Found these mountain lion tracks on Rocky Peak Road while doing the Chumash – Las Llajas loop this morning. The pattern of the tracks suggest the animal was walking.
Based on how soft the ground was at the time the tracks were made I’m going to guess they were probably put down sometime after 1:00 AM Friday morning, while the ground was still saturated from rainfall. This would make them about two days old.
Some related posts: It’s Raining Mountain Lion Tracks!, A Bear on Rocky Peak Road?
This rain season has been another dry one in Southern California with many areas recording about one-third to one-half of the normal amount of rainfall.
I have not seen upper Las Virgenes Creek actually flowing any time this rain season. All the creek crossings in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon north of the Cheeseboro connector have been dry to damp all Winter.
Water is pooled in places along the creek, and one of the larger pools is at the creek crossing south of the Cheeseboro connector. I had to laugh when I ran down the hill and saw this pair of Mallards enjoying the pool.
From this afternoon’s run in the hills of El Escorpion Park in the west San Fernando Valley.
Coyotes are curious creatures. You can be nearly certain if one crosses your path, it will continue for a short distance, stop, turn, and watch you.
Recently I had another interesting coyote encounter. I was running along East Las Virgenes Canyon fire road in growing darkness, hoping to make it back to the Victory trailhead before it was completely dark.
I don’t know if I heard something, but for some reason I stopped running and listened. There was a small gully full of brush to my right that intersected the dirt road. In a moment or two I heard a growing rustling coming up the gully. I was transfixed. It sounded as if some huge animal was coming toward me.
The rustling grew louder and louder and the brush began to shake, showing the progress of the creature. It all happened before I had time to react, and even if I could have reacted I don’t know what I would have done!
All of a sudden one coyote and then another exploded from the brush. The first crossed direcly in from of me in a full gallop and the second took flight, making an impossible flying bound across the road and up the roadcut on the opposite side.
As quickly as they had appeared, they were gone, and the canyon was quiet again.
Some related posts: Coyote Tag, Coyote Tag II
Bandit 50K Runners Descending the Chumash Trail
If my training goal was to be running on spent legs, I had achieved that goal. I was at mile 22 of the Bandit 50K and trying to run up Las Llajas Canyon. On paper (or LCD display) Las Llajas is a gradual climb, gaining a modest 600 feet in a little more than 3 miles. But on dirt and in reality it is an onerous climb that numbs the mind and makes you mumble to yourself, “Why can’t I run up this thing any faster?”
Since early December I’d been doing extra training to prepare for the Coyote Backbone Trail Ultra at the end of March. Part of the training plan was to combine the Ray Miller 50K and Bandit 50K with other runs to increase the mileage. I had been following the usual training tenants and trying to vary the types of workouts, the mileage and intensity. So far it had all gone well, but the miles were adding up.
Early in the race I’d taken it easy — especially up the insanely steep “Corridor Trail.” But some trail running temptations can’t be resisted and I had pushed the pace going down the Chumash Trail — one of my favorite trails. Even if that was one of the reasons I was struggling a bit going up Las Llajas, it was worth it.
The new out and back from Las Llajas Canyon to Tapo Canyon was so much better than doing the Chumash-Las Llajas loop twice! The running was varied and challenging; plus we were able to marvel at the race leaders, and share the experience with many more runners! Chris Price and several other runners looked strong cranking it up out of Chivo Canyon. Averaging just a little over 8 minute miles, Chris went on to break the Bandit 50K record he set in 2011, doing the new (and longer) course in an amazing 4:10:23!
The weather forecast had looked a bit iffy earlier in the week — iffy hot in this case. But temps had cooled by about 10 degrees in 24 hours, and today the weather was excellent. It was on the warm side on a couple of the climbs, but nowhere near what it can sometimes be on a warm Winter’s day in Southern California.
After an indeterminate time I made it up Las Llajas Canyon to the split and started climbing up the steep oilfield road that connects to Rocky Peak Road. Part way up I was extremely disappointed to see that my Hill Climbing Helper® wasn’t where I left it. This made me even slower going up the hill.
Once the last hard climb to Fossil Point is done it doesn’t take long to get to the Chumash Aid Station. Rolling terrain leads from there to the top of the Rocky Peak grade at about mile 27. From there it is nearly all downhill to the Finish.
More than 450 runners participated in the 5th edition of the Bandit Trail Runs, competing at distances that ranged from 6K up to 50K. Many thanks to the Bandit race committee — Randy, Sarita, Larry, Tommi, Mat and Eric — and all the Bandit volunteers, sponsors and runners.
According to my GPS tracks the 2013 50K course was about 3/4 of a mile longer than the 2011-12 course and had slightly more elevation gain/loss. Here’s an interactive Google Earth Flyover and Elevation Profile of the new 50K course. The flyover is interactive and can be paused and restarted at any point. You can rotate, zoom, and tilt the view. Mileages and locations are approximate and based on my 50K GPS track. The Google Earth plugin is available for most desktop browsers.
Note: The Bandit Trail Runs event is now Rocky Peak Trails.
Here are few additional photos. Click the image for more info and a larger image.
 Steep Climb |
 Corridor Trail |
 30K Leader |
 Low on Hot Dog Hill |
 Working Up Hot Dog Hill |
 Returning from Tapo |
Some related posts: Bandit 50K 2011 Notes, Bandit 30K 2009
Even if landmarks didn’t give away the southerly position of the sun, the leafless valley oak, green grass, and the dynamic nature of the clouds all say “Winter!”
From a run last week in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, better known as Ahmanson Ranch.