Where can I begin about our day today. Saturday December 6, 2008.
We woke at 5 A.M. and dressed quickly so that we would be on the road before sun up, so that we could arrive 80 miles north / Northwest of L.A. We zipped down the I-5 coffee in hand and wide eyed and ready for this day. (BACK STORY) Angelo came across a story about a hidden gem of hot springs up in the Las Padres National Forrest. We decided to see for ourselves. It was said to be about a 3 hour hike and the water was said to be just a bit under boiling, I love it!!!
We arrived in Frazier Park CA, headed down this two lane highway and behold we see a sign that says Mutau Flats Road. Off we go, well little did we thnk that we would need our big red 4x4 instead of our little (low to the ground) gas efficient VW. So needless to say my country skills kicked in and we were off roading with the best of them, our grey VW is now BROWN!!!
We finally arrived at the Johnston Ridge trial head, out we go and we hear the cold and powerful silence. The sounds of the city were history. Awesome is all I could muster to think. The three of us, Angelo, Tria and myself were off. We checked our water, cameras, and food supply as well I had a hidden pack of medical supplies, cause lets face it, I very well could have fallen off the mountain given the right amount of fear from the smallest creature on earth and I would have just jumped!!! Off we go, I am here to tell you we saw some of the most incredible views that you could ever imagine seeing just outside of the city of smog.... We were so lucky, the air was crisp, clean and fresh as a rose! We walked and walked and laughed and laughed, then as we started our descent as we knew we had to head down the canyon wall by about 2200 feet. OK, by this time we were starving, we were captivated by this place and then we were just pooped out and a bit worried about how long this climb out would take, so off we went on our way up to the rim and out. OMG OMG! I am not sure if it was the altitude or the lunch we had just eaten but I think I weighed twice as much on the way up as I did on the way down. Needless to say we never found the hot springs and after arriving back at our car we met two good ole boys out deer hunting (right, great feeling knowing we could have been in their cross hairs) They had a map and we then found out that when we had a fork in the road we went the wrong way.... , I SMELL SEQUEL!!!!!!! So enjoy a video and some pictures of today.
By the way I forgot to mention that we came across some very interesting plants, those that one might say were illegal. OK so we really do not know but we are not stupid either, you will see the pictures in here so just know that we had a 30 minute long conversation on our theory, All I can say is hilarious!!!
V & A
