Course description: Travel Pacific Coast Hwy. 1 along the rugged Big Sur coastline into the Santa Lucia Mountains, to Big Creek Reserve which is part of the University of California Reserve System and open to researchers and educational groups only. Have lunch at Redwood Camp along a rushing steam. Hike the Interpretive Loop trail through shady redwood forests, across forested mountain streams, and onto the higher slopes of open grassland and oak woodland habitats, with spectacular views of high ridge tops, deep canyons and the Pacific Ocean far below. Strenuous hiking, with elevation gain of 1,000+ feet. Bird watch, botanize, and discuss the plate tectonics history and geology of the local terrain. Sightings of California Condors a possibility.

Approved