If a post is about Catalina, you would think it was a travel piece, no? This is more of a fitness piece.
Water
The water was so clear and so blue, green and aqua. It was even more spectacular looking at the ocean through polarized sunglasses. It was cool water though, nothing tropical about temperature.
Snorkeling
Because of the temperature, I used my full wetsuit complete with ear plugs and neoprene cap. I enjoy my surroundings much more if I’m warm and comfortable. The kelp forest is magical. The movement of such large plants from floor to sunlight was wonderful to swim through. I saw orange Garibaldi, sea bass, schools of tiny fish and large bat rays. I hadn’t been snorkeling for a long time (maybe 2 years since my last visit to Catalina?) and it felt good to experience the ocean in this way again.
Kayaking and motor-boating
Kayaking was the best way to drink in the color of the water. Skimming just above the surface, the water caught the light just right for optimal emerald enjoyment. The water was so clear that when I passed over a kelp bed, I could see the fish hanging out in its fronds. There were fishermen who were taunted by these fish whom they could see but got no bites.
Motor-boating was of course a faster version of kayaking. I could go a longer distance in the same amount of time. I got to see Howlands Landing from the water, observing the “rich kid’s” camp. The wind came up in the late afternoon so heading into the swells made for quite the wild ride.
Hiking
SO much fun. Up and up so that the down is terrifying! There wasn’t much interesting foliage since it was mid-July.
Arrow Point/Parsons Landing
Near sunset, I took off from the camp and climbed around the north-most coast on the island. The trail followed a crest of land: the right side plunged a couple hundred of feet into the ocean while the left side of the trail plunged a couple hundred of feet onto land covered in cactus. It was a bit windy, the trail was narrow and when contemplating falling off the trail, which way would I want to fall? Cactus = Nature’s Velcro in this scenario.
I don’t get to see the sun set into the ocean very often so I was happy there wasn’t a fog bank obscuring the sun slowly dip into the ocean. Quite the sight from Arrow Point, complete with green flash. The moon was half full on a cloudless night so I didn’t need a flashlight to get back to camp. Saw island foxes and deer along the way but I’ve yet to see the bison that roam those trails.
Silver Peak
I did the first half of Silver Peak at dusk of a different day. Most of the trail looked like fire road because it was so wide. It was hard for 2 reasons: it was so UP and the dirt was so loose. It was hard to get footing in dirt and rocks and I often slipped a bit before I could right myself. Since I didn’t have a flashlight I wanted to get down off such unsteady land before it got dark.
But two days later, with a red headlamp, I started off at 3am to make it to the top of Silver Peak, an 1804 foot elevation gain over two miles. It took 1.75 hour to reach the top but there were heavy clouds so there was no sunrise to observe. It was still a great exercise feat.
Biking
The only road to 2-Harbors was dirt, winding and not flat. It took an hour to mountain-bike to the isthmus where I got to enjoy an adult beverage at the only restaurant in the vicinity. The alcohol made for an interesting bike ride back for at least the first 15 minutes!
I enjoyed the different activities that were available on Catalina for an active, outdoor adventure.
