Oxnard California - 32

Imagine all shades of Pacific blue in passage to
another world where dolphins and whales play
in peace. A convergence of cooler and warmer
ocean waters, the Channel Islands are not unlike
Darwin's beloved Galapagos. Such intermingling
produces a diverse range of 2,000 different
plant and animal species, of which 150 are found
nowhere else on earth.
permits aren't required for private boats, hiking beyond the ranger station on San Miguel
requires a reservation for ranger escort from
Cuyler Harbor (805-658-5711).
IT'S ALL ABOUT CONSERVATION.
Remote? Indeed. Keeping a minimal human
footprint involves exercising self-sufficiency:
Bring your own everything. Hike to your
campground. Take your trash with you.
Land and sea alike, however, you're not
alone. On 8-day-on, 6-day-off tours, career
Park, Law Enforcement and Maintenance
Rangers have swapped the office dog for
grey and humpback whales. "My commute is
amazing," says Park Guide Bethany Szczepanski. She helps orient guests at landing
with maps and optional interpretive hikes.
For campsite dwellers, she facilitates sunset
hikes and weekend evening programs such
as nature films and lectures. "One thing I do
at the end of the ranch hike is invite visitors to
find a quiet spot and listen to the island - to
see what it has to say," explains Szczepanski.
"If people care about the islands, it'll continue
to be protected."
A long history of protection by federal law

1: Anacapa Lighthouse; 2: Merrill McCawley, Protection Ranger; 3: Jim Gouls, Protection Ranger;
4: Kelly Moore, Marine Ecologist and Park Dive Officer

32

2019 | VISITOXNARD.COM

1
2

1: DOUG MANGUM; 2-4: BLAKE BRONSTAD

W

hether traversing
the rocky beaches
of Santa Cruz or
the raw elements
of faraway San
Miguel, you'll see
that nature rules
the five uninhabited islands comprising Channel Islands National Park: Adorable island
foxes popping in and out of trails. Barking sea
lions sunbathing on rocky shores and singing
seagulls dotting dramatic landscapes. A hidden world in the fronds of sea kelp undulating
in the clear cobalt waters. "It's like snorkeling
in an aquarium," says Island Manager Jim
Gould, a 30-year veteran law enforcement
ranger who supervises all islands.
Getting there is inarguably a highlight - so
much so that non-landing visitors cruise the
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary's
six nautical miles on photographic quests in
search of whales and wildlife all year long.
Out of Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard
and Ventura Harbor, islands are serviced via
Island Packers ferry (islandpackers.com) and
charters through Channel Islands Aviation
(flycia.com) out of Camarillo. While landing



Oxnard California

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Oxnard California

Contents
Oxnard California - Cover1
Oxnard California - Cover2
Oxnard California - 1
Oxnard California - 2
Oxnard California - Contents
Oxnard California - 4
Oxnard California - 5
Oxnard California - 6
Oxnard California - 7
Oxnard California - 8
Oxnard California - 9
Oxnard California - 10
Oxnard California - 11
Oxnard California - 12
Oxnard California - 13
Oxnard California - 14
Oxnard California - 15
Oxnard California - 16
Oxnard California - 17
Oxnard California - 18
Oxnard California - 19
Oxnard California - 20
Oxnard California - 21
Oxnard California - 22
Oxnard California - 23
Oxnard California - 24
Oxnard California - 25
Oxnard California - 26
Oxnard California - 27
Oxnard California - 28
Oxnard California - 29
Oxnard California - 30
Oxnard California - 31
Oxnard California - 32
Oxnard California - 33
Oxnard California - 34
Oxnard California - 35
Oxnard California - 36
Oxnard California - 37
Oxnard California - 38
Oxnard California - 39
Oxnard California - 40
Oxnard California - 41
Oxnard California - 42
Oxnard California - 43
Oxnard California - 44
Oxnard California - 45
Oxnard California - 46
Oxnard California - 47
Oxnard California - 48
Oxnard California - 49
Oxnard California - 50
Oxnard California - 51
Oxnard California - 52
Oxnard California - 53
Oxnard California - 54
Oxnard California - 55
Oxnard California - 56
Oxnard California - 57
Oxnard California - 58
Oxnard California - 59
Oxnard California - 60
Oxnard California - 61
Oxnard California - 62
Oxnard California - 63
Oxnard California - 64
Oxnard California - Cover3
Oxnard California - Cover4
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com