In 1977, the Wrigley Family endowed the Catalina Island Conservancy to care for the 75% of the island that was still underdeveloped. One of the sites was Whites Landing, a former military instillation and camp, on the east coast closest to the mainland. The Orange County Council submitted the winning proposal to turn Whites Landing into a high adventure base, from whence scout units would head off to explore the islands interior and coast on treks. They just finished their third summer of operation. So far its been a win-win situation for the Conservancy and the OCC. The Conservancy fulfills it mandate of preserving the land and bringing people into the interior. The OCC has a high adventure base that would make National drool. Part of price of admission is that every scout participate in a half-day conservation project to help out the CIC.
Whites Landing offers four programs backpacking, mountainbiking, sea kayaking and scuba. Troop and Venture Crew 729 from Washington Heights, New York City, has just returned from Catalina where we spent 12 days participating in all four activities.
Backpacking: 2 days
Hiked from the base camp across the island to Ben Weston beach on the west coast. Midway, at the spine of the island elevation is near 1,700 feet and you can see the ocean on both sides of the island. The land is uninhabited with unpaved trails. The hike down to Ben Weston involves climbing down a 200-300 foot down to the beach. The terrain makes Ben Weston a favorite for surfers. It is the only wave-action beach on the island. We camped there under the stars and spent the next day in the waves. At mid afternoon, we climbed back up the cliff and continued on a short hike to Little Harbor an official campground with designated campsites, pole showers, a ranger station and port-a-johns. Sweet.
Difficulty just right.
Thrill factor A+. Climbing down the cliff to Ben Weston with full packs was certainly a challenge, so was hiking through a herd of bison.
Scenery A+. The island is just beautiful.
Sea Kayaking: 2 days
Kayaked clockwise around the north end of the island from Little Harbor back to Whites Landing. The first day was the longest and we woke up early to get in enough miles before the swells picked up in mid morning. At Cat Harbor, at the west end of the isthmus, we were maybe a mile out to sea and noticed dolphins swimming along the shoreline. Then at some point, they noticed us and started swimming right toward us, 30 dolphins swimming abreast in a line about 50 yards wide charging right at us. About five feet in front of us they dived under our kayaks and then emerged about five feet behind us.
The winds never picked up and it remained overcast. A little farther north on the northwestern shore the cliffs rise 200-300 feet straight out of the water. There was an eerie silence with no wind and just the waves lapping the shore. We passed a rock covered in pelicans. With the silence, the isolation, mist muting the colors of the cliffs and pelicans gliding like pterodactyls, it was a scene out of Jurassic Park. It is the most unworldly place I have ever been. From here we started seeing lots of sea lions and they swam with us around the north tip of the island to our camp site at Starlight Beach.
The next day we continued down the east side of the island. Burgers and flush toilets at Two Harbors the town at the east end of the isthmus. From there we kayaked through a neat little grotto and then made camp at Lava Wall Beach. This campsite has a sheer wall about 150-200 foot lava wall. The next day we made it back to base in time for lunch. Sweet.
Difficulty just right.
Thrill factor A+. The adrenaline rush from the dolphins is still being felt.
Scenery A+. Out of this world.
Scuba: 2 days
Began instruction right after lunch for the Passport (resort diving with instructor) NAUI certification. Three in our group of 14 were already certified and we helped and encouraged the others.
Scuba was in its first year at the base and there are still many kinks to be worked out. In all fairness, we were just exhausted coming in from the trek. We had spent a lot of time teaching our scouts how to swim, but waves in the Pacific Ocean are a far cry from a pool at the Y. In the end, only two of the non-divers in the group managed to go on an open water dive, but five more probably could have with just a little more time. Scuba was probably the high point of the entire trek for the first time divers. Six of the scouts have expressed an intense desire to go back next summer to complete the week-long full certification program. Would be nice if we can figure out a way to make it happen.
Difficulty Too much too soon for most of the scouts.
Thrill factor Do you remember your first dive?
Scenery B-. Im spoiled because I all my previous diving has been at Little Cayman. The water off Catalina certainly isnt anywhere near Cayman clear, but there are still plenty of fish and other critters in the water to make it worthwhile. And there is always a high probability of marine mammals swimming by.
