The flash of turquoise is so intense it is startling. The Mountain Bluebird flitters past, landing on a knobby plate of peppered Sierra granite. Its color is remarkable, without question a product of the mountains and the sky.

Nearby a yellow-bellied marmot waddles to a favored rock and watches us with a mix of reproach, curiosity and concern. Patience exhausted, he scurries into his den.

The wind is light and the sun bright. At 12,000 feet it is comfortably cool -- a perfect day for flying along the crest, scrambling among the rocks, or running a trail.

What better place to be on a fair Fall day than high in the Sierra?

Related posts: Siberian Outpost & Mt. Kaweah from the PCT, Cottonwood - New Army Pass Loop

It is everywhere.

From today's run in the Simi Hills, exactly as I found it, but not how I left it.

Started the weekend with an exhilarating Morning Run in the Santa Monica Mountains near Saddle Peak, and wrapped it up with another enjoyable run, the Chumash - Hummingbird loop in the Santa Susana Mountains.

Prior to the start of a controversial condo development near Happy Face Hill, the Chumash - Hummingbird loop was a favorite of mountain bikers and trail runners. According to an article in the Simi Valley Acorn, the original developer abandoned the project in 2008, and the land was recently purchased by a new developer.

Hopefully any new construction plans will continue to include a trail connection from the Chumash trailhead on Flanagan Dr. to the Hummingbird trailhead on Kuehner Dr.

The title photo is a view west from Rocky Peak road, past Simi Valley to Boney Mountain.

Related post: Chumash-Hummingbird Loop

From this morning's run on the Secret Trail, Calabasas Motorway, and the Stunt High Trail, in the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles.

Click for interactive view using Google Earth plug-in.

Updated October 7, 2009. Added Sheep Fire Perimeter from GEOMAC and the approximate eastern boundary of the Station Fire Closure Area.

Here's an interactive Google Earth browser view of the approximate areas burned by the Station (2009), Sheep (2009), Morris (2009), Curve (2002), and Williams (2002) fires. The Station, Sheep and Morris fire perimeters are from the GEOMAC web site, and the Curve and Williams perimeters are from the CDF/FRAP web site.

The magenta line is the approximate eastern boundary of the Station Fire Closure Area as derived from Angeles National Forest Order No. 01-08-09, Exhibit A and Exhibit B. Please refer to the most current Forest Orders and Exhibits for official information.

GPS traces of some trail runs inside and outside the Station Fire area have been added, along with links to related photos and stories on PhotographyontheRun.com. Click on the green hiker icon to access the link.

The view also includes a partial track of the Pacific Crest Trail (2009 ver. 1) from the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail web site.

Some placenames have also been added --the locations should be considered approximate.

This is a 3D view that can be panned, zoomed and tilted. See this help file for more info.

Related post: Station Fire MODIS Fire Detections

The second and third weeks of September is the time I'm most likely to encounter tarantulas in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (formerly Ahmanson Ranch). Autumn is when maturing male tarantulas emerge from their burrows and wander in search of a mate.

This tarantula (Aphonopelma spp.)  was found near upper Las Virgenes Creek on today's wonderfully cool 8 mile "FiveFingers" run.

I've run past this fallen Jeffrey Pine a number of times. It's in an area of downed trees located on the western end of the Vincent Tumamait Trail, near Cerro Noroeste road. The trees probably fell after being killed by a fire. It's a relatively large tree, and I've always wondered about its age.

A rough count of the growth rings gives an approximate age of 200 years. The tree ring sequence shows periods of fast growth, associated with above normal precipitation; and periods of slow growth, associated with drought.

Some related posts: Downed Trees Near Mt. Abel, Vincent Tumamait Trail

Runners Descending the Devil's Backbone on Mt. Baldy

It's a lot more fun working with gravity, than against it! For many runners, the run down from the summit of Mt. Baldy is as much a part of the Run to the Top experience as the race up.

Grueling sections of trail are effortlessly retraced, and there is more of an opportunity to enjoy the Devil's Backbone, and other spectacular sections of trail. Those needing more mileage skip the chair lift ride down from the Notch, and continue down the service road, following the route of the race.

Related post: Mt. Baldy Run to the Top 2009

The weather for the 44th edition of the Mt. Baldy Run to the Top was nearly identical to last year, with clear blue skies and temps in the 50's.

The Station Fire could be seen from the top of Mt. Baldy, but with the wind from the southwest, the smoke was blowing elsewhere.

This challenging mountain run gains about 3800 feet over 7 miles, starting at the bottom of the Mt. Baldy ski lift parking lot and ending on the summit of 10,064' Mt. Baldy. Here's a Google Earth browser view of a GPS trace of the course.

This year the men's overall winner was Jonathan Toker in a time of 1:12:11, and the women's overall winner was Hannah Valenzuela in a time of 1:26:03. For all of the results see the Run to the Top web site. Many thanks to the race organizers, volunteers, USFS, Mt Baldy Ski Lifts and the Mt. Baldy Fire Department for a great race!

Related post: Mt. Baldy Run to the Top 2007

Was looking to do something different that my usual suite of weekday runs, and possibly escape the heat of the San Fernando Valley and the smoke of the Station Fire.

Didn't escape the heat or the smoke, but did get in a good 8 mile out & back run on the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.

This run is a shorter version of a 13 mile run that starts at Piuma Rd. & Malibu Cyn. Rd. and ascends Saddle Peak. The turnaround point for the 8 mile version is at a saddle marked by a broken fence post, about a mile before the Stunt High Trail junction.

Related post: Saddle Peak

See links below for most recent image

Also see: Interactive Google Earth View of the Area Burned by the Station Fire.

Updated 09/09/09 11:00 a.m. Added GEOMAC perimeter dated September 9, 2009 2:00 a.m. to MODIS 1km fire detections as of September 9, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT.

These Google Earth images of MODIS 1km fire detections gives a general idea of the extent of Station Fire. Includes most recent fire perimeter available from GEOMAC at the time the graphic was created:

September 9, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT

September 8, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT - September 7, 2009 at 4:00 a.m. PDT - September 6, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT

September 5, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT - September 4, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT - September 3, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT

September 2, 2009 at 7:00 a.m. PDT - September 1, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT - August 31, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT

Fire detection KML files were generated by the USDA Forest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program. Some additional place names have been added -- locations are approximate.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE KML FILES:

CONUS MODIS 1km Fire Detections

This KML displays the MODIS fire detections at a spatial resolution of 1km for the past 12 hours, 12-24 hours and the previous 6 day period. Each 1km MODIS fire detection is depicted as a point representing the centroid of the 1km pixel where the fire is detected. The 1km footprint of the MODIS pixel for each detection is also displayed.

KML file generated by the USDA Forest Service MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program. Please see http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us for additional fire mapping products and information.

Disclaimer: Although these data have been used by the USDA Forest Service, the USDA Forest Service shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. The information contained in these data is dynamic and is continually updated. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. Using the data for other than their intended purpose may yield inaccurate or misleading results. The USDA Forest Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the USDA Forest Service, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the utility of the data on another system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. The USDA Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update or modify this data and related materials without notification.

Tree, trail, and clouds on the Vincent Tumamait Trail, near Mt. Pinos.

From today's out and back run from the Chula Vista parking lot on Mt. Pinos to Mt. Abel.

Some related posts: Chumash Wilderness Trail Run, Mt. Pinos - Mt. Abel Out & Back, Vincent Tumamait Trail