Leon Turnbull Photography

If I may be so bold, I would like to say something to all you Ventana Wilderness hikers: I think that many of you think you are very “hearty” and “tough” hikers, because you regularly hike through so much deadfall, heavy brush, swaths of ticks, and forests of poison oak. Granted, it is very tough, but that is my objection: It is not enjoyable! Ticks give you lyme disease. Poison oak gives you a horrible rash. If I was immune to poison oak, I would have no trouble bashing through it for 26 miles, as it covers over the entire trail for that distance. However, if I touch a single leaf, I will get the itch. I cannot afford to get that again this year. (already had a horrible case already). After two miles of going incredibly slowly, trying desperately to not touch any of it, I decided enough was enough, and I turned around to go to a different trail. If it was just the ticks (and there were plenty), I could deal with it (-maybe-), but not the oak. I can not hike like this for 26 miles. As for the brush, I can do a good bush whack to find a waterfall, and I have done so many times, but that is not enjoyable or fun either. It is hard! And if the brush is laced with poison oak, I probably would not do it, even if there is a waterfall.

So there you go. Thus was my failed attempt in the Ventana Wilderness recently. At this point I am thinking I will never hike in Ventana again, even though there are plenty of more waterfalls to see there. Just say no to Ventana! I don’t know. Perhaps I will try again next year. This is a throwback to one successful attempt in Ventana from last year: Sugar Falls.