Absolutely stunning location
I couldn't believe how vast and open the landscape was. Near the hermitage are some chairs overlooking the field below, which is a perfect place to watch the sunset and also for stargazing. The view of the night sky here is just incredible — I did some open-eye meditating under the stars and it was a profoundly tranquil experience.
There's a beautiful array of chaparral forest flora – I recommend venturing a bit down the path directly in front of the hermitage, which feels like an oasis. I also suggest hiking up the hill beyond the kitchen building, where you can get a panoramic view of the entire area. Birdwatchers will have a field day: I spotted many different varieties; as well as a jackrabbit and a few lizards.
The hermitage is tucked away and felt very private, while still being only about a 5 minute walk from the bathroom, kitchen, and outdoor dining area. The kitchen itself has everything you could possibly need: stovetop, oven, microwave, and a wide variety of pots, pans, utensils, strainers, etc. Tom was a friendly and responsive host.
A few things to be aware of:
- There's no outlets in the hermitage, so be prepared to charge your phone in the kitchen or dining area if needed.
- The hermitage gets hot during the summer day and stays warm at night, even with the window open.
- There were some spiders in the bathroom, and 3 hitched a ride home in my overnight bag. They're harmless, but worth noting if you're an arachnophobe.
- Bring a headlamp. It gets dark.