[CINC] Island Adventure/ESCI Hike>1/18

[paul jr petrich]

Ocean and Island People,
 Yesterday the Island Adventure took Tara Brown and myself to Scorpion Anchorage for the Visitor Center and Cavern Point hike duties, Tara taking the former and myself the latter. Capt Dave dropped 45 passengers off at Scorpion and then 10 at Prisoner's Harbor. The weather and sea conditions could not have been better, with visibility from the island cliffs clear enough to see building structures up and down the mainland coast from Point Conception to Point Magu. On the island it was shirt sleeve weather. At Scorpion, of the 20+ campers and kayakers, 10 overnighters were from the non-profit environmental education-touring group called Nature Bridge. They were visiting the island to be trained by our  Park ranger on duty about the entire mission and accomplishments of the CINP specific to Santa Cruz Island. Nature Bridge specializes in taking youth groups ages 4 to 12 on overnight educational adventures into California's diverse natural habitats. They will be expanding their educational outreach programs in our CINP and CINMS. 

   Of the 10 people to be dropped of at Prisoners Harbor, was Ranger Paula, who supervises the Prisoners Harbor Coastal Wetlands Restoration Project, visited the sight for the day. On the way over and back she expressed a very positive outlook on the progress of the whole project, noting that Argentine Aunts are not residing at the wetlands, but a new visitor is: A not banded  juvenile Bald Eagle!

  Prior to any of us getting off the boat, but already in CINP waters, Capt Dave, responding to crew member Steve's sightings, veered off course to treat us all to great viewing of four migrating south Gray Whales, showing multiple flukes and spouts. For 30 minutes our trip morphed into strictly a whale watch trip for Tara and myself, and for crew members Lori and Jean, who  alternating great narration's on the mike. 300 (I think) long beaked Common Dolphin entertained us as well.   4 Gray Whales / 300 Long Beaked Common Dolphin.

 On the island I had 13 hikers join me to Cavern Point. A couple went on to Potato Harbor with me, and two pairs of good hikers veered of to hike it all the way up Montan'on Ridge and back. Upon our return to the boat everyone was flabbergasted about the views that were seen wherever they hiked. The fox story was spotty. Few seen the campgrounds or near the ranch house this time, but far roaming adults were spotted in the green grasses of trails going toward Smugglers and coming back from Cavern Pt., where three playful pups were seen by my group coming back along the ridge to Scorpion .  "I Sari Wa," Paul Petrich
 
  
 
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