Category Archives: photography|landscape

nature, photography, photography|landscape, running, running|adventures, trails

Sulfur Mountain Road Down and Back

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View to the ocean from Sulfur Mountain Road Recreation Trail

With each stride I coasted a little further down the 10 mile long hill. If not effortless, running down Sulfur Mountain Road was about as easy as trail running gets. Just click on the cruise control and enjoy the great views and the superb Southern California sunshine.

Sulfur Mountain is an east-west oriented, approximately 13 mile long ridgeline on the south side of the Ojai Valley that extends from Hwy 150 on the east to Hwy 33 on the west. Geologically it is a large anticline created by a fault-propagated fold. 



The mountain figured prominently in the industrial development of the Ojai Valley, its oil seeps spurring petroleum exploration and extraction operations in the mid 1800s.

Sulfur Mountain Road traverses nearly the entire length of Sulfur Mountain and about half of the road is designated as the Sulfur Mountain Road Recreation Trail. The eastern trailhead of the recreation trail is at about the midpoint of the elongated peak. This is where I started this morning’s out and back run.



The eastern trailhead is at about 2600′ and over 10.2 miles the mostly dirt road descends to the western trailhead at about 400′. Including a couple of the short ups on the descent, the total elevation loss turned out to be about 2500′.

Of course 2500′ of descent means 2500′ of gain on the return, but I hadn’t looked at these details prior to run. I wasn’t sure what the run back up was going to be like, but was pleasantly surprised. The road was very runnable and I was able to maintain a reasonable pace for most of the 10 mile climb.



As advertised, the views of the Channel Islands, Ojai Valley and surrounding mountains were spectacular.

This particular day there were a number of mountain-bikers, a few hikers, but no runners.  Parking at the eastern trailhead is very limited, so most opt to do the out and back from the western trailhead near Hwy 33.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, non-technical 20+ mile run with moderate elevation gain, the out and back on Sulfur Mountain should do the trick.

nature, nature|clouds, nature|weather, photography, photography|landscape, weather, weather|southern california

Still One of the Driest Calendar Years on Record in Los Angeles

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Sunset at Sage Ranch Park

It’s been great to get a little rain the last couple of weeks. Since November 20th Downtown Los Angeles (USC) has recorded 0.62 inch of rain, bringing the calendar year total through November 30th to 3.40 inches.

During our showery rainstorm on Friday the few extra raindrops that made it into the rain bucket at USC moved 2013 from 4th driest to 5th, behind 1947 (2.51), 1971 (2.69), 1894 (2.89) and 1984 (3.37).

Rainfall totals can change dramatically in December, which is normally about twice as wet as November. Of the dry years listed above only 1947 continued to be unusually dry and finish the year as one of the nine driest on record.

Rainfall amounts were compiled from NWS and NCDC data. In a couple of instances differences were noted in daily and monthly data. Monthly data was used in rankings.

The title photo is from a run at Sage Ranch on November 21.

nature, nature|weather, photography, photography|landscape, trails, trails|smmc open space, weather, weather|southern california

San Fernando Valley from Near Rocky Peak

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San Fernando Valley from Near Rocky Peak

In short sleeves and shorts it was cold. The wind gusts were so strong that I could not hold the camera steady. Dropping down on one knee helped, but I still had to time the shots for the 10-15 mph “calm” between the 20-30 mph gusts.

After generating some rain and snow in Southern California, a blustery upper level low was finally exiting the area. Had I not known it had rained a couple days before, I’m not sure I would have been able to tell. The dessicated soil had quickly absorbed most of the moisture and the chaparral plants still looked drought stricken.

From today’s late afternoon run on Rocky Peak.

nature, nature|clouds, nature|trees, nature|wildlife, photography, photography|landscape, photography|wildlife, trails, trails|smmc open space

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Acquisition of Ahmanson Ranch

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Valley oaks and cirrus clouds near sunset at Ahmanson Ranch

Today those instrumental in the acquisition of Ahmanson Ranch and supporters of the open space area gathered at the park — now Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve — to celebrate its purchase. For more on the festivities see this article in the Simi Valley Acorn.

