the right led to a small crack down the side of the foothill.  They didn't know which way to cross, but Mike saw a wooden post with the faint hand-painted words Falls and an arrow pointing to the right.  They heard voices on the right, so walked down a rocky and narrow crack in the ground and made a sharp left.  It took them to a rocky area with shrubbery.

An old man walking in their direction asked them if they were heading to the falls.  And they told him they were, and he said, "There's no water there."  They thanked him for the heads up and continued their trek to the falls.

After crossing their first few rocks, a few young men were walking in their direction and mentioned to beware of rattlesnakes; they spotted four.  Going further in, Kyong-Mi and Mike heard their first rattlesnake, to where Kyong-Mi panicked and Mike hushed her and told her to keep walking, as the rattle was far enough in the distance there shouldn't be any fear.  A few more people were coming from the falls and warned them of more rattle snakes, and slippery rocks, and poison oak.  Mike told Kyong-Mi to put her long-sleeved jacket on.

Continuing on the rock-jumping and the zig-zagging from dry dirt to rock to hopping over mud and water, they came to large boulders.  The boulders always led upward and over.  The tiny creek would sometimes have more water, sometimes there would be no water, but they followed the water.  They came across boulders with water flowing from beneath it, and assumed that must be the waterfall or a part of it.  Mike headed up the boulder to take pictures, and turned around to tell Kyong-Mi, "This ain't it.  There's more trail ahead."  Kyong-Mi would have to climb the boulder as well.

They came across salamanders or newts (slimy lizard-looking creatures hanging around the water), actual lizards, plenty of bees, butterflies and dragonflies.  More boulders, and more boulders.

They heard people catching up to them and turned around to hear them complain they were exhausted and needed to drink water or eat.  Kyong-Mi and Mike climbed a few more boulders and found shade, where they decided it was a good time to have a seat, cool down, and drink water.  The people behind them never caught up and it was assumed they turned around and headed back to where they came from.  Mike and Kyong-Mi continued climbing boulders and came to an area where two young men in their twenties mentioned the falls were "bone dry" and "not even a puddle" was left.  They told Kyong-Mi and Mike that they were almost there, and the men disappeared around the corner.

Mike watching a timed hiker climbing over a boulder.

Mike led Kyong-Mi to an area where even larger boulders were, and Kyong-Mi told Mike to go ahead and go up, because it looked too scary for her.  She thought that was the end of the trail.  As Mike stood there trying to figure out the right steps to take to climb the boulder, a hiking jogger ran up behind them and said he was on a timer, and would like to try and get ahead of them.  They watched the way he did it, and Mike followed suit.  Mike turned around and said, "Kyong-Mi, this is not it.  There's still more trail ahead.  I can't leave you, so you need to climb up."  Kyong-Mi thought since the falls were so close, that she would stay behind, when another girl and guy jogged up.  

Kyong-Mi was not about to let a girl outdo her, so she climbed up and they followed suit and then ran ahead of Kyong-Mi and Mike.  More big boulders, and Kyong-Mi was out of breath.  She was swearing like a sailor and said, "All I wanted to do was find a waterfall.  I didn't think I'd be climbing a goddamn mountain."  The couple ahead heard her and laughed out loud.

What is left of the Black Star Canyon Falls.

The rock climbing continued for a little longer and then they found it, the mining area of the mountain where the waterfalls would have been.  The side of the mountain where the falls were grew moss on damp walls.  To the left was a quarter-moon-shaped cave above a ladder man-made by people who chipped stepping stir-ups into the stone.  The couple that hiked to the end with them climbed to the cave and began to take pictures.

Mike climbed up to the cave, entered the cave and took pictures.  There was a tree trunk in the cave with chips cut out of it for stepping and climbing to the hole in the ceiling of the cave, that would lead to the top of the mountain.  Kyong-Mi said, "No, thanks.  I'll stay down here."

The trek back to the car was much easier, as they slid down the big boulders like children on a playground slide.  Both Kyong-Mi and Mike fell on the way back to the car at some point.  Kyong-Mi on her knees, Mike on his ass.  They etched their names into tree bark where other hikers had etched their names into the same tree bark.

After hiking Black Star Canyon Falls and the environment around it, there were plenty urban legends and myths about the canyon, everything from little elves, to ghosts, to murders, to Ku Klux Klan, and Satanic rituals.  ForKyong-M i and Mike, it was a beautiful nature walk and a learning experience.

