Secret Walks #41, Sandstone Peak, 7.34 miles.

By far, my and Barbara's most challenging and awe-inspiring hike. Sandstone Peak is the highest summit of the Santa Monica Mountains. A hell of a twisty long drive took us up into the mountains above Westlake (and that was the easy part.) We began the hike along the Backbone Trail for @2miles until we found a set of stairs for a partial climb, and then spidered up the side of a rock to Sandstone Peak—I seriously can't believe we climbed up there, but we did, and earned a rest and a vast view of the ocean. Back down then over to the Mishe Mokwa Trail for a few miles, we met tons of friendly hikers along the way, and stopped under a tree at the side of the trail for a luxurious lunch with our sandwiches on our laps. Another two miles for a brief stop at Split Rock to rest and take pictures, then on past Balanced Rock where we saw group of rock climbers practicing (they look like colorful ants in my pic.) Throughout, rain-ravaged trails challenged us to balance on loose rocks and over crevices. One stretch of the Mishe Mokwa was like walking the ledge of a 20-story building littered with rubble—a sheer drop on one side, a wall of rock on the other. Yet other stretches were a fairy tale adventure through woods filled with singing birds, yucca, manzanita, wildflowers, bees, baby squirrels, butterflies, and aggregates of ladybugs. I'm covered head-to-toe with dust, exhausted, and I don't think I've ever been so happy to see my car in the parking lot. Not for the novice and not for a hot day, but this was a hike Barbara and I will never forget. Did it.