Category Archives: trails|smmc open space

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

New Year’s Eve Harbinger of Rain

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Foretelling the approach of a system forecast to bring wet weather to some areas north of Pt. Conception New Year’s Day, and Los Angeles Sunday, this thick cirrus cloud shield is associated with the circulation around a low a few hundred miles off the Pacific Northwest coast.

Wednesday’s cold front, the latest in a series of surprisingly frequent December weather systems, increased the water year rainfall total at Downtown Los Angeles (USC) to 11.70 inches. As of today, L.A.’s rainfall total is about 8 inches above normal, and more than three times the normal amount of rainfall for the water year to date. For the first six months of the 2010-11 water year, the rainfall total for Downtown Los Angeles is the fourth wettest in the 133 years that records have been kept. The water year starts on July 1 and ends June 30.

The photograph is from today’s run on the Chumash Trail and Rocky Peak Road, northwest of Los Angeles. It was cold on the north facing sections of trail that don’t see the sun this time of year. Inch long needle ice crystals had formed along the margins of the trail in several places.

photography, photography|landscape, photography|trail running, running, running|adventures, trails, trails|smmc open space, weather, weather|southern california

Christmas Eve Trail Run

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As much rain as we’ve had in Southern California, we’ve still seen some stunning December days with blue skies, pleasant temperatures, and sensational trail running.



Today I was running with Frank and Lynn. They’re visiting from the Pacific Northwest, where the amount of rain has been more or less normal, and spending Christmas in Southern California, where — you know — we’ve had the wettest December in 121 years.

More rain was forecast for late Christmas Day, but today we were between storms. To celebrate the wonderful Christmas Eve weather we did the 21 mile Will Rogers – Temescal loop from Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park in the San Fernando Valley.



The run is a Santa Monica Mountain classic, descending from the crest of the range along one long ridge nearly to the coast, and then ascending back to the crest on another. The views along the ridges are boundless, encompassing the Ventura Mountains, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Saddleback, downtown Los Angeles, Westwood, Santa Monica, Catalina and more.

Today, the high peaks east of the basin were capped by new snow, and in addition to Mt. Baldy, it was easy pick out San Bernardino Peak, far to the east. From near Skull Rock, Santa Monica Bay glittered in the sun, the shore of the Pacific extending in a graceful arc to Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina.

There were the usual muddy and wet sections that follow a good rainstorm, but other than one small rock and mud slide on the Rivas Canyon Trail, the trails were in surprisingly good shape. It was an outstanding run!

Some related posts: Will Rogers – Temescal Loop, Will Rogers Western Ranch House, Los Angeles Basin Fog

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

Sunny Sunday

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Upper Las Virgenes Canyon

Today was one of those spectacular, sunny, warm December days we relish in Southern California; perfect for just about any outdoor activity. High temperatures were forcast to be in the high 80’s or low 90’s, and temperature records for the date were expected to be broken in many areas. As I ran north in upper Las Virgenes Canyon, I wasn’t sure where, or how far, I was going to run. On such a great day, it really didn’t matter.

Yesterday I’d looked across at Simi Peak while ascending Ladyface, and realized it had been more than a year since I’d run to Simi Peak from the Victory trailhead at Ahmanson Ranch. Rain was forecast the following weekend, so I’d better take advantage of the good weather while I had it! The out and back run to Simi Peak would be a good one.



The most direct route to China Flat and Simi Peak from upper Las Virgenes Canyon road is the Sheep Corral Trail. This singletrack trail forks left (west) from the road where Las Virgenes Canyon splits, initially following the main creek west, rather than the pipeline north. The singletrack is popular with mountain bikers and can be used to connect to the Cheeseboro Ridge and Cheeseboro Canyon trails. Both of theses trails are good options for doing a lollipop loop back to Las Virgenes Canyon.

Today I would continue past Cheeseboro Ridge and Cheeseboro Canyon to the Palo Comado fire road. Palo Comado leads up and over a low pass to an old sheep corral at China Flat. Simi Peak is bit more than a mile west of the corral. It usually takes about 15-20 minutes to run there from the sheep corral.

Here’s an interactive Cesium browser View of a GPS trace of my out and back route.

Some related posts: Simi Peak Out & Back, Scenic Route to Simi Peak, Vernal Pool at China Flat

climbing, nature, photography, photography|landscape, trails, trails|smmc open space

Ladyface Loop

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Small crag east of the summit of Ladyface.

Like many good peaks that are mostly “walkups,” the ascent of Ladyface requires a bit of scrambling. By that I mean some use of the hands is required. And some care. Some of the rock is sound, and some of it isn’t. A few short sections on the frequently used east/southeast ridge are very loose and manky.

I like to do the 2.5 mile loop counterclockwise — ascending the northeast ridge, and descending the east/southeast ridge. The route generally follows the ridges, but the route-finding can be quirky in places.

Ladyface summit
Ladyface summit

The path up the northeast ridge doesn’t appear to be as popular as the east/southeast ridge route, but is cleaner overall. Sections of the northeast ridge are brushy, but no significant bushwhacking is required — if you stay on route. The northeast ridge ends a couple hundred feet below the top of the peak. A zig-zag path up the steep north face winds its way through knobby volcanic rocks to the summit.

The volcanic rocks on Ladyface include several components of the Conejo Volcanic Suite, and tell a story of volcanism associated with plate subduction, rifting, and continent-building.

If you don’t pay too much attention to the cars zooming along the 101 Frwy a thousand feet below, the Ladyface loop in Agoura Hills is one of the more scenic and interesting short hikes/climbs in Southern California.

The title photo is of a subsidiary crag, east of the summit of Ladyface. In the background is Saddle Peak, Malibu Creek State Park and Brent’s Mountain.

Related post: Ladyface the Long Way

photography, running, trails, trails|smmc open space

Cranking Up Las Llajas

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Connector from Las Llajas Canyon to Rocky Peak Rd.

Ran a variation of the Chumash-Las Llajas loop this morning. One of the reasons for the run was to check out one of the larger vernal ponds in the Rocky Peak area and see if it had water. It didn’t.

Another reason is the loop is part of the grueling Bandit 30K/50K course, and the February 20th race date will be here before we know it.

The hill the MTBers are cranking up covers about miles 12 to 13 on the Bandit 30K course, and follows a gradual — but long — uphill in Las Lajas Canyon that gains 600′ of elevation over 3 miles. It’s just one of the fun parts of a tough 30K course, and 50Kers get to do it twice!

Some related posts: Bandit 30K Course Preview, Running Rocky Peak Road, Bandit 30K 2009, Bandit Country

nature, nature|clouds, photography, photography|landscape, running, trails, trails|smmc open space

Simi Valley Open Space

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View northwest from Rocky Peak road in Rocky Peak Park.

The view is northwest from Rocky Peak road in Rocky Peak Park. In the distance is Marr Ranch Open Space, Tapo Canyon Regional Park, and Whiteface Open Space. The Ventura Mountains are shrouded in clouds.

From today’s out and back run from Chatsworth Oaks Park, near Chatsworth Reservoir, to “fossil point” on Rocky Peak road.