Mile Square Park

Kyong-Mi took her son Chris on short walk through Mile Square Regional Park.

Blurry

Do over.

Mile Square Park - Kid's Nature Trail

Living so close to Mile Square Park, Kyong-Mi took her son Chris to the Nature Center within the park. On the Edinger Avenue side of Mile Square Park (between Brookhurst and Euclid), just after the parking lot entrance, a tunnel is visible from the street. Entering the tunnel will take you to a parking lot. Crossing the parking lot, the nature center is a gated part of property that contains a pond, plenty of trails, a Monarch butterfly garden and many flowers and plants to view. It's a very easy hike for children.

Entering the tunnel, Chris jumped for the camera.

Inside the tunnel, leading toward the Nature Center.

Pond in the Nature Center.

Chris near a "tiny house" to the left of the pond.

Cacti and Chris.

Kid's Trail (nothing remotely childish about this trail, just an average trail)

Chris and Kyong-Mi at the Monarch butterfly garden.

Kyong-Mi's hand holding a flower.

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Huntington Beach Trail

Celebrating Kyong-Mi's son Chris' summer break from elementary school, she took him to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.  She parked on the Warner/PCH side and started on a bridge that would take them to the actual trail.

Chris and a seagull at the bridge leading to the trail.

Upon entering the bridge, there was a seagull.  There were plenty of birds, but the seagull stood still long enough for a picture of Chris. To the right of the trail is where the actual wetlands are.  To the left is a gated section and in the distance the Brightwater homes.  It is said the entire area were occupied by the Tongva and Acjachmen tribes.  At the ecological reserve they have cogged stones, live animals, taxidermy animals and much more information about the Wetlands.

Further down the trail, after the first resting spot on the left, there are gun mounts left from WWII.  Cacti and other indigenous plants grow there.

After the second gun mount and resting place, there is a stairway leading downward to the right, or a trail

Kyong-Mi standing on a gun mount.  

 leading upward to the left.  Taking the trail to the left will lead you near the Brightwater homes.  Along the right side, off trail, if you take the hill down, there is a tunnel near the water's edge, where many people have come and left their mark with graffiti.  Every time Kyong-Mi's been down there, there's different art work.

Chris balancing on a log, on the trail, below the Brightwater homes.  

Following the trail, will lead you to another bridge, that takes you to a trail leading back toward Pacific Coast Highway, where pumpjacks are visible.  A couple man-made hills with seating and a beautiful view is available to the left. There will be a fork in the path.  If you turn left, you can walk to another bridge that will lead you out to the parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway.  If you choose that way, leave the parking lot on foot, turn left and another path will lead you back to the bottom of the hill where the stairway is at the end of the Gun Mounts.  It's basically a walking loop.

This trail is simple, no vigorous activity, but a great view of wetlands or Bolsa Chica State Beach on the other side of PCH, and if you have a great imagination, you can find yourself wondering how the Natives lived at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.  Chris and Kyong-Mi love walking the wetlands.

Shipley Nature Center

Kyong-Mi took Christopher to Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach, CA for a nature walk.  Once entering the gate to the nature center, there is a gift shop with a garden shop on the left.  To the right are various trails, all of which bring you back through a loop around the entire center.  In the center of the park is a natural spring.  Many children come to this nature center on field trips so sometimes they have props set-up for educational purposes.  There are plenty of butterflies, lizards, celery, California poppies, hemlock, rabbits and squirrel sightings during the walk.  At the lake there are birds including ducks and coots swimming and turtles basking.

Christopher at the entrance to the trails; there is a babbling brook.

Christopher entering the trail.

Sunflower.

Bunnies, they were everywhere.

Kyong-Mi enjoying a break on a chair made from a tree stump.

Crystal Cove Loop

For Easter Sunday, 2012, Mike and Kyong-Mi decided to take their children out for an easy hike at Crystal Cove, overlooking Newport Beach.

It was moderate weather and a sunshine day.  Unfortunately, we did not get enough pictures.  Because the children were with us, we couldn't complete the full loop.

Just entering the trail.

Mike and Chris looking down the cliff.

Chris and Kyong-Mi on top of the world.

Taking stairs down to the bottom.

Many of these beetles were on the plants near the steps.

Our children walking down the steps to the beach.