Mountainbiking: 2 days
Started off the day walking our bikes up the same way we had backpacked out the week before. By early afternoon, we were back up to the spine of the island and camped at Black Jack. That afternoon, we completed our volunteer service project for the Conservancy.
The next day we reaped the reward for a half day of walking, pushing our bikes uphill a ride down the Cape Canyon Trail. There we visited Middle Ranch and saw their wild life restoration facilities for bald eagles and Catalina foxes. We then rode, walked, pushed our bikes up Middle Canyon Road back to the spine. We then rode the KBRT trail down into Bullrush Canyon. This trail was a great ride and we got to see the southern end of the island with another Channel Island, San Clemente, off in the distance. The next day it was a relatively short day back up the KBRT trail (sweet both coming and going) and then down the trail back to base camp. I waited until then to take my spill. Abrasions on both knees, back and front of both hands, elbow, shoulder (ripped shirt), ear and big ding in my helmet. By the way, Im not whining. When it comes to me, a mountain bike and a mountain trail, only one of us is capable of choosing poorly. Sweet.
Difficulty just right. Gravity giveth and gravity taketh away.
Thrill factor A+. Its not mountainbiking unless half the group wipes out.
Scenery A+. Bullrush Canyon and the south end of the island are great.
If anyone wants to host pix on a web site, I will be happy to send some jpgs.
Catalina as an alternative to Philmont.
In this case, we actually did have slots for Philmont 2005. Our crews vote was almost unanimous to go to Catalina instead. The two-week, four-activity pu pu platter offered at Catalina is certainly hard to beat.
JetBlue goes into Long Beach, which is a ten minute drive to the Whites Landing ferry. Southwest goes into Santa Ana, which is also a short drive to the Newport Beach ferry. So if your area is served by either JetBlue or Southwest, getting to Catalina is probably a lot cheaper than you think. Throw in a double-double animal style and a final day at Disneyland before heading home and youre likely to be the one next year telling Philmont, Thanks, but no thanks. Sweet.
High Adventure 2005
in Camping & High Adventure
Posted
I WISH THEY ALL COULD BE CALIFORNIA TREKS
In 1977, the Wrigley Family endowed the Catalina Island Conservancy to care for the 75% of the island that was still underdeveloped. One of the sites was Whites Landing, a former military instillation and camp, on the east coast closest to the mainland. The Orange County Council submitted the winning proposal to turn Whites Landing into a high adventure base, from whence scout units would head off to explore the islands interior and coast on treks. They just finished their third summer of operation. So far its been a win-win situation for the Conservancy and the OCC. The Conservancy fulfills it mandate of preserving the land and bringing people into the interior. The OCC has a high adventure base that would make National drool. Part of price of admission is that every scout participate in a half-day conservation project to help out the CIC.
Whites Landing offers four programs backpacking, mountainbiking, sea kayaking and scuba. Troop and Venture Crew 729 from Washington Heights, New York City, has just returned from Catalina where we spent 12 days participating in all four activities.
Backpacking: 2 days
Hiked from the base camp across the island to Ben Weston beach on the west coast. Midway, at the spine of the island elevation is near 1,700 feet and you can see the ocean on both sides of the island. The land is uninhabited with unpaved trails. The hike down to Ben Weston involves climbing down a 200-300 foot down to the beach. The terrain makes Ben Weston a favorite for surfers. It is the only wave-action beach on the island. We camped there under the stars and spent the next day in the waves. At mid afternoon, we climbed back up the cliff and continued on a short hike to Little Harbor an official campground with designated campsites, pole showers, a ranger station and port-a-johns. Sweet.
Difficulty just right.
Thrill factor A+. Climbing down the cliff to Ben Weston with full packs was certainly a challenge, so was hiking through a herd of bison.
Scenery A+. The island is just beautiful.
Sea Kayaking: 2 days
Kayaked clockwise around the north end of the island from Little Harbor back to Whites Landing. The first day was the longest and we woke up early to get in enough miles before the swells picked up in mid morning. At Cat Harbor, at the west end of the isthmus, we were maybe a mile out to sea and noticed dolphins swimming along the shoreline. Then at some point, they noticed us and started swimming right toward us, 30 dolphins swimming abreast in a line about 50 yards wide charging right at us. About five feet in front of us they dived under our kayaks and then emerged about five feet behind us.
