#27: [23-Dec-17]

#26: [07-Sep-14]

#25: [30-May-14]

#24: [04-May-14]

#23: [23-Jan-13]

#22: [20-Mar-12]

#21: [27-Aug-11]

#20: [26-Apr-11]

#19: [12-Jun-10]

#14: [17-Jul-07]

#13: [08-Oct-06]

#12: [20-Jun-06]

#11: [07-Aug-05]

#8: [14-Mar-04]

#15: [21-Jul-03]

#7: [22-Jun-03]

#6: [03-Jan-03]

#10: [26-Dec-02]

#5: [27-May-01]

#4: [27-Aug-99]

#2: [06-Aug-99]

#1: [14-Apr-99]

#3: [12-Aug-99]

#18: [13-Jun-09] (incomplete)

#17: [29-Dec-07] (incomplete)

#9: [02-Apr-04] (incomplete)

08-Dec-2007 -- This report details the visit to 34N 118W. On a business trip to Newport Beach, and with much available time, this confluence, along with a handful of geocaches in the Turnbull Canyon area, presented a good recreational break.

Glancing at the DCP page for this confluence, it appeared that we would be the 16th visitors. What we didn't realize until we read the reports later is that most of the visitors didn't make it to the zero point, but took the easy way out with the 100m proximity rule. Either that, or their GPSs were out to lunch.

After a very enjoyable morning climbing the hills & walking the canyon trails, we made the interesting drive through the winding roads and steep slopes to the intersection of Oak Canyon Dr., and Athel Dr., less than 100m to the northeast of the confluence. My companion, Annie, and I were ready for the moderate challenge to reach the zero point; we didn't come all this way to stand in the street below & make excuses. We entered the forest from Athel Dr., and scouted the steep hillside to the west for an optimum access route. Back home in Boston, we would be using crampons on a frozen ground in early December, but here in southern California, there was a plentitude of green ground cover holding down a soft soil. We selected a starting point south of the confluence and began a scramble up the 45 or more degree slope. There were a few small trees near the top of the slope, allowing us handholds, but the majority of the climb was through this green and prickly ground cover. The soil yielded to our footsteps, but never collapsed or crumbled.

Near the top, the knoll flattened out. A variety of bare branched thorny bushes presented minor obstacles. I had 8 satellites on the GPS, and every confidence that we were in the right place. The zeros finally displayed as we were about to reach the cliff edge to the north. I took the directional pictures; moving a few steps from the zero point to get a distant view. The scenery was pretty spectacular in this entire general area. As noted by previous loggers, the wisdom of placing homesteads in this geologically precarious landscape came into question. The land appeared to be huge mounds of soft soil, held together by those scrubby California bushes that like to dry out and burn every year. Even the rocks didn't seem to be all that solid.

After a short rest, we retraced our steps and descended the tricky slope, using our prior footprints as stair steps. Continuing the drive on the sinuous road, we eventually reached eastbound freeways, and continued our journey to attempt another confluence, at 34N 117W, later in the day.