Prickly poppy (Argemone munita) in upper Cheeseboro Canyon.
From today’s run of the Cheeseboro Canyon keyhole loop, starting from the Victory trailhead of Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (formerly Ahmanson Ranch).
Here’s a Google Earth image of a GPS trace of the loop, and links to trail maps for Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve and Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons.
Mammoth Mountain reports more than a foot of snow fell over the Memorial Day weekend but that translated to cool, puffy white clouds and blue sky weather in the Los Angeles area, seldom seen this late in May.
Taking advantage of the great weather on Sunday my son and I ran the Garapito figure-eight course in Topanga State Park. We did a slight variation that climbs Eagle Rock before descending the Garapito Trail.
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s revised state budget, released May 14, rescinded the funding cuts that would have closed 48 California state parks, including Topanga State Park. For now, it appears these state parks will remain open.
Some related posts: Eagle Rock Silhouette, Eagle Rock and Clouds
View of Grasslands and Talepop trails in Malibu Creek State Park from the Las Virgenes View Trail. The Talepop Trail is on the ridge in the middle distance. The Grasslands Trail runs along the base of the hill.
Along with the Chumash Trail to Rocky Peak Rd., the Secret Trail to Calabasas Peak is one of my favorite local short trail runs. The two mile route to the peak is a mix of single track and dirt road that gains about 750′ in elevation.
The trail winds its way through shaded ravines, dense chaparral and sandstone outcrops to Calabasas Peak Motorway. This fire road is followed south about half a mile to a use trail (on the right) that follows a ridge to the summit. It’s also possible to continue higher up the road and access the summit from the south. There is a survey marker (actually two) on the summit.
Here’s a Google Earth image showing the summit area, and a Google Earth KMZ file of a GPS trace of my route.
Calabasas Peak Motorway continues down to Stunt Rd. and connects to the Stunt High Trail and points beyond. Here’s what Calabasas Peak looks like from the Backbone Trail near Saddle Peak.
Related posts: Tapia Bound, A Long Run Kind of Day
View across Blind Canyon to Oat Mountain from the Rocky Peak fire road. At one time slated to become a Los Angeles County landfill, Blind Canyon is now part of Rocky Peak Park.
From an out and back run on Rocky Peak Road to the top of the Chumash Trail.
Related post: San Fernando Valley from Rocky Peak
Google search: $g(Rocky Peak), $g(Blind Canyon), $g(landscape photography)
A segment of the Satwiwa Loop Trail at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park, California.
From Sunday’s run/hike over Boney Mountain.
Google search: $g(landscape photography), $g(trail running)