Elephant Seals sleep under the Milky Way along PCH in Central California as we head to meet an old friend, Dylan Gaylord, at McWay Falls
After a garbage truck overturned, cow ventured into the road, 10 hours of driving on our side & 13 hours on Dylan's we finally reach the iconic McWay Falls.
After meeting at McWay Falls we slept along a random country road for a few hours of sleep before a sunrise hike.
Battered by rough seas, the coastal rock is shaped into a thing of beauty.
Minerals wash from the cliffs during the frequent rains, leaving purple streaks along the sandy shore.
Hues of the sunrise.
The beauty of the coastline only continues as we head up the opposite cliff-face to the site Dylan scattered his mother's ashes.
Not a bad place to rest eternally.
Rock stacks line our path back along the beach.
Nothing, but smiles from the legend himself, Dylan Gaylord. He takes some rad pictures of his own personal misadventures in the PNW; check out his Instagram account @the_backcountry_boogieking & enjoy
The purple sand, intricately carved rock & soft morning light created one of the raddest hikes.
No matter where we looked the beauty seemed to follow.
Hours in the shadows make our first moments in the heat of the sun magical.
Sun flares & pixie dust as Dylan maneuvers through the canyon's opening.
The magic didn't end with the hike, even our drive was littered with beauty.
Big Sur has numerous well-known wonders, but some of the best adventures happen from a random turnout or seldom taken trail.
After leaving the forest, we find a new trail & head to a new segment of coastline.
The forest is never far from the coast around here.
Dramatic view after dramatic view greet us on our way to the sea portal.
The sea portal is one of the raddest features along the coastline in Big Sur. Violent & unpredictable tides crashed into the rocks over centuries, creating a 30 ft long sea tunnel.
What did I say about violent & unpredictable?
Luckily this madman was safe & sound.
Scaling across the rock wall, we seek a new perch.
As we continue venturing up the rock we notice a nude sun bather enjoying the freedom of the ocean at our previous spot next to the sea portal.
Silhouettes of the misadventure
As light fades, we begin the climb back.
Putting in work! The steep cliffs create some amazing beach, but they require some serious change in elevation to reach them.
The setting sun shimmers in a golden orange on a rare cloudless day in the Central Coast.
Dylan snapping away pictures of his own high above PCH.
A look down shows the dramatic coastline we had just journeyed down, up & across.
The misadventure began here, so we figured it might as well end here, McWay Falls.