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After the 2021 Palisades Fire – Snake Tracks and Monkeyflowers

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Rattlesnake track on Eagle Springs Fire Road following the May 2021 Palisades Fire

The rattlesnake track above was one of several snake tracks on Eagle Springs Fire Road this morning. This area, which is below Eagle Rock in Topanga State Park, was severely burned in the May 2021 Palisades Fire.

This photo of a blooming bush monkeyflower in the same area underscores the resilience of the chaparral biome.

Update February 2, 2024. Bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida)  has become a prolific and dominant fire follower in this area.

Some related posts: Trippet Ranch Loop After the Palisades Fire, Palisades Fire Perimeter and Some Area Trails

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Trippet Ranch Loop After the 2021 Palisades Fire

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Laurel sumac crown sprouting along Eagle Springs Fire Road
Laurel sumac crown sprouting along Eagle Springs Fire Road

The 2021 Palisades Fire began the evening of May 14, 2021 in Santa Ynez Canyon, near Michael Lane in Pacific Palisades. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department Palisades Fire incident page, 1202 acres were burned, one firefighter was injured, 710 structures were threatened, but no structures were damaged or destroyed. The fire was fully contained on May 26.

Most of Topanga State Park was closed as a result of the fire. The Park reopened, with restrictions, on June 11. On June 13, I found myself chugging up the Garapito Trail toward Eagle Rock, and wondering what I was going to find.

I was doing a variation of one of my favorite trail runs in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains — the Trippet Ranch Loop.

This trail run links together several single-track trails and fire roads between Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park (Top of Reseda) and Trippet Ranch. With the addition of an out and back segment on the the Santa Ynez Canyon Trail, the route included all the trails impacted by the fire.

Here are a few photos taken along the way.

Some related posts: 2021 Palisades Fire Perimeter and Some Area Trails, Garapito Trail Runs, Trippet Ranch Loop Plus Temescal Peak

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Finally — a Few Wildflowers!

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Bush sunflower

As of March 1, Downtown Los Angeles had recorded only 1.99 inches rain over the past eight months. Most of that was recorded in one storm in early January. It was the second driest July 1 – February 28 on record.

Following the January storm, temperatures warmed up and stayed relatively warm for much of the next 30 days. In the West San Fernando Valley the high temperature hit 89 °F at Pierce College on February 4, and was over 80 °F for 12 consecutive days. Some plants (and some rattlesnakes) responded as if it was Spring.

In mid February Winter returned, with cool daytime temperatures and cold nights. There were Frost and Freeze Warnings on several nights.

In March the ridiculously resilient ridge of high pressure over the West Coast finally relented, resulting in above normal rainfall. It took awhile, but the March rain and April sun eventually produced an assortment of wildflowers.

Here are some wildflower photos from recent runs at Ahmanson Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park and Topanga State Park.

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Santa Monica Mountains: Morning Light

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Colors enriched by the early morning light and recent rain, this view of the Santa Monica Mountains is from near the Hub in Topanga State Park.

Colors enriched by the early morning light and recent rain, this view of the Santa Monica Mountains is from “Cathedral Rocks,” near the Hub in Topanga State Park. The rock formation in the distance is Eagle Rock.

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Sunrise and Clouds – Santa Monica Mountains

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The first rays of sunlight illuminate the ridge tops, fog and clouds in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The first rays of sunlight illuminate the ridgetops, fog and clouds in the Santa Monica Mountains, following an overnight rainstorm.

From Saturday’s run to Temescal Peak and through a very wet Garapito Canyon.