Photo above: Relaxing at our lunch break on Inspiration Point, with Sandstone Peak in the distance.
By Tom Molloy; photos by Jeff Johnson
Co-leader Anna crossing a stream on the trail. After the very wet winter, the trail was wetter than normal.
We had a nice small group of six, including leader, on this treasured highest-elevation trail in the Santa Monica Mountains. For a change, everybody on the trip were seasoned GLS hikers.
The 6-plus mile Mishe Mokwa hike did not disappoint. We had lovely lake, mountain, island and ocean views. After stopping at the picnic table at the lovely oak and sycamore saddle, a few miles later, we opted for a stop on the top of Inspiration Point instead of the more popular Sandstone Peak.
The peak wildflowers blooming at this high elevation brought out many flower peepers. We had a botanist on our hike, which made for more accurate the usual wildflower identifications. Bush lupine and canyon sunflower, both of which were growing in large masses, took the prize in my view.
From a weather and flower peeping perspective, we couldn’t have picked a better weekend for this hike.
A big silver bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons) by the trail. It was a good season for lupine, which was in peak bloom was all over the mountain.
The famous Balanced Rock, seen across the canyon while we were on the trail around to Sandstone Peak.
Wildflowers seen on the hike
Canyon sunflowers (Venegasia carpesioides), one of the wildflowers in bloom everywhere when we were there. You can find them in a few of the other pictures below.
We saw Chaparral clematis (Clematis lasiantha) at two stages of development, here in bloom.
Chaparral clematis in seed. The fluffy seeds are actually fruits called achenes.
We saw lots of nightshade by the trail, mostly the purple kind, but also some white ones. Many species of nightshade (Solanum sp.) grow in the area, some are indigenous, some are not.
Prickly phlox (Linanthus californicus)
Chinese houses (Collinsia heterophylla)
The one peony (Paeonia californica) we saw by the trail
Silver puffs (Uropappus lindleyi)
We saws lots of these on this hike — trees or shrubs burned in the Woolsey Fire (2018), now overgrown by the native morning glory (Calystegia sp.)
