6.21.2011

ventana wilderness: arroyo seco (2 | 3)

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morning

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heading north for arroyo seco, a long-unmaintained 20 mile stretch of road that hugs the sides of mountains in the ventana wilderness.

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butterflies hanging out around the stream

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climbing arroyo seco

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yellow flowers were our companion

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yours truly

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pioneering

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spring-fed grotto, we showered!

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looking east from a saddle, out of the wilderness

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slide

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looking west across the river valley

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we descended and set up camp next to the arroyo seco

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suspension bridge for the trail

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parametric bench

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arroyo seco

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4 comments:

reverend dick said...

Hey! That is my Summer Retreat!

Spent so much time there. We set up a rope swing under the bridge when we go.

Nice work!

erik said...

right on! it's a beautiful place, you're lucky if you get to spend a bunch of time next to such a wilderness. got any other ride recommendations? i was thinking about riding out with a mtb next time and trying to connect across the wilderness to the ocean.

reverend dick said...

It's both a bust and seasonally impassable to take the Marble Peak/Tassajara trail.

I recommend riding out to Prewitt Ridge (doable loaded), and taking that down. If you like steep singletrack. There is no established trail off the top, but if you follow the ridge you'll fall into the right path. The loop you hook into is 100% legal! (This is rare down in Big Sur.)

If you like the thrill of illicit singletrack which is scenic and technical, Vicente trail (very iffy loaded) is just up the ridge to the North, but it is illegal and ends up across the HWY from Kirk Creek Campground (good water). Worth it though...

cirenesral said...

me and my buddy just rode over North Ridge Crest from HWY 1 to Arroyo Seco. See some of my pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7825134@N07/sets/72157626829413680/
I'd love to do it again, or maybe the Kings Range next time. Are you in the Bay Area?
Eric.