Channel Islands Restoration Blog: 2013 CIR Central Coast Natural History Tour

2013 CIR Central Coast Natural History Tour

We are glad to provide a few photos from Channel Islands Restoration’s recent Central Coast Natural History Tour. Geologist Tanya Atwater and botanist Steve Junak joined us on a four-day tour, following the San Andreas Fault north to Hollister, CA then south along the Big Sur Coast. CIR leads natural history educational tours to exceptional locations in southern and central California with leading naturalists. For more information on our three reoccurring trips (held in the spring to early summer) visit our tour web site: http://www.cirweb.org/nht

The tour begins at Port San Luis (Avila Beach). We walked, climbed on, and explored the pillow basalts and lava flows of a world-class example of ancient oceanic crust. Tanya Atwater has been on submersible dives, miles deep to study how the present-day ocean floor is being formed at sea floor spreading centers. She described her adventures to us and shared her insights into the processes that formed the various exotic features encountered at this site. This may be the world's best location to visit the deep sea floor in the sunshine.

Next stop: Montana de Oro State park. This was a great beach stop. It is surrounded by the cut faces of huge uplifted marine terraces and it contains a sweet, small erosional remnant of a terrace that we checked out close up. The terraces are very strong evidence of the ongoing rising of the land that is so common along the California coast. Views of the higher hills showed a whole staircase of uplifted terraces, formed as ice age sea level fluctuations interacted with the steadily rising land. The road to Montana de Oro featured a fantastic view of Morro Bay and Morro Rock. We also enjoyed golden yarrow in bloom!

After setting up camp at Morro Bay State Park (some participants checked into motels), we visited Morro Rock. This huge "rock" is a plug of frozen lava that solidified in the throat of an ancient volcano. Its materials are much stronger than the surrounding rocks, so that it was left standing when the rest eroded away. Morro Rock is the northernmost of the "morros" that form a line of tall hills between here and San Luis Obispo, probably formed over a long crack in the earth. Its age of about 23 million years ago corresponds to the time when the San Andreas Fault system was first breaking into the land.

After several other stops, we ended up in Parkfield. As we approached this sweet ranch town, we examined an interestingly deformed bridge, then cross over the San Andreas Fault from the Pacific plate to the North American plate. We learned about the Parkfield earthquake prediction experiment and about the deep drilling, fault-crossing experiment.

We then stayed the night at Pinnacles National Park. This park is centered around a huge heap of broken rocks that have been offset from a volcano whose lava flows lie in the Mojave desert. They have been shifted 325 km northwestward along the San Andreas Fault sometime since 23 million years ago. We hiked up stunning wooded trails with Steve and Tanya. We spent the night at the East Pinnacles National Park campground (some in hotels in Hollister).

We spent an hour walking up and down the streets in the old neighborhoods of Hollister, tracing the Calaveras Fault as it crosses and deforms sidewalks, curbs, buildings, telephone poles, etc.

We then explore Point Lobos State Reserve. We walked into the park and enjoy this beautiful natural treasure. We explored rocks that were deposited in an offshore submarine canyon and seek out trace fossils left behind by the Eocene creatures that lived there. We experienced a rare, native Monterey Cyprus grove and other botanical wonders. We looked for otters, sea lions and birds and enjoyed the many breathtaking views. Steve Junak led us on a great botany walk!

We drove south along Highway one, checked into Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (or hotels) then enjoyed dinner at the Big Sur Lodge.

We drove south along Highway one, checked into Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (or hotels) then enjoyed dinner at the Big Sur Lodge. The next morning we enjoyed a hike at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. This cliff-top park was the home of early Big Sur settlers. We enjoyed a waterfall leaping into its pocket beach and enjoyed incredible ocean views.

Further down Highway One, we spotted a California Condor! We then drove the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road to the crest of the range, taking in spectacular views of the coast and the Los Padres National Forest. Steve Junak led us on a plant walk in the Coast Redwoods. We were treated to a great view of a pygmy owl!

We were then treated to a specially arranged tour of the Point Piedras Blancas Lighthouse. This historic location is a great place to admire a very successful native plant restoration project. We enjoyed its great coastal views and bird populations and explored the old buildings and equipment of this long-functioning lighthouse.