|
Hike Description:
After hikers leave from the Hillcrest carpool at 9:00 am, they'll arrive at TP Visitors Center about 9:30. There, we can browse thru the cool museum until about 10:00. They have a great slide show of what the Reserve looks like year-round. After our loop hikes up on the bluffs, we'll probably end up down at Black's Beach for lunch around 1:00-1:30 pm, hang out at the beach about an hour, then head back up to the parking lot around 3:30 or so. The hikes are easy to moderate and not very strenuous at all. The trails are well maintained and the coastal views are awesome!
So, after a stop at the museum for a bit of educational browsing, we may head north on the concrete roadbed of the "old" old coast highway and pick up the Guy Fleming Trail loop that travels thru thick stands of Torrey Pines and along the bluffs overlooking the shoreline below. Then perhaps we'll hike the Parry Grove Trail, before heading to Razor Point or Yucca Point. Then, it's down to Flat Rock and the beach, with a hike south along the shoreline to the gay area of Black's Beach, where we'll stop for lunch and swimming/sunbathing, while checking out the local flora and fauna..... We'll finish the hike by returning up the shoreline and Beach Trail to the Torrey Pines State Reserve Museum parking lot.
Once you hike this area, you'll want to come back again at different times of the year for more visits. It's a real gem to hike thru and very close and convenient for San Diego residents who want a quick escape back to coastal nature at it's finest.
For more detailed info. on the area, refer to "Afoot and Afield in San Diego County" by J.Schad, 1998 Edition, Area B-2:Torrey Pines/La Jolla, Trip 3, pp.30-34. Also, check out our Maps of the area for more details.
|
A few words of Caution:
This summer has seen an increase in stingray injuries along the beaches, which is usual for this time of year. The small, poisonous barb on their tail, used of self-defense, is what stings folks who accidentally step on them while wading around in the water. The small injury can be extremely painful, but is not usually life-threatening. Simple solution is to SHUFFLE your feet on the bottom, rather than walking. It scares them away and helps prevent you from stepping on them. Best treatment is to soak the injured limb in a bucket of HOT water. So, remember. Do the “Stingray Shuffle”!
Another, less frequent animal to watch out for is the jellyfish. If you see dead ones washed ashore on the beach, avoid them. Their tentacles can still sting you. Be cautious of them floating around in the water. Their tentacles brushing against your skin can produce a burning rash. Sting rashes can be treated with diluted vinegar and usually disappear in an hour. (With both the stingray and the jellyfish, if you’re allergic to bee stings, you’re probably allergic to these stings, too.)
However, don’t let these two species stop you from enjoying the warm, summer surf. With a little caution, you can still get out there, safely share the water with them, and have a great time!
|
|
|
Pano of Torrey Pines State Beach looking south towards Black's Beach
|
|
|
