It's now been 17 days since there's been measurable rain at Downtown Los Angeles (USC). A trace of rain was recorded on a couple of days, but for the time being a big blocking ridge has shut the door on Pacific precipitation.

So far this January, only 0.58 of rain has been recorded, which is a little less than one-third of normal for the month. However, because of our frequent December storms the water year total at Los Angeles is currently about double the normal amount -- and why open space areas of Southern California have turned so lush and green.

What a difference 5 days makes! In the cold morning shadows before the start of the Boney Mountain race last Sunday, the dew on the fences was frozen and frost was everywhere. This morning in Corriganville Park the temperature was a balmy 65 or so, and the high was expected to be around eighty.

Today I was running the Bandit 30K course as part of a training run organized by Bandit 15K/30K/50K R.D. Randy Shoemaker. Good thing too. Even though these are my backyard trails, it reminded me just how tough these courses are. The numbers -- about 3300 ft. of gain/loss over 19.5 miles for the 30K -- don't tell the whole story.

The title photograph is of runners at the top of the Wildlife Corridor Trail. This gnarly trail links Corriganville Park to Rocky Peak Road, and it is just one of the special treats you'll encounter on the 15K, 30K and 50K courses. I don't know if it tougher going up, when your legs are fresh; or going down, when your legs are worked. From personal experience I know it is really easy to push too hard on this climb, and mutter to yourself, "Why did I do that?" for the remainder of the race.

Today, the conditions could not have been better. Well, if we're going to nitpick, maybe a little less wind. But who can complain on a January day when skies are blue, the hills are green, and the temperature is in the seventies?

At the start of my run East Las Virgenes Canyon was deep in shadow, and it was cold, cold, cold. At least by Southern California standards. But it would be warm enough, soon enough, and being a little chilly now would make the sun feel even better when I escaped from the canyon. The good news was the temperature was near freezing, and the muddy sections of dirt road in the canyon were mostly frozen.

I was doing a run I often do before a race, or when I want to back off the distance and elevation gain a bit -- a 13 mile route from the Victory trailhead at Ahmanson Ranch, through Cheeseboro Canyon. The route starts the same as the run to Simi Peak, but when you get to Shepherds Flat, you turn left (south) down Cheeseboro Canyon.

Picking up the pace to try and generate some warmth, it took about 30 minutes to get to Las Virgenes Canyon. In another 15 minutes or so, I had forked left off the dirt road onto the Sheep Corral Trail. This singletrack trail meanders through live oaks along upper Las Virgenes Creek before working up and over to Shepherds Flat.

For the first time in several years, this part of Las Virgenes Creek was flowing. The last time it had more than puddles of water was during the record setting El Nino rain season of 2004-2005. That year Downtown Los Angeles recorded more than twice it's normal amount of rainfall.

At the six mile point I reached the junction at Shepherds Flat and turned onto the Sulfur Springs Trail. With the exception of one very wet section, Cheeseboro Canyon was mostly in good shape. There was still some ice on the mud puddles in the lower part of the canyon.

Keeping my shoes mostly dry and mud free had become kind of a game, but a game I was destined to lose. When mud thaws it becomes incredibly sticky, and that happened on the connector that links Cheeseboro Canyon to Las Virgenes Canyon. It was like running in 5 lb. Hokas.

The worst of the unavoidable mud ended at Las Virgenes Canyon, and after another 30 minutes or so of dodging mud puddles, I was back at the Victory trailhead. It was a fun run and a great way to start the New Year.

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.

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

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 Google Earth 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

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 southeast ridge are very loose and manky.

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

The path up the northeast ridge doesn't appear to be as popular as the 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

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!

Here's a Google Earth flyover of the Bandit 30K course, created from a GPS trace of the 2010 race.

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

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.

The temperature was in the low fifties, but with a 20 mph wind it was cold. I had just run up the Chumash trail, and was on my way down. The sun was nearing the horizon and hidden by a band of clouds. It had been like that since I topped out at Rocky Peak road. I hoped by the time I reached a vantage point of Chumash Rocks the setting sun would break underneath the clouds and illuminate the formation.

Nope. When I reached the viewpoint, the rocks were still in shadow. And the wind was even stronger. Squeezed between two hills, it rushed through the little col in cold, turbulent gusts. Buffeted by the wind, and chilled to the bone, I waited for the sun.

