Whitehouse Creek Trail: Costanoa KOA

Friday, December 5, 2014  From Costanoa KOA, we walked along the Whitehouse Creek Trail  to the Whitehouse Creek Road. Then, we met the Whitehouse Ridge Trail to Lower Vista and Upper Vista Point. It was a 1000 feet climb in elevation. Lower Vista Point was mostly fogged in and Upper Vista Point was completely fogged in! The last half hour of our walk, the rain came down hard. The only dry part of us was the area covered by our jackets!

Whitehouse Creek Road

                                    Whitehouse Ridge Trail to Lower and Upper Vista Point

                       

      It seemed that a hornet's nest had fallen from a tree (perhaps caused by the rain?) Sections of it, like this one, were scattered on the ground.

                                                       View of Whitehouse Creek Road      

                         This was a welcome sign! It was a steep one hour climb to this point.

                                                         Whitehouse Creek Road

  These yeller fellers (J's term) were frequent companions on the trails we've hiked in Vancouver and California. Such a helpful color to protect them from our feet. Now, newts on the other foot...  though less prolific than at Butano State Park, we spotted just enough to keep us mindful of our footfall.

Tomorrow, we are driving to Avila/ Pismo Beach KOA.  We were spoiled by our beachfront campsite here at Costanoa KOA.   Hearing the waves at night was a wonderful experience.  It was a treat to be walking distance to beach and forest walks.

Most of our two week stay here we had the campground to ourselves. The one exception was American Thanksgiving weekend. The Wednesday before the long weekend, we left for the day to "hang with the seals". When we returned  for dinner, our empty lane was full with campers. Within one day, the capacity of the campground went from about 80% empty to 100% full. No one claimed the campsite to our left, so we had an oasis of beach calm amidst the Thanksgiving merriment.

I have been observing recycling practices in each state we have visited during our Road Rave.  If there is a state law about recycling, it may or may not apply within campgrounds depending on the campground's willingness or ability to enforce.  Our practice has been to hang on to our recycling between states because eventually we meet a state that  accepts some or all of it. Or we meet off-site recycling bins.  So far in our travels, campgrounds in California and Utah have accepted the widest range of materials.

Of all the campgrounds we have stayed during our road rave, Costanoa KOA pledged the strongest commitment to the environment:  "Santa Cruz North/Costanoa KOA is an eco-adventure resort designed to encourage guests to explore the stunning beauty of the protected California coastline. This KOA creates many opportunities to retreat from the chaos of everyday life through hiking, mountain biking, music, art exhibits, kayaking, spa treatments and other activities. The campground strives to develop programs and methods to reinforce its uncompromising commitment to the environment. At this campground, the most visible landmark is Pigeon Point Lighthouse, just three miles north. This distinctive lighthouse has watched over the sheer cliffs and rocky shore since 1872. Its white tower has weathered shipwrecks, rumrunners, a fire, earthquakes, modern technology and even politics. We offer an array of activities from guided naturalist hikes, horseback riding, and kayaking to art exhibits, mountain biking, and Spa treatments. The Cascade Bar & Grille serves California coastal cuisine, including local California wines and seafood. Costanoa is committed to reducing the impact of our operation on the environment in which we live and work. We are constantly developing new programs and methods to reinforce our commitment to the environment and to social responsibility."  http://koa.com/campgrounds/santa-cruz-north/

At Costanoa KOA, I saw little evidence of "programs and methods to reinforce its uncompromising commitment to the environment". There was no explanation about the campground's recycling program in the registration package and only a few bins in the campground have identification labels. Of the four bins nearest our campsite, only one bin has a label. When questioned, a KOA staffer identified the bins nearest our campsite: 2 for garbage, 1 for paper, and 1 for drinking containers.  When I asked about plastic and tin, he explained that plastics are accepted at a bin by the general store. Later, I discovered a bin for plastics and tin at the entrance to our lane (the general store is a 5 minute walk).  I watched workers sort garbage that was not put in the correct bins and I asked them if households get fined when they do not sort their garbage.  One worker said yes, some people get fined and I wondered why people do not recycle at campgrounds when that is the expectation at his/her residence.
My research tells me since July 1, 2012, California has a law mandating recycling: "Businesses and public entities, including schools and school districts that generate four cubic yards or more of waste per week and multifamily units of five or more will be required to recycle, if they are not already doing so. The purpose of this new law is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting commercial solid waste to recycling efforts and expand opportunities for additional recycling services and recycling manufacturing facilities in California." 
Only some counties have curb-side pick up, for instance Orange County. People are expected to bring their recycling to depots.
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Recycle/default.htm