The winds never picked up and it remained overcast. A little farther north on the northwestern shore the cliffs rise 200-300 feet straight out of the water. There was an eerie silence with no wind and just the waves lapping the shore. We passed a rock covered in pelicans. With the silence, the isolation, mist muting the colors of the cliffs and pelicans gliding like pterodactyls, it was a scene out of Jurassic Park. It is the most unworldly place I have ever been. From here we started seeing lots of sea lions and they swam with us around the north tip of the island to our camp site at Starlight Beach.
The next day we continued down the east side of the island. Burgers and flush toilets at Two Harbors the town at the east end of the isthmus. From there we kayaked through a neat little grotto and then made camp at Lava Wall Beach. This campsite has a sheer wall about 150-200 foot lava wall. The next day we made it back to base in time for lunch. Sweet.
Difficulty just right.
Thrill factor A+. The adrenaline rush from the dolphins is still being felt.
Scenery A+. Out of this world.
Scuba: 2 days
Began instruction right after lunch for the Passport (resort diving with instructor) NAUI certification. Three in our group of 14 were already certified and we helped and encouraged the others.
Scuba was in its first year at the base and there are still many kinks to be worked out. In all fairness, we were just exhausted coming in from the trek. We had spent a lot of time teaching our scouts how to swim, but waves in the Pacific Ocean are a far cry from a pool at the Y. In the end, only two of the non-divers in the group managed to go on an open water dive, but five more probably could have with just a little more time. Scuba was probably the high point of the entire trek for the first time divers. Six of the scouts have expressed an intense desire to go back next summer to complete the week-long full certification program. Would be nice if we can figure out a way to make it happen.
Difficulty Too much too soon for most of the scouts.
Thrill factor Do you remember your first dive?
Scenery B-. Im spoiled because I all my previous diving has been at Little Cayman. The water off Catalina certainly isnt anywhere near Cayman clear, but there are still plenty of fish and other critters in the water to make it worthwhile. And there is always a high probability of marine mammals swimming by.
Mountainbiking: 2 days
Started off the day walking our bikes up the same way we had backpacked out the week before. By early afternoon, we were back up to the spine of the island and camped at Black Jack. That afternoon, we completed our volunteer service project for the Conservancy.
The next day we reaped the reward for a half day of walking, pushing our bikes uphill a ride down the Cape Canyon Trail. There we visited Middle Ranch and saw their wild life restoration facilities for bald eagles and Catalina foxes. We then rode, walked, pushed our bikes up Middle Canyon Road back to the spine. We then rode the KBRT trail down into Bullrush Canyon. This trail was a great ride and we got to see the southern end of the island with another Channel Island, San Clemente, off in the distance. The next day it was a relatively short day back up the KBRT trail (sweet both coming and going) and then down the trail back to base camp. I waited until then to take my spill. Abrasions on both knees, back and front of both hands, elbow, shoulder (ripped shirt), ear and big ding in my helmet. By the way, Im not whining. When it comes to me, a mountain bike and a mountain trail, only one of us is capable of choosing poorly. Sweet.
Difficulty just right. Gravity giveth and gravity taketh away.
Thrill factor A+. Its not mountainbiking unless half the group wipes out.
Scenery A+. Bullrush Canyon and the south end of the island are great.
If anyone wants to host pix on a web site, I will be happy to send some jpgs.
Catalina as an alternative to Philmont.
In this case, we actually did have slots for Philmont 2005. Our crews vote was almost unanimous to go to Catalina instead. The two-week, four-activity pu pu platter offered at Catalina is certainly hard to beat.
JetBlue goes into Long Beach, which is a ten minute drive to the Whites Landing ferry. Southwest goes into Santa Ana, which is also a short drive to the Newport Beach ferry. So if your area is served by either JetBlue or Southwest, getting to Catalina is probably a lot cheaper than you think. Throw in a double-double animal style and a final day at Disneyland before heading home and youre likely to be the one next year telling Philmont, Thanks, but no thanks. Sweet.
Yours in Scouting
Scott Simpson
Troop/Crew 729
Washington Heights