And waited. It was too cold to just stand there. I took a few photos, but the sun and clouds were not cooperating. At some point, minutes away, the sun would set, and that would be that. The photo just wasn't going to happen. I returned to the trail and began to run down the hill.

In the lee of the hills the wind lessened, and it was not so cold. It was still a few minutes before sunset, and as I rounded a corner I could see a bright glow at the edge of the clouds.

I was several hundred yards down the trail when the first hint of sunlight appeared on a distant hill. It was veiled and muted, but it was sun. Maybe there was time. I turned and hurried back up the trail.

Ladyface from Heartbreak Ridge

I wasn't familiar with the routes on Ladyface, and wasn't certain I could get to the peak directly from the Heartbreak Ridge trail. But that's part of the fun of an adventure run. I had a general idea of what I wanted to do -- an out and back from the Phantom trailhead in Malibu Creek State Park to the top of Ladyface. And I had an idea of the time available to do it -- about four hours. The details would sort themselves out along the way.

Or at least that was the theory. It was now three in the afternoon, and I was one hour and 56 minutes into sorting out those details. Theoretically, I was supposed to be on the summit of Ladyface in about four minutes.

Earlier, I had run out of trail descending Heartbreak Ridge, and had used a network of coyote paths to get down to Cornell & Kanan roads. But then I chosen the wrong "trail" to start the climb of the peak.

For sure the route would follow one of the prominent ridges on the east side of the mountain. Since the descent of Heartbreak Ridge left me on the northeast side of the peak I had looked for a route there. One car was parked at the start of a dirt road, and a street vendor had indicated he'd seen people start the climb there. My thought was that maybe an established trail would work up the canyon and onto the northeast ridge.

Wrong Charlie Brown! The trail, which (ha!) turned out to be a freeride course, was a dead end. Following it burned about 10 minutes and a good chunk of elevation gain. I ran down and jumped up onto the northeast ridge, where I found a use trail.

Low on the ridge it looked like this trail might go to a subsidiary peak and not the true summit of Ladyface. Whatever it did, I was now short on time, and committed to this approach. I would follow it until either I ran out of time, or reached a summit.

The face was deep in shadow and wet from Friday night's rain. Still a couple hundred vertical feet below its top, I zig-zagged up through the steep outcrops of Conejo volcanic rock. It wasn't how I had pictured the trail on Ladyface, and I hadn't expected to be climbing on wet, mossy holds for the second weekend in a row.

Two hours and 3 minutes into the adventure I scrambled onto the summit. A surprised hiker asked, "Where did you come from?" I explained, and he commented, "I've never climbed Ladyface that way."

I jogged down the well-used, but somewhat manky trail on the southeast ridge, followed Kanan back to Cornell Rd., climbed back up Heartbreak Ridge, and made it back to the car a couple of minutes after five o'clock.

The face was not steep, but I was glad the pockmarked volcanic rock had big holds. Rainwater filled some of the pockets, and patches of lichen and moss on the face were saturated and slippery. It wasn't a runout climb at the Needles or Tuolumne Meadows, but gravity still worked the same way. I reminded myself not to do something "stoopid."

At the top of the face I looked around and sighed, and then looked around and sighed again. It was another stunning morning on the western ridge of Boney Mountain. To the west a nearly full moon struggled to remain above the hills, its brightness veiled in a mix of clouds. Another storm was expected in the evening, and the sky told of its approach. Broad strokes of cirrus brushed the blue above, and here and there fingers of tattered stratus reached into the coastal canyons and clung to the wet hillsides.

Today's forecast for the Santa Monica National Recreation Area had called for mostly cloudy skies, and a high in the 60s. At the moment it was mostly sunny, but already there were hints of clouds developing on the ridges and mountaintops. At some point in the day the clouds would envelop the mountains, and transform the morning's expansive vistas into a dimensionless gray. I hoped to get up the ridge, over Tri-Peaks, and to Sandstone Peak before that happened.

By chance the clouds behaved, and the splendid views and weather continued all the way to Sandstone Peak, and beyond. The run back to the Wendy Drive trailhead on the Backbone, Sycamore Canyon, and Upper Sycamore trails could not have been better.

As I climbed the final little hill to the parking area I noticed I had no shadow. Over the course of the afternoon the cloud deck would continue to lower and thicken, and by evening light rain would begin across the area.

Some related posts: Clouds and Crags, Conejo Valley Sun and Boney Mountain Clouds, Sandstone Peak from Wendy Drive