August 2020 - Channel Islands

We spent three nights camping out on the Channel Islands. The first two were only lovely Santa Rosa island, and then we moved over to backpack on Santa Cruz (pictures here). There were only about 20 total people on the island, and it felt great to get out and have solitude, walk around, read, and just get away.

On the ferry out!	On the island, ready to pack in to the campground	The campground nestled inside a valley alongside a creek
On the ferry out!	On the island, ready to pack in to the campground	The campground nestled inside a valley alongside a creek
A hike across the northeast portion of Santa Rosa island	Stream crossing!
A hike across the northeast portion of Santa Rosa island	Stream crossing!
Some grasslands, with Santa Cruz island rising above the clouds in the distance		Extreme outdoorsmanship
Some grasslands, with Santa Cruz island rising above the clouds in the distance		Extreme outdoorsmanship
Some beautiful color, between the green and red on the shore and the deep blue of the ocean	A really beautiful coast	The sand dunes at the northeast point of the island, which were closed for nesting plovers
Some beautiful color, between the green and red on the shore and the deep blue of the ocean	A really beautiful coast	The sand dunes at the northeast point of the island, which were closed for nesting plovers
Through the reeds	Hiking back along the coast	The trail up to Black Mountain! It was crazy windy as we started
Through the reeds	Hiking back along the coast	The trail up to Black Mountain! It was crazy windy as we started
We had to stay low to feel like we weren't about to be blown off our feet	Taking a pause in literally the only shade on the trail	Making our way up
We had to stay low to feel like we weren't about to be blown off our feet	Taking a pause in literally the only shade on the trail	Making our way up
The top of the mountain! Great views of the whole island, plus Santa Cruz
The top of the mountain! Great views of the whole island, plus Santa Cruz
The western portion of Santa Rosa	A whole bunch of mountains to the southwest	Looking out towards Santa Cruz
The western portion of Santa Rosa	A whole bunch of mountains to the southwest	Looking out towards Santa Cruz
A patch of trees below the summit was a perfect place to escape the wind and sun for a bit (one of few such places on the island)		Headed back down the trail
A patch of trees below the summit was a perfect place to escape the wind and sun for a bit (one of few such places on the island)		Headed back down the trail
	Looking over the campground from the interior of the island	Another small shield from the wind and shade at the beach
	Looking over the campground from the interior of the island	Another small shield from the wind and shade at the beach
Just barely enough shade!	A lovely beach!	Beautiful water
Just barely enough shade!	A lovely beach!	Beautiful water
A Channel Islands fox poking around in the grasses near the campground. He was a bit shy though and didn't come out in the open.	He crossed the ravine and made his way up the cliff face opposite	Backpacking out to head over to Santa Cruz island
A Channel Islands fox poking around in the grasses near the campground. He was a bit shy though and didn't come out in the open.	He crossed the ravine and made his way up the cliff face opposite	Backpacking out to head over to Santa Cruz island
The Channel Islands subspecies of the Spotted Towhee	A Pacific-slope Flycatcher	A Song Sparrow looking around on the ground
The Channel Islands subspecies of the Spotted Towhee	A Pacific-slope Flycatcher	A Song Sparrow looking around on the ground
A Song Sparrow posing in the morning
A Song Sparrow posing in the morning