Channel Islands & Anza-Borrego

The Channel Islands and San Diego trips have been combined in this new itinerary. Please review and provide your feedback. I am asking that commitments be made by December 1st so accommodations can be reserved. A zoom call will be scheduled for Monday 11/24 or Tuesday 11/25 at 6:30pm. Please state in the comments which call you can attend or when else you can attend.

Airfare needed: (grab those Black Friday specials):
Arrive in LA the morning of April 24th, Friday. (I plan to fly from Cleveland, departure 7:16am nonstop to LAX arrival 9:26am).
Depart LA Sunday (I plan to depart from LAX at 1:20pm and fly nonstop to Cleveland, arriving 8:48pm.
Airfare cost right now is $450 but it changes every time I look - hint, use incognito mode when searching.

Rental car(s) will be needed.

Most lodging will be camping for about $30/night.

I expect this trip to cost about $1500 without meals and additional excursions.

Friday, April 24th
Fly to LA, drive to Ventura. Camp at Hobson Beach Campground, (oceanfront with showers but mostly Rvs)
Do something in LA before driving 90 minutes to Ventura.

Saturday, April 25th
Take ferry to an island for the day, come back to Hobson Beach Campground. (We need to explore shuttles between islands before committing to two nights at Hobson Beach). We can go to San Miguel or Anacopa. Santa Rosa is closed for a bit and may be open by then. The ferry doesn't go to Santa Barbara island. More research is needed for this day.

Sunday, April 26th
Take ferry to Santa Cruz, arrive morning. Camp at Scorpion Cove Campground, (primitive, with water available - no fires, no showers - established, not backcountry).
Several hike trailheads are close to the campground.

Monday, April 27th
Stay on Santa Cruz Island; more hiking.
Perhaps kayaking to sea caves.

Tuesday, April 28th,
Leave Santa Cruz on afternoon ferry, arriving in Ventura 4 or 5pm.
Stay someplace near Ventura or on the way to Anza-Borrego. Probably an AirBnb with a good shower. Or we can go back to Hobson Beach campground.

Wednesday, April 29th
Drive 3-3/4 hours to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Set up camp at the state park campground, (token showers, water available). Hike.

Thursday, Apri 30th
Hike Potato Chip Rock. Keep Anza-Borrego campsite.

Friday, May 1st
Leave Anza-Borrego, probably after some hiking.
Drive 1-1/2 hours to LaJolla/San Diego area. Lodging tbd; we can camp on an Indian Reservation, stay near Torrey Pines, stay in a comfy Airbnb -what the group decides.

Saturday, May 2nd
Hike Torrey Pines. Decide whether to start driving to LAX for departure on Sunday and explore the coast, evevn skip Torrey Pines altogether ... itinerary and lodging tbd.

Sunday, May 3rd
Depart LAX for home.

This plan is all up for discussion. Here are some links to get you thinking before the zoom call:

Channel Islands
ferries: https://islandpackers.com/
National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/hiking.htm

Anza-Borrego
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638

Torrey Pines:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=657

Average temperatures:
Channel Islands - 45-60
Anza-Borrego - 57-80

Let me know what you think!
And first and foremost, comment if you can attend a zoom call 6:30-8:00 Monday Nov 24 or Tuesday Nov 25.

Thank you and happy trails!

I will be closing RSVPs by the end of December unless someone wants to join us independently here and there and arrange for their own transportation and lodging. You can also choose to do just Channel Islands or just Anza Borrego, if you arrange for your own transportation.

Note - special thanks to Hillary for pointing out Anza-Borrego Desert.