Exploratory Visit to Santa Paula Peak (4957') via East Fork (in Ventura)

The old primary route to Santa Paula Peak is closed: for a long time, you could call the owner of a large avocado grove and obtain permission to cross, then take the excellent trail to Santa Paula's summit. The final ascent was at the top of impressive cliffs.

The new owner of the grove apparently cannot allow visitors in order to comply with USDA rules, so other routes have been sought.

Comerzan et al have been exploring routes ascending the E Fork of Santa Paula Creek. Although they didn't make it, they groomed the trail, and a subsequent group (O'Neill and Becht) did and provided a GPS route. We will take advantage of this information to bag the peak, but we will also bring clippers to improve the route.

We will start at Thomas Aquinas College in the town of Santa Paula. The first few miles of trail are distinct (it was once a road), but things start to degrade at Big Cone Camp. The canyon forks at this point and we take the smaller E Fork. (The other fork goes to Last Chance Camp)

Expect slow-going and bushwhacking as we push to Cienega Camp and then up the old switchbacks to Santa Paula Peak. Return as we came.

Map: http://caltopo.com/m/SM5C

Further reading: Comerzan report (http://peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=590961); O'Neill report (http://peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=608079).

Bring: lots of water, clippers.

Stats: 16.4 miles, 4600' gain.

Driving notes: the drive from Sport Chalet to Thomas Aquinas College (via 210-W, 5-N, 126-W, 150-W/N) is 67 miles and should take 1h10m.