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Base Camp

The Santa Ynez Mountains

This mountain range is unique geographically as it is one of the few mountain ranges anywhere on the western coast of the Americas that runs east to west. Most mountain ranges on the North and South American continent run north to south. Due to the east – west position of the mountains the entire northern Channel region experiences a unique geography and climate pattern – a bioregion with distinct plant and animal life for thousands of years. The mountains provide a buffer from the colder northern weather patterns – creating a microclimate where it is possible to grow bananas and other frost sensitive tropical plants. And this milder weather impacts on the geography by limiting the severity of the storms that impact of the weathering of the region.