I’ve been running at Ahmanson Ranch for more than ten years and have spent hundreds of hours in the open space area. Following are a few photographs, stories and wildlife encounters from these runs.

 – Northern Harrier Turning to Strike

 – Moonrises and Sunsets

 – Sunset Shower

 – Ahmanson Ranch Moonrise

 – Red-winged Blackbird Song Spread

 – Racing the Sun, Catching the Moon

 – Coyote Tag and Coyote Tag II

 – Southern Pacific Rattlesnake and Big Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

 – Ahmanson Blue Oak

 – Astronomical Trail Running

 – Ahmanson Ranch Trail Runs

 – September & October are Tarantula Months!

 – Southern California Greenscape

 – A Sunset and Moonrise

 – Dealing With Drought

 – Lenticular Wave Clouds

– Signs of Winter

 – King of the Hill

– Comet PanSTARRS and the Crescent Moon

The title photograph is from a run at Ahmanson Ranch earlier this November.

nature, photography, photography|landscape, photography|trail running, running, running|adventures, running|races, trails, trails|sierra

Whiskey Flat Trail Burger & Double Burger Run & Trek 2013

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Runner on the Whiskey Flat Trail during the 2013 Burger Run

I heard it several seconds before I saw it, a sound like thunder rumbling in the distance, but rapidly growing in strength and intensity as it moved up the rugged river canyon.



I had just completed the mile-long climb that follows the Ant Canyon creek crossing and started the descent from the high point of the Burger Run course. The roar stopped me in my tracks — I did not want to miss sighting one of the fighter aircraft that fly through this canyon.

The weather was as good for flying as for running, mostly clear blue skies with only a tatter of cloud over the mountains. I looked in the direction of the growing sound, but had looked too high. The twin-engine fighter was at eye-level and over the river about a half-mile away.



At Fairview — where the Burger Run ends — the Kern River canyon narrows, with 2500′-3000′ tall mountain ridges closing in on the left and right. It would take me at least 30 minutes to get to the finish, but spellbound I watched as the jet covered the distance in three or four seconds. Approaching the cul-de-sac, the pilot added power, pulled back on the stick and in a steep, climbing turn pulled up and over the rocky ridge on the right, continuing the corkscrewing turn into a roll. Sigh…

Last year a spectacular rainbow had spanned the canyon; this year we’d been treated to a dramatic low level flyby. Whether you come for rainbows, fighter jets, the challenging terrain, or the superb views of the mountains and river, a hike or run of the Whiskey Flat Trail is an outstanding adventure.



The Run-4-A-Way Burger Run & Trek starts at the Burlando Trailhead in Kernville and follows the single track Whiskey Flat Trail up Kern River’s rugged canyon to Johnny McNally’s Fairview Lodge and Restaurant. As the 14.5 mile trail works up river it crosses a series of tributary canyons and ridges, gaining more than 2100′ and losing at least 1300′. It challenges the runner, and most take longer than expected the first time they run (or hike) it. Those seeking even more adventure can do the Double Burger option — starting at Fairview, running to Burlando, and then returning to Fairview.

The annual run and trek is organized by Mike Lane of Run-4-A-Way, a local non-profit group dedicated to enhancing the fitness and well-being of the local youth. Proceeds from the 2013 event will help the Kern Valley High School “Lady Broncs” soccer team with equipment and other expenses. Many thanks to Mike for organizing the event and to the Lady Broncs who managed the Burger Run & Trek aid station.

Some related posts: Whiskey Flat Trail Burger & Double Burger Run 2012, Whiskey Flat Trail Burger Run 2011

Related video: F-16 Auto-GCAS Demonstration Flight from Owens Dry Lake, into the Sierra, and down the Kern River.

Following are a few additional photos from the run. Click for a larger image:





Race Meeting



Steep Ascent



Steep Descent




Aid Station



Salmon Buttress & Falls



Fairview