The Esalen Instute is a non
profit organization "devoted to the exploration of human potential
since the 1960's". The Institute is located a few miles south
of the trailhead for this cache and has been the center of "new
age" thinking for over 50 years. While the workshops and
seminars are the mainstay of the Institute, the main attraction for
the locals is the hot springs. You may just want to jot that
down for future reference.
The hike to this cache is as about as brutal as the Big Sur
coast has to offer. In just over four miles, you will gain
over 4,000 feet. I don't often recommend equipment
for hikes, but I strongly recommend a pair of treking poles
for this hike.
There appeared to be a USGS Benchmark on the summit, but I
couldn't find it in the GC.com database.
Trail Information:
Mileage: ~11 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: ~4,000 ft.
Trailhead Coordinates: N36 10.620 W121 41.610
Trail Log: Take Hwy 1 past Big Sur and park at the wide
turnout near the trailhead coordinates. The trail takes off
from here (Tan Bark Trail) and follows the beautiful
Partington Creek past some amazing stands of Redwoods. In
about 2.5 miles you will get to the crest of the Tan Bark
Trail. Two signs point down the trail going down the other
side of the ridge towards the Tin House.
You might want to pause a minute here. This is an
excellent place to evaluate how you feel about this little
hike. At this point, you will be approximately half way on
both the elevation and the mileage. You can continue back
down the rest of the Tan Bark Trail from here and make a very
lovely loop hike back down to Hwy 1. If you're ready, follow
the trail behind the two signs that continues up the ridge.
The trail is not very well maintained beyond the two
signs. More brush, less switchbacks, and more deadfall to
climb over is the order of the day. You will soon come to a
private cabin with a nice big welcome sign over the gate. I
don't think the welcome was intended for me, so I skirted the fence
on the left and came back to the trail above the cabin site.
A bit more brush, and occasional poison oak will eventually dump
you out on the Old Coast Ridge Road. Now you might think
that, "Hey, I could've driven here", but think again. There
are several locked gates and No Trespassing signs between this
point and the start of the road (down by Ventanna Inn). Turn
to your right (Southerly) and walk along the road for about a
mile. Anderson Peak is your objective, and it is clearly
visible from many vantage points along the road (lots of antenna's
and an Air Force Tracking Station observatory are clearly
visible). In approximately a mile from where you left the
trail (I sure hope you marked that spot in your GPS, 'cause it's
hard to spot), there will be a fork in the road. Take the
left fork that climbs the Peak towards the observatory. You
will eventually have to leave the road and scramble up the hillside
when you encounter the fence that surrounds the observatory.