December 29, 2017 San Nicolas Island Spire Gulch

The dirt road (called “PCH West” by me!) along the north side of San Nicolas Island affords access to the interesting shoreline and the coastal canyons which drain the island’s interior.  On a bike ride on a warm winter afternoon I noticed a cool topographic feature to the north of the road, near the entrance to a little canyon or a deep gully.  The sun was low and the photography was fun at the “spire” and in the surrounding stream cuts.  The rocks are relatively soft, the erosion is relatively easy, and the area has a definite “Badlands” look to it.   The canyon with the “pinnacle” feature has been dubbed “Spire Gulch” by me.  The images here feature this canyon and a the next one to the west.  The area is just a couple of stone throws to the east of “Nick Crilley Canyon,” which is featured in the December 31 entry.

The images above are from Spire Gulch.  Below is the next canyon to the west, named “Ghost Tree Gorge.”