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Bandit 50K 2011 Notes

first published & last updated
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50K runners climbing up Rocky Peak road.

50K Runners Returning from the Rocky Peak Trailhead

Cool temps, clearing skies, and snowy vistas greeted runners doing the 2011 edition of the Bandit trail races at Corriganville Park in Simi Valley, California.

If you’re going to have a trail race after a rainstorm, Rocky Peak is the place to do it. Rain gauges in the area recorded as much as two inches of rain in the 48 hours leading up to the race, and for a while it looked like there might be a dusting of snow on the highest points of the course. Except for a couple of short muddy sections, and having to dodge a few mud puddles, the dirt roads and trails were in good shape.

This year the race was expanded to include a 50K. This new option doubled the fun on the Chumash-Las Llajas loop of the 30K course, running the loop twice, and also took a short sightseeing trip down to the Rocky Peak trailhead at Santa Susana Pass. The 30K course was the same as last year, but the 15K course was shortened from last year’s 16K or so to 15K.



The 50K course is a tough one, including about 7 miles of technical single track trail, 22 miles of fire road, and a mile of paved road. The elevation gain/loss is about 5400′, which is a little more than the Bulldog 50K course, and a little less than the original Mt. Disappointment 50K course. Here’s an elevation profile of the Bandit 50K course.

There are several difficult stretches on the 50K course. Just a mile into the race runners have to deal with a very steep climb — an 800 foot ascent in just one mile. In my mind it’s the most important mile on the course, and how hard you push here can have a big effect on how you feel over the next 28 miles! There are a couple of other long climbs. The 2.3 mile climb from the Rocky Peak trailhead to the top of the Rocky Peak grade gains over 1000′, and the gain over the 1.75 miles from the Las Llajas split to the highpoint at Shells/Fossil Point is 800′. Runners doing the 50K get to do the Las Llajas to Shells climb twice.



One of the toughest sections for me was the run up Las Llajas Canyon on the second Chumash-Las Llajas loop. This section starts at about mile 19 and ends at the Las Llajas split, where the road forks right and up through the oil fields. For the most part the grade is not steep, but the miles are deceptively long and grueling. Also tough on tired legs is the very technical plunge back down to Corriganville at the end of the race.

Congrats to 50K winners Chris Price and Nancy Ishizawa. Clearly enjoying the day, Chris flew through course in a remarkable time of 4:12:51, averaging 8:28 minute miles. In the 30K Marcelo Mejia set a new course record with a blazing time of 2:52:31. On a slightly shorter course than last year, Fernando Ramirez and Jen Todd put down fast 15K times. For all the results and race photos, see the Bandit web site.

All in all it was fantastic day for a run! Many thanks to the race organizers — Randy & Sarita Shoemaker, Larry Lee, and Todd Baker — and all the volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding event!

Here are a few additional photos. Click for a larger image and description:





Start of 800′ Corriganville Climb



Running Up from Rocky Peak Trailhead



Snow on Ventura Mountains




15K Runner Headed Back



Descending Chumash



Casey’s Water Cache
nature, nature|clouds, nature|weather, photography, photography|landscape, weather, weather|southern california

Jet Stream Cirrus

published
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Jet stream cirrus

The long streaks in the photograph above are cirrus clouds embedded in a 125 kt jet stream that was positioned over Southern California Thursday afternoon.



The jet stream was at an altitude of about 30,000 ft. and associated with an upper level low pressure trough off the coast. This trough is the source of the disturbances that are resulting in our latest bout of wet weather.

The jet stream is a key feature of the earth’s atmospheric circulation, and plays an important role in both weather and climate.

For more about jet stream cirrus see A Composite and Microphysical Study of Jet Stream Cirrus Over the ARM Site.

The photographs are from a trail run on Thursday.

nature, photography, photography|landscape, running, trails, trails|topanga state park

The Heavenly Ranch in the Hills

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Trippet Ranch from Eagle Springs Fire Road

At one time the homestead of a beekeeper, and later the getaway home of US Judge Oscar A. Trippet, Sr., Trippet Ranch was one of the land purchases associated with the creation of Topanga State Park in the early seventies. Apparently Judge Trippet’s son enjoyed the natural setting of this ranch in the hills, and when he inherited the property, gave it the name “Rancho Las Lomas Celestiales.”



Running through the oaks in the early morning with sunlight filtering through the trees, and mule deer grazing quietly feet from the trail, it’s easy to see how he might have been inspired to give Trippet Ranch such a name.

Today’s run to Trippet Ranch is one of several trail runs I enjoy doing that start at Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, and end by running the Garapito and Bent Arrow trails. This particular run is a 12.2 mile serpentine route that takes fire roads out to Trippet Ranch, and then single track trails back to Mulholland near the top of Reseda. Here’s an interactive Cesium browser View of a GPS trace of the route.

For more information about the history of Trippet Ranch and Topanga State Park, see the Park History page on the Topanga Canyon Docents web site.

Related post: Garapito Trail Runs

nature, photography, photography|landscape, running, running|adventures, trails, trails|pt mugu state park

Western Rim of Boney Mountain

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Western rim of Boney Mountain

The plan had been to do a run similar to last week’s Serrano Valley run, with more of an emphasis on distance, than elevation gain. As I worked up the long switchbacks on the Old Boney Trail I debated the benefits and disadvantages of more — or less — elevation gain. Just two weeks before the Bandit 50K would additional elevation gain hurt or help in that hilly race?



It really didn’t matter. Now was now, and the race was a distant two weeks away. The route up the westernmost of Boney Mountain’s two north ridges was one of my favorites — especially when the weather was clear and the views from the mountain were far reaching. I’d done the Old Boney Trail last week. This week I’d hang a left at the ridge and go up and over the peak.

Anticipating a warm day I’d left my pull-on sleeves in the car. Bad choice. Strong Santa Ana winds scoured the ridge, and the weak morning sun was lukewarm at best. The thick chaparral and tall rock formations provided some protection from the wind, but from time to time the trail would emerge onto a rocky prominence or exposed ridge and remind me just how cold 60 degrees can be!



Contrary to experience, the wind moderated a little as I worked up the ridge. It was still very windy, but the buffeting winds I’d expected at the saddle north of Tri Peaks didn’t happen. Even so, it felt great to work around the east side of Tri Peaks and into the full sun on the south side of the peak! The change in the “feels like” temperature must have been 25 degrees! It would be shorts and short-sleeves comfortable for the remainder of the run.

As it turned out the elevation gain going up and over Boney Mountain and down the Chamberlain Trail wasn’t that much more than the up, down, up route along the Old Boney Trail — and the running was oh so good down the recently repaired Chamberlain/Backbone trail!

Some related posts: Boney Mountain Morning, Conejo Valley Sun and Boney Mountain Clouds

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

Satwiwa Shadows & Sun

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Satwiwa from Danielson Rd.

By the time I reached Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa at the end of last Sunday’s wet run to Serrano Valley and back, the frontal band was mostly done with its showers and was speeding to the east. In its wake were blustery winds, broken clouds, and a dynamic patchwork of sun and shadow on Satwiwa’s spectacularly green landscape.