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

It's been late February since Southern California has had a good soaking rain. As of May 1, the water year rainfall total for Downtown Los Angeles (USC) stands at 13.42 inches. This is 90% of the 1921-2006 average of 14.87 inches. According to the NWS 1921-2006 dataset, the average amount of precipitation in May and June is 0.3 inch and 0.1 inch, respectively. We'll see if we get that much this year!

La Niña appears to be winding down.  In it's April 30 ENSO Wrap-Up, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology characterizes Pacific climate patterns as being generally neutral, "with the majority of indicators returning to near-normal levels." The April 28 ENSO Update from the CPC suggests that La Niña will continue through May-July 2008, but many of the factors discussed indicate general weakening of La Niña. Based on the ONI and MEI, La Nina conditions have existed since about August of 2007.

The photograph of the sun-parched mustard leaf is from a run at Ahmanson Ranch on April 29, 2008.

Technorati Tags: la nina, Los Angeles weather

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

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

Technorati Tags: landscape photography

Hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea) at Sage Ranch Park, near Simi Valley, California. From a run earlier this week.

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Canyon sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides) tends to grow along cooler sections of chaparral trail. Its rich green leaves and yellow composite flowers are a refreshing sight on a thirsty run.

This canyon sunflower is on a north facing section of the Chumash Trail at an elevation of about 2350 ft. The canyon sunflower population in this area expanded following the 2003 Simi Fire.

On a separate note, it's that time of year again -- at the end of my run this Southern Pacific Rattlesnake was in the street at the Chumash Trailhead on Flanagan Drive in Simi Valley, California.

Related post: Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

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2002 World Champion and 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Rebecca Giddens S-turns through a red "up" gate while racing in the T.J. Slalom at the 2007 Kern River Kayak & Raft Festival.

A whitewater slalom course consists of a series of red gates and green gates that are paddled sequentially through a set of rapids. The paddler must pass through red gates moving in the upstream direction, and green gates moving downstream. Racers are timed, and a 2 second penalty is added for each gate that is touched, and a 50 second penalty added for each gate that is missed.

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 Savanna. 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.

Indian warrior's varying tones of carmine contrast sharply with its lush green leaves and create a striking combination of colors when seen along a trail. Surprisingly, it is the green of its leaves that is one of its interesting features.