Colors on the sky,
and a chill in the air.
Lost in a moment,
that’s running away.
Category Archives: running
Serrano Valley – La Jolla Valley Scenic Loop
This is one of my favorite medium length trail runs in the Santa Monica Mountains. It starts at the Ray Miller trailhead and explores the scenic grasslands of the Serrano and La Jolla Valleys. Along the way there are spectacular ocean and mountain vistas from the Ray Miller Trail and the summit of Mugu Peak.
Most of the route is on single track trail, and except for a short out & back segment to “The Ranch” in Serrano Valley, it is a complete loop of about 20 miles. Many variations are possible.
One of the better online maps I’ve found of the area is an Interagency Trail Management Map produced by the NPS Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area GIS Lab. It shows the status of trails and public lands in the Santa Monica Mountains and is broken into three parts: West – Central – East. Additional NPS SMMNRA trail management plan maps include Proposed Backbone Trail Facilities and Trails and Proposed Regional Trails.
Here is a Cesium browser View of a GPS trace of our route from the Ray Miller trailhead and through Serrano and La Jolla Valleys.
Related post: Serrano Valley – La Jolla Valley Loop, Serrano Valley from the Chamberlain Trail
Chasing a Sunset
Chasing a sunset,
Trying to catch its tail.
Up a trail, down a trail,
Before it scurries away.
From today’s trail run.
More Afternoon Daylight!
If you live in the Los Angeles area and do your weekday trail runs in the afternoon, you have reason to cheer — today the sun will set a little later. You can run (slightly) longer before you start to stumble on those unseen rocks.
According to the Astronomical Applications Dept. of the U. S. Naval Observatory, yesterday in Los Angeles the sun set at 4:44 p.m., and today it will set at 4:45 p.m.
The more northerly your latitude, the later the date before the afternoon begins to lengthen. This year, in Miami it was back on December 4, and in Seattle it will be on December 17. In Anchorage it won’t be until December 19. Barrow, Alaska won’t see a sunset (or sunrise) until January 23!
Gradually at first, afternoons continue to lengthen until July 5, when once again the amount of afternoon daylight slowly begins to shorten.
The Hill Climbing Helper
Trail runners, do you suffer the embarrassment of continually being passed on hills? Legs aren’t what they used to be? You need the new Hill Climbing Helper®.
The Hill Climbing Helper’s portability is the key! The Hill Climbing Helper® may look heavy, and it is, but that’s part of the genius of its design.
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Can be used on all your favorite trail runs!
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Fits most hills!
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More effective than elliptical or stair-climbing machines!
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Increases safety. Eliminates fear of slipping or falling.
Includes 10 stairs and 2 hand rails. Constructed of the finest oil field steel – it will last for decades!
You’ll notice the HCH difference on your first run!
(From today’s run of the Las Llajas loop.)
Related post: Chumash-Las Llajas Loop
Sunset Shower
Some outstanding evening runs this week. Did a FiveFingers run out at Ahmanson on Tuesday, and as sometimes happens this time of year, didn’t make it back before dark. Was up on Lasky Mesa in the fading light, with endorphins at full flow. In a distant grove oaks I could hear a Great Horned Owl, and with each hoot-whoo it seemed the zeal of the day was turning to the tranquility of the night. The running was effortless and ethereal.
This evening’s run was also superb. Over the course of the run, the skies had become increasingly gray and troubled, as a weak cold front approached the area. Climbing a long hill, the light was dank, and I had given up on the sun. But as I neared the crest of the hill, orange-red sunlight began to illuminate the clouds from below, highlighting a sunset shower. Large, cold rain drops began to patter around me, and I watched mesmerized, as the light, clouds, and rain played on the sky.