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

From Sunday's San Gabriels High Five run and hike.

When considering where I might run this weekend, the words "snow" and "altitude" had a certain appeal. Record high temperatures had been set in the Los Angeles area on Friday and Saturday, and there was little doubt that more temperature records would fall today.

The greens of Southern California's rain season have given way to the sun burnished colors of Summer.

Increasing temperatures over the next few days should also result in an increase in rattlesnake encounters, such as this one today on the "main drag" at Ahmanson Ranch (Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve).

Note: Jon Sutherland nicknamed the main road that connects the Victory trailhead to Las Virgenes Canyon the "main drag." Jon has run out at Ahmanson for more than 30 years. He is second on the Running Streak List for most consecutive days run. As of March 1, 2008 his streak was 14,160 consecutive days (38 years 281 days)!

Related posts: Southern California Greenscape

Cooper Canyon Falls is in the San Gabriel Mountains on a segment of the PCT that is shared with the Burkhart Trail. It is on one of the main tributaries of Little Rock Creek. Including the cascade at the top, Cooper Canyon Falls drops a total of about 50 ft.

From Sunday's run/hike of the Pleasant View Ridge loop.

Technorati Tags: San Gabriel Mountains, waterfalls, PCT, Pacific Crest Trail

A small patch of snow crunched under foot as I worked my way west along Pleasant View Ridge. Overnight the temperature had dropped below freezing, and careful route-finding was required to work around icy patches of steep snow clinging to the ridge. In other years this might be tedious, but after last year's parched Spring, it was enjoyable to have to wind my way through the maze of rocks, trees, chinquapin and snow.

Most of the snow could be avoided by staying on the sunny side of the ridge. but in a couple of places it was easier to drop down and around large patches of snow on the north side of the ridge. The snow was rock hard, and I wondered if the descent from the highest point along the ridge was going to be a problem. There was little doubt that the north slope of peak 8248 would be snow covered. If the snow extended to the northwest ridge and face, I might have to turn back.

Fortunately, as the photograph above shows, most of the ridge was free of snow, and I was able to continue on the loop. It was great to have snow on the peaks and water in the creeks!

Related posts: Pleasant View Ridge, Peaks Along Pleasant View Ridge

Technorati Tags: Pleasant View Ridge, trail running, San Gabriel Mountains

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

Technorati Tags: Rocky Peak, Blind Canyon, landscape photography

From a run in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (formerly Ahmanson Ranch).

Technorati Tags: landscape photography

I was headed home from a whitewater slalom training camp on the Kern River, and wanted to take advantage of being in the Southern Sierra and run an unfamiliar section of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Yes, it was windy and there were lenticular clouds in the lee of the Sierra, which meant it might get REALLY windy. No, I didn't have my regular trail shoes or a hydration pack. Yep, there was some snow on the north side of the peaks on either side of the highway.

A segment of the Satwiwa Loop Trail at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park, California.

From Sunday's run/hike over Boney Mountain.

Technorati Tags: landscape photography, trail running

Clouds still covered the rocky summit of Boney Mountain as we scrambled up the steep trail on its northern flank. A few hours before a weak front had passed through the area, thickening the clouds and generating a few showers.

Now the clouds were lifting and dissipating, and the just-bathed chaparral glistened in the intermittent sun. This morning, like many mornings in recent weeks, was remarkable. The mountains were alive with the color and vitality of Spring. Purple shooting stars and wild hyacinth adorned the trail, and groves of manzanita and red shanks shone electric green in the warm light.

What better way to begin a day?

Related post: Boney Mountain - Big Sycamore Canyon Circuit

Technorati Tags: landscape photography, trail running, Boney Mountain, red shanks

The Cheeseboro Ridge keyhole loop is a slightly shorter variation of the Ahmanson - Cheeseboro Canyon keyhole loop described in the post Valley Oak Savannah. Since it ascends the Cheeseboro Ridge Trail, instead of descending Cheeseboro Canyon, the ridge route has a bit more elevation gain.

Cheeseboro Ridge separates Las Virgenes Canyon and Cheeseboro Canyon and on a clear day the views are invigorating. Running the ridge is particularly enjoyable in the Spring when temps are cool and the hills are green. In the heat of summer, the surface of the road develops a powder-like layer of silty dust and the experience isn't nearly so pleasant.

If starting at the Victory Trailhead of Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, the length of the run is about 12.75 miles with an elevation gain and loss of about 1600 ft. Here's a Google Earth image and Google Earth KMZ file of a GPS trace of the route, and links to trail maps for Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve and Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons.