nature, photography, photography|landscape, running, trails, trails|topanga state park

The Heavenly Ranch in the Hills

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Trippet Ranch from Eagle Springs Fire Road

At one time the homestead of a beekeeper, and later the getaway home of US Judge Oscar A. Trippet, Sr., Trippet Ranch was one of the land purchases associated with the creation of Topanga State Park in the early seventies. Apparently Judge Trippet’s son enjoyed the natural setting of this ranch in the hills, and when he inherited the property, gave it the name “Rancho Las Lomas Celestiales.”



Running through the oaks in the early morning with sunlight filtering through the trees, and mule deer grazing quietly feet from the trail, it’s easy to see how he might have been inspired to give Trippet Ranch such a name.

Today’s run to Trippet Ranch is one of several trail runs I enjoy doing that start at Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, and end by running the Garapito and Bent Arrow trails. This particular run is a 12.2 mile serpentine route that takes fire roads out to Trippet Ranch, and then single track trails back to Mulholland near the top of Reseda. Here’s an interactive Cesium browser View of a GPS trace of the route.

For more information about the history of Trippet Ranch and Topanga State Park, see the Park History page on the Topanga Canyon Docents web site.

Related post: Garapito Trail Runs

nature, photography, photography|landscape, running, running|adventures, trails, trails|pt mugu state park

Western Rim of Boney Mountain

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Western rim of Boney Mountain

The plan had been to do a run similar to last week’s Serrano Valley run, with more of an emphasis on distance, than elevation gain. As I worked up the long switchbacks on the Old Boney Trail I debated the benefits and disadvantages of more — or less — elevation gain. Just two weeks before the Bandit 50K would additional elevation gain hurt or help in that hilly race?



It really didn’t matter. Now was now, and the race was a distant two weeks away. The route up the westernmost of Boney Mountain’s two north ridges was one of my favorites — especially when the weather was clear and the views from the mountain were far reaching. I’d done the Old Boney Trail last week. This week I’d hang a left at the ridge and go up and over the peak.

Anticipating a warm day I’d left my pull-on sleeves in the car. Bad choice. Strong Santa Ana winds scoured the ridge, and the weak morning sun was lukewarm at best. The thick chaparral and tall rock formations provided some protection from the wind, but from time to time the trail would emerge onto a rocky prominence or exposed ridge and remind me just how cold 60 degrees can be!



Contrary to experience, the wind moderated a little as I worked up the ridge. It was still very windy, but the buffeting winds I’d expected at the saddle north of Tri Peaks didn’t happen. Even so, it felt great to work around the east side of Tri Peaks and into the full sun on the south side of the peak! The change in the “feels like” temperature must have been 25 degrees! It would be shorts and short-sleeves comfortable for the remainder of the run.

As it turned out the elevation gain going up and over Boney Mountain and down the Chamberlain Trail wasn’t that much more than the up, down, up route along the Old Boney Trail — and the running was oh so good down the recently repaired Chamberlain/Backbone trail!

Some related posts: Boney Mountain Morning, Conejo Valley Sun and Boney Mountain Clouds

nature, nature|clouds, nature|weather, photography, photography|landscape, running, trails, weather, weather|southern california

Satwiwa Shadows & Sun

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Satwiwa from Danielson Rd.

By the time I reached Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa at the end of last Sunday’s wet run to Serrano Valley and back, the frontal band was mostly done with its showers and was speeding to the east. In its wake were blustery winds, broken clouds, and a dynamic patchwork of sun and shadow on Satwiwa’s spectacularly green landscape.

nature, nature|weather, photography, photography|landscape, running, running|adventures, trails, weather, weather|southern california

Showery Sunday

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Boney Mountain from the Old Boney Trail

Boney Mountain from the Old Boney Trail

It started to sprinkle as I walked from my car to the Wendy Drive trailhead. In a matter of minutes the sprinkles turned to a light, but steady rain, and the Satwiwa trail started to become slick with mud. The rainy weather would continue through most of my run in Pt. Mugu State Park.



It was wet today, but today’s rain was the first in Southern California in nearly a month. Southern California was very wet from October through December, but the storm door from the Pacific into California slammed shut in early January. The weeks of wet weather followed by weeks of warm, dry weather has the plant communities of the Santa Monica Mountains thinking it’s Spring.

Among the flowers blooming along the Old Boney and Serrano Valley trails were paintbrush, encelia, milkmaids, phlox, shooting star, nightshade, wild cucumber, canyon sunflower, deerweed, and bigpod ceanothus. But more than the plants have responded. On January 17, trail runner Howard Cohen took this video of a sizable rattlesnake on the Old Boney Trail!

Some related posts: Serrano Valley from Wendy Drive, Serrano Valley from the Chamberlain Trail

nature, nature|clouds, nature|weather, photography, photography|landscape, weather

Oak, Hill & Wave Clouds

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Mountain wave clouds

These mountain wave clouds were produced by north-northeast winds blowing across the generally east-west oriented mountain ranges north and northwest of Los Angeles. The clouds form near the crests of the undulating airflow downwind of the mountains.

The cirrus veils trailing downwind from the clouds are comprised of ice crystals. There was little shear, so the wisps and sheets of cirrus are aligned with the wind and perpendicular to the long axis of the cloud. Compare to the cirrus veil of these lenticular clouds, also formed by north-northeast winds, but which were being sheared by northwesterly winds.

From a trail run at Ahmanson Ranch on Thursday.

Photography and inspiration from running and other adventures in the Open Space and Wilderness areas of California, and beyond. No ads. All content, including photography, is Copyright © 2006-2025 Gary Valle. All Rights Reserved.