I’ve started several blog posts thinking I would share many photos and few words, then somehow I ended up with many photos and many more words than planned. Hmmm. With that said, join me for two hikes and enjoy some nature therapy by proxy 😉. Have no fear, I’m challenging myself to make this a post that’s heavy on photos and light on words 🤐😊.
My friend Cherryne wanted to hike in Malibu Creek State Park to visit the location where M.A.S.H. was filmed. I’m always up for a good hike, as is Jennetta. The three of us are also part of an outdoor group and are used to hiking and camping together. We love parks, but this one is extra special to Cherryne because it’s where she did her very first hike about 4 years ago 😊.
Malibu Creek State Park was devastated by the 2018 Woolsey fire which burned almost 97,000 acres and raged for about 13 days before it was contained. It was great to see the recovery that has taken place in less than 2 years.
In Search of M.A.S.H.
It took a few tries to get a good group shot with the trailhead sign 😁
Read the sign. Also this pretty plant with yellow flowers is black mustard (Brassica nigra), an invasive. 
Sometimes random people like these two end up in my photos. 
Burn scars 
Cliff aster with black mustard. 
Purple sage 
Morning glory (white flower). 
Sacred datura/Jimson weed 
In a horror movie this tree shadow would be stalking them 👻 
This used to be a wooden bridge. It was washed out in a year of heavy rainfall. 
Walking the plant 
… 
It was a bit wobbly. 
California poppies 
.6 of a mile to M.A.S.H. 
Heart leaved penstemon 
Foothill penstemon 
Indian milkweed (Asclepias eriocarpa) I think. 
Flowering Indian milkweed. 
Phacelia
M.A.S.H – Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, CBS 1972-1983
I found this video that shows the M.A.S.H. site before and soon after the 2018 Woolsey fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKxyjnXN9BM. Fortunately there’s been a lot of regrowth since the fire.
After M.A.S.H and Back to Trailhead
🌊
We hiked Malibu Creek State Park on Thursday. By Saturday it was time for another hike. It knew it would be too hot in Santa Clarita so we went to the coast to Point Mugu State Park. ‘Mugu’ is said to be from the Chumash word ‘muwu’ which means ‘beach’. This park has over 60 miles of hiking trails, some of which feature gorgeous beach views.
I love this pic 
Before & After – What a Difference an Hour Makes
Everything Else
⬅️ Something about the distance doesn’t add up 🤔 
I appreciate the warning 
Laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), I think 
It was quite foggy when we started. You’ll see in before & after sectin 
Western blue-eyed grass 
Great valley gumweed 
Fleabane daisy 
Fringed Indian pink or cardinal catchfly (Silene laciniata). Hella confusing til I looked up scientific name. 
Cliff aster 
Indian paintbrush with one of the 254 buckwheats in California. 
Prickly pear 
Looking back at Scenic Vista 
An opportunity to be a citizen scientist. 
This is the photo I tweeted. 
Some areas are lush 
It started with looking up at the tree 
… 
… 
And ended with this. 
I looked up the mountainside and saw a witch 
Perhaps my imagination is very active
Resources
I found it!!😉 Two great hikes!! Lots of wonderful pictures!! 😁
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Beautiful pictures- what a joy to see
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