Center of the Universe

Bagged Pinos and Sawmill from Chulash Vista, bringing me to#5 in my SoCal Sixpack challenge, and my #535 barefoot mountain climbed overall.

The high point was discovering that Pinos is Ihiwinmu in Chumash or “place of mystery” and the summit is Liyikshup or “center of the world,” referring to the Chumash idea that this point represents the center of their universe and a place of spiritual harmony and tranquility.  I hung out on the summit for a few minutes, keeping an eye out for Condors (saw a grouse and a robin).  Admired the Indian Paintbrush which had turned the summit red.  Although there were spots of blue (penstemon and flax) as well.  And a marvelous blood-red snow plant which I saw on the way up.  As I approached the summit, a dust devil spun up on the trail in front of me and rushed past, and I wondered if that were a spirit which didn’t think I should be here, or just a projection from my own mind, and after that the cool breeze was friendly under the hot sun as I listened to birds which my app, set for the east coast, could not identify.

The trail was a soft sandy dirt road, perfect for barefooting, although the trail from Pinos to Sawmill was pretty rocky, and by the time I was heading back, the little shards of granite in the sand were getting pretty annoying.  Well, I had shoes in my pack, but refused to wear them, so it’s hard to complain (although I did).