22.04.23 Montecito Peak

April 23, 2022

22.04.23 Montecito Peak

Montecito peak was set to be an easy Saturday morning hike, around 6.6mi total and 2500ft of gain. Montecito peak is one of the few popular hikes of the Santa Barbara front country, and not wanting to do any research during my busy week I figure I could just park and follow the most defined trail to the summit.

I got a late start, around 10am after parking at Cold Spring TH in the Los Padres NF and started my way. My pack was a bit heavy for such a short outing as I was carrying the DLSR and more water than I would need. I followed the trail for a quarter mile and then split to the right, the east fork of Cold Spring creek.

I was hiking in a post fire environment; this land was burned by the Thomas Fire which has led to the deadly debris flows in Montecito back in 2018. I had remembered seeing them on the news back then but only vaguely, so it was interesting to be in this place now.

As I suspected the affluent Montecito neighborhood produced many snobby hikers, running with their premium wireless earbuds. It seems that the wealthier the hiker the less likely they are to say hi to you as you pass, or even make eye contact for that matter. Something about being not in your late 40s, and thus unlikely to be rich is offensive to them, and they’d rather not acknowledge your presence. Regardless, I said hi to everyone, especially those walking their purebred shnozits and whatsits, and they were forced to acknowledge me.

The air was a bit warmer than what would be comfortable, but I only had myself to blame myself for such a late start. After about a mile and half I had gained the ridge and had exited the east fork of Cold Spring Canyon and could see a great view out to the Channel Islands, downtown SB, east to Carpinteria and Ventura, and even further east to the Santa Monica Mountains and Point Mugu SP.

I could see the top of Montecito Peak above me, still about 1500ft up. I walked on. The invasive mustard weed (Brassica nigra) bordered the trail, sometimes encroaching on it, and bees were swarming the buds.

You see, I don’t actually like trails in Santa Barbara. They are oftentimes littered, and the rock here is mainly sandstone. Sandstone is a horrible affair, creating blocky trails with cobbles ready to break your ankle. Even when the trail is fairly groomed the ground has a fine layer of rounded pea gravel ready to make you slip even at the lowest angles.

Eventually I had worked my way up to the summit, passing only a few other hikers along the way now that I had left the shade. It had taken maybe an hour and a half to get the top, but I wasn’t too concerned with pace today. The summit itself had gorgeous views, the same as earlier but higher up and therefore grander. I was surprised to have the summit to myself for 20 minutes. I did have company in a paraglider, and I watched the updrafts carry him up and around Montecito peak, the occasional ruffle of his parachute being the only sound against the breeze.

Having sat at the summit long enough and motivated by a need for a proper lunch I set down the trail. About 2/3rds of the way back I encountered a massive hiking group, all middle-aged and white. Passing this hiker train of 40 people on the singletrack was by far the ‘crux’ of the day, but eventually I made it past them. Soon I was back at my car, the descent taking no longer than 50 minutes.