From this evening's run.

This is one of my favorite medium length trail runs in the Santa Monica Mountains. It starts at the Ray Miller trailhead and explores the scenic grasslands of the Serrano and La Jolla Valleys. Along the way there are spectacular ocean and mountain vistas from the Ray Miller Trail and the summit of Mugu Peak.

Most of the route is on single track trail, and except for a short out & back segment to "The Ranch" in Serrano Valley, it is a complete loop of about 20 miles. Many variations are possible.

One of the better online maps I've found of the area is an Interagency Trail Management Map produced by the NPS Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area GIS Lab. It shows the status of trails and public lands in the Santa Monica Mountains and is broken into three parts: West - Central - East. Additional NPS SMMNRA trail management plan maps include Proposed Backbone Trail Facilities and Trails and Proposed Regional Trails.

Here is a Google Earth browser view of a GPS trace of our route from the Ray Miller trailhead and through Serrano and La Jolla Valleys.

Related post: Serrano Valley - La Jolla Valley Loop, Serrano Valley from the Chamberlain Trail

Early morning sunlight filters through the oaks and sycamores in upper Las Virgenes Canyon.

From today's run of Cheeseboro Ridge from El Scorpion Park at the west end of Vanowen in the San Fernando Valley.

The San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Mountains from near Castle Peak. The major street extending across the valley is Sherman Way.

From today's trail run to Castle Peak.

Chasing a sunset,
Trying to catch its tail.
Up a trail, down a trail,
Before it scurries away.

From today's trail run.

Got caught in some showers this afternoon on Rocky Peak, returning from a rambling trail run from the San Fernando Valley over into Simi Valley.

This was one of those "not sure where I'm going" runs that unfolded as it progressed. It started near Chatsworth Reservoir at Chatsworth Oaks Park, worked over to Santa Susana State Historic Park, then up the Old Stagecoach Road. At the top of the old Stagecoach Road, I picked up the Upper Stagecoach Trail and followed that to Santa Susana Pass and the 118 Frwy. From there it was a short distance down the west side of Santa Susana Pass Rd. to the Lower Stagecoach Trail, which took me to Corriganville.

Once down in Simi Valley there are four trails that ascend to Rocky Peak road, and my return route. From the shortest to the longest, they are the Wildlife Corridor trail, Hummingbird Trail, Chumash Trail and the Marrland/Las Llajas trail. Not sure how long it would take to get back to the SFV, I finally decided on the Chumash Trail.

Running up the Chumash Trail, the wind picked up, the clouds began to lower and thicken, and the temperature dropped. Minutes after turning right onto Rocky Peak road the showers began, and it wasn't long before the sleeves came out of the pack.

The return trip, with a net elevation loss, went a little quicker than expected. Next time I'll have to give the Las Llajas option a try. That would extend the run from about 17 miles, to something over 20. The approximate elevation gain/loss on the 17 mile version was a little under 3000 ft.

Related post: Old Santa Susana Stage Road

If you live in the Los Angeles area and do your weekday trail runs in the afternoon, you have reason to cheer -- today the sun will set a little later. You can run (slightly) longer before you start to stumble on those unseen rocks.

According to the Astronomical Applications Dept. of the U. S. Naval Observatory, yesterday in Los Angeles the sun set at 4:44 p.m., and today it will set at 4:45 p.m.

The more northerly your latitude, the later the date before the afternoon begins to lengthen. This year, in Miami it was back on December 4, and in Seattle it will be on December 17. In Anchorage it won't be until December 19. Barrow, Alaska won't see a sunset (or sunrise) until January 23!

Gradually at first, afternoons continue to lengthen until July 5, when once again the amount of afternoon daylight slowly begins to shorten.

Early morning at Century Lake. From Sunday's Bulldog loop trail run in  Malibu Creek State Park.

Related post: Backbone, Bulldog & Beyond

Brents Mountain from Tapia Park.

From this morning's run of the Bulldog Loop in Malibu Creek State Park.

Some related posts: Malibu Creek State Park Shadow & Sun, Fog Along Malibu Creek, Bulldog Loop and the Corral Fire

Part of the appeal of climbing at Joshua Tree National Park is its vastness.

There are many excellent, and often busy, roadside climbs, but there are also remote areas such as The Galapagos and Queen Mountain that see far less activity. If you like to explore, and can get by without route topos and beta, these and other secluded areas of the Park offer a wilderness climbing experience of the highest grade.

The adventure isn't just in the climbing. On a Winter-shortened day it can be a real challenge just to get into an area, much less locate a particular route on a particular formation. Even if you're more or less in the right place, a targeted route might be difficult to find -- perhaps hidden in a corridor, or on a nearby group of rocks.

And there can be many distractions along the way. It's not unusual to stumble onto a "not in the guidebook" route -- maybe a stellar face or super-clean finger or hand crack -- that has to be climbed. Of unknown origin and difficulty, such routes are untarnished by preconceptions, and have been among the most rewarding I've done.

Inevitably, the shadows will be growing long and the temps cool, as you debate whether to try and get in another climb. There is still the minor matter of getting back to the car.

Trail runners, do you suffer the embarrassment of continually being passed on hills? Legs aren't what they used to be? You need the new Hill Climbing Helper®.

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• Increases safety. Eliminates fear of slipping or falling.

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You'll notice the HCH difference on your first run!

(From today's run of the Las Llajas loop.)

Related post: Chumash-Las Llajas Loop

Some outstanding evening runs this week. Did a FiveFingers run out at Ahmanson on Tuesday, and as sometimes happens this time of year, didn't make it back before dark. Was up on Lasky Mesa in the fading light, with endorphins at full flow. In a distant grove oaks I could hear a Great Horned Owl, and with each hoot-whoo it seemed the zeal of the day was turning to the tranquility of the night. The running was effortless and ethereal.

This evening's run was also superb. Over the course of the run, the skies had become increasingly gray and troubled, as a weak cold front approached the area. Climbing a long hill, the light was dank, and I had given up on the sun. But as I neared the crest of the hill, orange-red sunlight began to illuminate the clouds from below, highlighting a sunset shower. Large, cold rain drops began to patter around me, and I watched mesmerized, as the light, clouds, and rain played on the sky.