In June, 2002, Tony and I took an overnighter to Manzana Schoolhouse. It was slated to be quite a hot weekend - up into the 90s. I think June is about the latest I would ever want to go back in this area because it is just too darn hot and dry. We started early so that we could get to camp by noon and then rest in the shade the rest of the day.
Although this trail is in the Wilderness area, there are roads and buildings along the way. We saw people driving a truck and an ATV. There are private property signs and gates. This hike is like a cultural resources walk. There are historic landmarks, old homesteads and schoohouses and graves along the way.
The start of the trail.
Stinging Nettles grow along streams.
Swallowtail butterfly and Mustang Mint.
Manzana River.
Grasses in the river bed.
Grasses in the river bed.
Manzana River.
Prominent rock outcrop to the north.
Red and green poison oak.
Lamb's ears leaves.
Lamb's ears leaves.
Manzana River.
Lamb's ears leaves and bud.
Lamb's ears bud.
Tony taking notes for the Sierra Club hike book.
Keyhole in the rock outcrop. Yucca 'flag'.
Poison oak
Lamb's ears buds.
Lamb's ears flowers.
Stump.
Woodpecker forgot this acorn, and now it's sprouting!
Acorn growing from a log.
Manzana River.
Pine growing inside ring of sycamore.
Thistle.
Old farm equipment.
At the end of 19th century, 200 people lived in the region.
The homesteaders left in the early 20th century after years of drought.
First stream crossing, Potrero Camp.
Much of the way you hike along dirt roads. There is a deer at the end of this road.
Dudleya.
Dudleya.
Dabney Cabin. Santa Barbara County Historical Landmark #8.
Cabin window.
Hinge.
Corner. Termite damage is prevalent.
This is Manzana Schoolhouse. It is located on a small hill above Schoolhouse camp.
Inside the schoolhouse
The blackboard.
Potrero Trailhead, Hurricane Deck in the distance.
This little horse didn't look very friendly. He wanted to charge me. Later, he ate Tony's corn chips.
This is Wheat Peak, across the river from the camp. The rivers, both the Sisquoc and the Manzana which meet here, were dry.
Thistles growing in the river bed.
Here's where we found enough water to fill up our bottles. Note the little bird nest on the boulder.
Here's Tony and our camp.
Say hi!
Wheat Peak again. Named for the Wheat family. Their homestead is nearby.
The topo also shows a grave. Information at the homestead (I didn't get up there) notes that the grave is for little Bessy Wheat who died as a child in 1901.
Looking down-river toward the homestead.
Sunset. It was such a nice warm day.
Some trees growing near our campsite.
One the things that's fun about backpacking are the silly things you do to have fun.
We created this circle with stones from the river.
Each stone has a line in it.
The stone in the center has a spiral in it.
Stonehenge.
Oak tree.
It's a work of art.
This is in the morning looking toward the east. Hurricane Deck trail begins here, as does the trail for doing the Sisquoc Loop - the big circle going from Nira to White Ledge to Southfork around behind Hurricane Deck along the Sisquoc River, to Manzana Schoolhouse, and back to Nira.
Wheat Peak at sunrise.
Oaks on the hill.
Returning home again. Here are the prominent cliffs again.
Already this morning it is nearing 90 degrees. It's probably about 9:30am.
A perfect native rose at Coldwater camp.
Manzanita bush at Potrero Camp.
Poison oak along trail.
