Category Archives: Hiking

Hiking

Hiking Wadi Qilt

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April 23, 2000 was Easter Sunday. We climbed onto the bus around 4am, while it was still dark. We wanted to make it to the Garden Tomb amphitheater with plenty of time to get seats for the Easter Sunrise Service.

One day prior, we had visited the Garden Tomb as part of our Jerusalem Tomb Tour. Now we were back with hundreds of Christians from around the world to worship the risen Christ. How special to be a short distance on Easter Sunday from the very place Jesus had been crucified and risen from the dead.

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!” (Luke 24:5–6)

Sunrise came at 5:47am. After the worship service, we had breakfast, then changed into clothes more suitable for hiking. It was time to tackle the Wadi Qilt. We’d already hiked some epic trails during the semester including Nahal Zin in the Negev, Masada and Ein Gedi near the Dead Sea, the back side of Mt. Arbel, and Nahal Yehudiyeh in Upper Galilee. A few brave souls even hiked Nahal Darga. But one of our longest and most challenging hikes was Wadi Qilt.

This Wadi, or dry river bed, is a canyon running some 15 miles from the Ein Prat Nature Reserve near Jerusalem down to Jericho. Early in the semester on our Benjamin Field Trip, we had ridden the bus up the steep road from Jericho to Jerusalem along the ancient “Ascent of Adummim” (Josh. 15:7). This time, we took the reverse direction at a slower pace to enjoy the canyon itself.

Part way through our hike, we stopped for a break, and Randy read Scripture. Along this same route, one of Jesus’ most famous stories took place — the Parable of the Good Samaritan. “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead” (Luke 10:30).

Thankfully, we saw no robbers this time. We did, however, find a waterfall. Refreshing!

Our semester was drawing to a close. Only a week and a half remained. We tried to savor every footstep and drop of water in the holy land.

25 years ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Israel for a semester through the Master’s College IBEX program. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, I’m sharing highlights from my journal, emails, and photos. Feel free to share your own IBEX memories here as well!

Hiking

Lang Ranch Hiking Trail

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This afternoon I checked out the Lang Ranch area north of Thousand Oaks before rain arrives later in the week. I had originally planned to park on the street near the trailhead, but noticed the Chumash Indian Museum has a parking area and trail that winds through the canyon.

The oak lined canyon was peaceful and active with wildlife — quail fluttering about, crows and hawks bickering, woodpeckers working hard, bees entering and exiting their hives, sparrows foraging in the leaves.

This was a great area and I would definitely go back. The only drawback was that if a trail is not a loop, I usually like to have a “destination” like a spring, oasis, some piece of old equipment or lookout point. In this case, I basically just had to decide when I’d gone far enough and wanted to turn around. This is a tranquil area and a great place for a prayer walk or picnic lunch.

Here are a few highlights…

The museum is open on weekends but the parking lot and trail is open during the week.
Go right to enter the interpretive trail and Chumash village remains
On the other side of the museum is a large picnic area
A few interpretive signs mark the way
A game field for elementary kids
“Caution! Active Beehive”
Lots of happy bees going and in and out of the tree trunk. I kept my distance and we left each other alone.
Things open up once you leave the canyon and climb onto the Long Ridge Trail
It may be only a mile or two from the closest neighborhood but it’s very peaceful up here.
Hiking

Malibu Creek State Park

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Today our family enjoyed a picnic lunch and short hike in Malibu Creek State Park. This park is only 30 minutes away, so a quick and pleasant getaway. It’s a beautiful area tucked in the Santa Monica mountains between the Pacific Coast and the San Fernando and Conejo Valleys. Hard to imagine you’re so close to Los Angeles. It’s like another world in here. Here are some photos….

There are several parking and picnic areas near the entrance of the park. A large campground is also part of the park.
Malibu Creek runs through much of the park. It’s April now and temperatures are warming up, but we had a wet winter, and the creek is still running strong. I wonder how much water will be there a few months from now. 
A large flat trail hugs the north side of the creek, lined with oak trees. The trail is stroller and bike friendly, but no dogs allowed. 
Gorgeous views of the Santa Monica mountains. 
About a mile in, you come to a visitor center, which is only open on weekends. 
M*A*S*H fans will recognize this sign just outside the visitors center. If you keep hiking deeper into the park, you can go to where the classic sitcom was filmed.
The small visitor center includes a bit of everything. Friendly docents, rocks and fossils, photographs, animal pelts, a children’s activity area, and a short film highlighting some of the movies filmed in the park. 
On our way back to the park entrance, we opted for the trail that runs south of Malibu Creek. 
There’s no bridge to walk across here, but you can cross the creek if you don’t mind getting a little wet. 
Safe on the other side. We successfully forded Malibu Creek.
We will definitely be back to this peaceful, scenic state park. 
Hiking

Andora Trail

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Yesterday I was able to take my first hike near West Hills. Our family moved here last month, and I’ve been eager to explore this beautiful area. There’s so much to see!

Yesterday evening, I dropped Dylan off at a jujitsu studio in Chatsworth and had about 90 minutes of free time, so I headed to the hills. The trailhead I found was Andora Trail, one of the entry points into the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park. Here are highlights…

Parking was free along Andora Avenue. At the entrance, there was a backcountry board with maps and flyers.
To the west is the distinctive sandstone of the Santa Susanna Mountains. You may only be minutes from the city, but this is a peaceful paradise of rocks, plants, wildlife, and early California history.
To the east is an old water tower, the Oakwood Memorial Park, and the vast San Fernando Valley.
I chose to stay left and take the waterfall trail. Would there still be water?
Mo major waterfall, but there was a small brook with running water and several small pools. It’s no wonder native American Indians called this area home.
Winter rains have produced a good wildflower season, including this monkey flower. I’m reminded of Isaiah 55:8, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose.”
Sage plant
Sunset over the San Fernando Valley
Oxcarts, stage coaches, trains, and trucks have traveled this area for hundreds of years. I wonder what stories this truck could tell.
Hiking

Jacinto Loop in Oakmont Park

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Today I headed over to beautiful Oakmont Park at the border of Redlands and Yucaipa. Just a couple miles off the freeway, allow yourself to be transported into a quiet canyon with scenic lookouts. Jacinto Loop is about a three mile hike. While a lot of the country is hunkered down in sub zero temperatures, here in Southern California we are enjoying highs in the upper 60s and low 70s. A great day to head outside and explore! Here are some highlights…

The Little Live Oak Canyon Trail is a gradual climb with the San Bernardino mountains in the distance.
Early in the hike, just east of the parking lot, is a small bridge with some benches and picnic tables.
Danger: Unstable Edge. The wash didn’t seem too dangerous but then again you wouldn’t want a child wandering off and falling 15 feet.
Large oak trees dot the landscape and provide afternoon shade.
Came across several vines of buffalo melon or coyote gourd. I used to see a lot of them up in the Yucca Valley area too.
One of the most isolated sections of the trail is on the south end of Jacinto Loop, in a canyon area winding between the hills. I enjoyed listening to the birds and the crickets.
At the top of the hill you can see the San Bernardino mountains to the north and Mt San Jacinto off in the east, towering at 10,800 feet. I hope you’ll check this hike out for yourself!