Cate Students Connect with Sulfur Mountain

April 8, 2026

By: Edie Abbott ’27

The Hiking Club recently ran one of the most memorable and magical trips of the year. This trip led a group of seven students up Sulfur Mountain, a classic landmark of Ojai and one of the most beautiful places to mountain bike in the area, creating a better connection to the place that we call home for the majority of the year.

Sulphur Mountain is a rite of passage. The 10-mile uphill on the first day tests your determination, and the subsequent downhill the next morning tests your courage. No matter the group, there are always speed demons, determined to make it down the hill as quickly as they can.

But the part that is rarely mentioned is the pride that you feel when you reach the top. This year, with a fairly quick group of students, we were able to relish the ride and still spend an inordinate amount of time gawking at the view from the top.

As we made our way up the mountain, every new switchback brought new views: one minute we were looking over the rolling hills to the ocean and even past the Channel Islands, and the next we were observing Ojai from a bird’s eye view, captivated by the red tiled roofs of the town. But when we got to the top, the awe really hit us, leaving us stunned with gratitude.

Our time at the top of the mountain was spent laughing. Through card games, logic puzzles, and even a bit of reading, we spent the afternoon and night in one of the best and most real ways possible, away from all the superficial distractions of our day-to-day life.

Through it all, we grew together as a group and found a deeper appreciation for this beautiful place that we get to call home than ever before.

This has been my second time on this trip, and each adventure continues to amaze me. Thanks to everyone who made this trip possible—Kern Ducote, Tracey Calhoun, Hiking Club, and more—we will never forget the magic that can happen at the top of Sulfur Mountain.