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Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:31 pm
by unwiredadventures
Last Thursday through Saturday I went camping on Santa Cruz Island with my Daughter's 8th Grade class. The island is 22 miles off the coast of Ventura. Too far for cell phone to be of any use.

On the way to the island we were treated to a rare sight of Killer Whales:
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The National Park campgrounds are in a small valley. There is a 3/4 mile hike from the dock to the campgrounds. There is a fair amount of shade from the many Eucalyptus trees:
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There are some great hikes and remains of the ranchers that once lived on the island:
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A great place for Kayaking and exploring the caves on the coast:
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Santa Cruz Island is home to a small Fox which has no predictors on the island. It's about the size of a domestic cat. The park service has installed "bear lockers" in the campgrounds for campers to keep the trash away from the Foxes. Keep all your food in closed plastic containers and all packs closed or the Foxes will quickly take your food even if you are only a few feet away. Same with shoes and socks, they'll take them. Always leave your tent zipped closed or they'll mark their territory inside and take any food:
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It's about an hour from Ventura to the island. The ship's captain will follow any signs of dolphins, wales and other wildlife even if it causes delays in their schedule:
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I took my Yeasu VX-150 with me and from the top of the hill above our campground, I could barely hear last Thursday's OAUSA Net.

Re: Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:39 pm
by xtatik
Wow, Killer Whales off SoCal! You're very fortunate, and what a great experience to share with the kids.

Re: Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:53 pm
by Willie H
Very lucky indeed! Looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing this.

Re: Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 6:43 pm
by cruiserlarry
Looks like you had a "whale" of a time !!! :lol:

Great pics; thanks for sharing :D

Re: Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:10 pm
by smslavin
That's awesome. Orcas are a rare sight and I'm jealous. I haven't been out there in years but I've done quite a bit of exploring beneath the waves there and over at Anacapa. It's beautiful. Great experience to have with your kids. Quite a school trip.

Re: Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:34 pm
by DaveK
Frank:

What a great trip, and a SCHOOL trip to boot!

Was that you that kept trying to check-in on the net?

Re: Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:09 am
by OLLIE
It's amazing what will pop up out there. That looks like an awesome trip. I would love to take my son to this place some time.

Re: Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:47 pm
by Chazz Layne
unwiredadventures wrote:I took my Yeasu VX-150 with me and from the top of the hill above our campground, I could barely hear last Thursday's OAUSA Net.
Did you take an Elk? :mrgreen:



Great shots, looks like a wonderful place to visit. Do you have to rent the kayaks through the management, or is it possible to bring your own?

Re: Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:48 pm
by DennisDawg
Chazz Layne wrote:Great shots, looks like a wonderful place to visit. Do you have to rent the kayaks through the management, or is it possible to bring your own?
http://www.islandpackers.com/watersport.html

They'll also get you out there. Make boat reservations first, then campsite: http://www.recreation.gov/

There is a lower and upper campground at Scorpion. I have stayed in the lower (closer to the water) , and it has trees and all. Bring a solar shower and you can hang it in the changing room down near the old ranch buildings and shower is style!

Re: Camping on Santa Cruz Island

Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:40 am
by BorregoWrangler
Oh man, how did I miss this trip report?! :oops:

Looks like you guys had a great time out there. Love the orca pictures!