Trekkin' Through Torreys

Torrey Pines State National Reserve,  Beach Trail
February 2011

If you are looking for a relaxing Saturday afternoon activity or somewhere to bring your new crush on a first date, a hike in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is where it is at!  Just twenty minutes north of campus lay the beautiful beaches, layered sandstone cliffs, and rare Torrey Pine trees that are just another asset of San Diego's amazing outdoor opportunities.  There are 8 different trails all offering great views of the wildflowers, sandstone formations of broken cliffs and deep ravines, beach, lagoon, and sometimes dolphins and whales.  What makes Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve unique is that the Torrey Pine tree only grows here in San Diego and on Santa Rosa Island in the Channel Islands National Park.  All of the rock layers at Torrey Pines are sedimentary, made up of pieces of older rocks, sand, crushed shells, and fossils. The layers are divided into formations that are different enough from each other to be told apart by the naked eye; it is really fun to notice the different colors and textures of each layer.  Starting with the oldest, they are the Delmar Formation, the Torrey Sandstone, the Lindavista Formation, and the Bay Point Formation.  Some shells found in the sediment have been dated back approximately 120,000 years. http://www.torreypine.org/

Since the start of the spring semester, a number of groups have hiked here.  The first night hike was a great break from the hustle and bustle of school life.  With close to no other hikers around, we were able to enjoy the deep navy-blue tone of the night sky and unlike being on surrounded by campus lights; the sparkle of the stars is what guided us along the trail.  As we walked the last stretch of the hike on the shore at the base of a 300-foot cliff, I noticed the serenity and what seemed to be the infinite glimmer of the moonlight on the waves.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is one of the top beach hikes in the state because the scenery is incredible and you can have an amazing experience both during the day and at night!  Aside from regular adventure trips, ELAC offers Rec Classes that students participate in weekly trips throughout the semester for credit while exploring the diverse terrains of San Diego and learning various outdoor skills. The San Diego Outdoors class ventured along the Beach Trail during their first class trip.  We enjoyed a very informational (although it seemed slightly meditational) video and were able to learn about the wildlife and rock formations at the Visitor's Center.  The weather that afternoon was perfect- the clouds were fanned out against the powder blue sky, almost like the wind had flattened them out with a rolling pin.  We enjoyed the watching the waves endlessly break on the rock-imbedded shore and enjoyed our lunch while soaking up the warming rays of the sun.

San Diego Outdoors Class
February 2011

Both the tranquility of an evening under the moonlight and an afternoon of lustrous sun are great aspects of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve that are too close in proximity to campus to not be taken advantage of.

"The Torrey Pines hike last week was a great trip. We were all so excited for the hike that we decided to go despite the rain and I'm so glad we did! The drizzling stopped about 5 minutes before we made it to the top and the view was amazing! The rain had made the air so clear, the view of the sun reflecting on the ocean beneath us was spectacular. As we hiked down we enjoyed sliding around on the dirt trails that had turned into mud. We eventually made our way to the ocean where we spent time drawing in the sand and enjoying the beautiful San Diego weather we weren't expecting to have on the trip. Overall it was a great way to spend a Saturday!"
     -Caiti McDaniel, Guide