On Saturday evening, May 10, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., my wife Rondia and I will lead a Full Moon Sunset Nature Hike to a vista point above the Ojai Valley where we can watch the sunset afterglow and the full moonrise. Due to various circumstances, this will be the first full moon hike of 2025, my 49th year of leading Herb Walks. The moon will be in its “full phase” although it won’t be 100% full until the morning of May 12. To the naked eye it will appear full when it rises at about 6:30 p.m. 

Registrants will receive instructions on where to park, what to bring, etc. From the trailhead we’ll gradually walk about 1.5 miles on a well used dirt road with gradual elevation gain to the vista point, stopping along the way to meet some valuable edible and medicinal plants including, among others:

Blue Elderberry
Black and Purple Sage
Horehound
Coastal Sagebrush
Passion Fruit
Yucca and
Prickly-Pear

After witnessing the sunset and moonrise, we’ll walk back to the trailhead by remaining daylight, moonlight, and flashlight, returning to the trailhead at about 7:30.

The After-Party: Then at 7:30 p.m. you’re invited to join me and Rondia on the heated patio at Liz and Jeremy Haffner’s Ojai Valley Brewery. Brewmasters Jeremy, Griffin Davis, and their staff will be pouring their amazing locally-sourced beers, ales, stouts, wines, and non-alcoholic beverages as we celebrate the full moon and my 49-year milestone while “La Luna” continues to rise in the eastern sky. El Maiz Mexican Food Truck will be there and the Top Shelf Brass Band is scheduled to play. You are welcome to bring your own snacks or dinner.

Ojai Valley Brewery beers change with the seasons and reflect the plants of Ojai. Three staples you’re likely to find on the list any time of year are Sugar Bush IPA, brewed with wild local Ojai “Sugar Bush” Sumac; White Pixie Ale, brewed with Pixie tangerine zests and orchard blossoms; and an amazing Chaparral Ale flavored and bittered with White and Black Sage and local Sagebrush instead of the usual Hops. Jeremy describes it as “built to mimic the scent on Shelf Road.” That’s where we’ll be walking! Non-alcoholic offerings also change with the seasons and may include an Elderflower-Blackberry Spritzer.

Ojai Valley Brewery launched Side Street Wines in 2023 with winemaker Fabien Castel in charge. Fabien worked side by side with the legendary California winemaker Adam Tolmach at Ojai Vineyard for 20 years before joining forces with Liz and Jeremy.

Note: Food and drinks are not included in the price of the hike but OVB offers my hikers a 10% discount on beverages.

My 2021 book, Medicinal Herbs of California, will be available at the trailhead for sale and signing.

In addition to the adult tickets ($35), tickets for students 13-17 ($25) and children 6-12 ($15) are also available. Children 5 and younger are free. One supervising adult must accompany each child 12 years old or younger.

MY WEATHER POLICY: Walks and hikes will go on RAIN OR SHINE unless there is a steady downpour on the morning of the event, probability of thunderstorm, or a solid forecast of either the day before. Light rain or drizzle will not result in cancellation on my part. I will update registrants by email and text, as needed, and issue refunds if I need to cancel because of the weather.

MY CANCELLATION POLICY: I will refund your payment if you notify me up to 72 hours (3 days) before the start of the event. After that I will make every effort to fill your space (and I’m usually successful) but cannot guarantee.

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