Hike 2012.043 -- Topanga State Park

Hiked Saturday, July 7. I took a long loop through the heart of Topanga State Park on Saturday: from Trippet Ranch, east and south on the Santa Ynez Canyon Trail, up and back to near the waterfall, then along Vereda Montura and Michael Lane, then north and east on Trailer Canyon Fire Road, then north on Temescal Ridge Trail, then west on Eagle Rock and Eagle Springs Fire Road, back to Trippet Ranch. Total mileage for the day would be approximately 11 miles; gross altitude gain would be about 1200 feet (net zero altitude change, of course).

I made another visit to Woodland Hills Camera and Telescope. To help justify the mileage, I combined it with another hiking trip. Saturday, I visited Topanga State Park. From the Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101), about 8 miles west of the San Diego Freeway (I-405), exit at Topanga Canyon Blvd (CA-27) and head south.

The first major inter-section is Ventura Blvd. There's a Ralph's, Rite Aid, Chipotle Grill, Subway, Starbuck's, and assorted other shops on the northeast corner of Ventura and Topanga Canyon, in case you need to stock up on provisions. Just south of that corner, on the the east side of Topanga, is Woodland Hills Camera, where I was visiting. About two blocks south of that is a another Starbuck's, also on the east side of the street. Unfortunately, there really aren't any conveniently accessible food places on the west side of the road.

After about 1 mile and a half, Topanga begins its climb up into the mountains. It's mostly one-lane from here.

A total of 8 miles south of U.S. 101 (just after mile marker 4.8--and note that the miles will decrease as you head south, reaching zero at the Pacific Coast Highway), you'll find Entrada Road, on your left. There's a sign announcing the approach of this entrance to Topanga State Park just before that turn, but there is no left-turn pocket to pull into, so you might want to turn your blinker on early and slow down as you round the turn, so the traffic behind you doesn't rear-end you.

You'll now be on an even narrower, windier road than the one you were on. After three miles, you reach the entrance to Topanga State Park. There's a ten dollar entry fee, though if you've joined the California State Parks Foundation, you can use one of your coupons to enter the park for free.

Alternatively, you can park with all four wheels completely outside the white limit line of Entrada Road somewhere outside the entrance station. It seems the vast majority of area visitors choose this option, though, since I had my coupons, I handed my little pass to the ranger at the gate and chatted with her for a few moments before pulling in to the more-than adequate parking lot.

Flush toilets, drinking fountains, and picnic tables are around the parking area. There's also a nature center, though I did not visit it.

The main trailhead is on the southeast end of the lot (that's a "by feel" direction; I didn't use a compass). That trail heads up the hill, and provides access to trails to Eagle Rock, Parker Mesa Overlook, and Santa Ynez Canyon. This trailhead would also get you on the east-bound Backbone Trail, clear over to Will Rogers State Historic Park.

The trail head on the northeast end of the lot could take you to Musch Camp or Dead Horse Trail. Dead Horse trail or Entrada Road itself seem to be official access points to the westbound Backbone Trail.

Once in the parking lot, I studied the map I just bought, as well as the Tom Harrison map of Topanga State Park, which I puchased during my visit to King Gillette Ranch, the headquarters/visitor center for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Both on the map and at the first trail signpost I saw, were the words, "Waterfall." I did not expect much, given the dry year and July date, but figured that was someplace worth checking out. So my initial plan was to hike down up to the crest, then take the Santa Ynez Trail to the waterfall. Then I though maybe I'd walk back up to the crest, then maybe take the trail to Parker Mesa Overlook.

However, I hate backtracking, so I ended up doing something different.

From the crest, I could see a thick bank of fog. I knew the ocean was beneath that, but could not see it.

After clearing the crest, it's mostly down hill, dropping in some areas quicker than others. Several trails that did not appear on my map were also passed. Eventually, however, I reached a marked junction, with an arrow pointing to "Waterfall." That was right about where I ran into six people with nets. No, not from the looney bin--hunting for butterflies.

From the sign, the trail drops into a dry stream bed (probably not dry in the early spring). The trail went both upstream and downstream from here. I assumed that my waterfall would be upstream, so I headed that way. Shortly, I passed a guy with a radio controlled Hummer. He was driving it up the dry stream bed. Yes, our state parks are used by all sorts for all sorts of recreation.

The trail crossed from one bank to the other several times. I felt like I headed up this way at lest 1/2 mile, perhaps 3/4 of a mile.

I came across a very thick growth of Humboldt lilies. That was cool. Previously, I had only seen them growing singlely, but here they grew 10-12 feet tall, and with a dozen blooms or more on each plant. Reeds were also here.

About 1/4 mile after this spot, I came to a spot where the trail seemed to climb unreasonably steeply up one of the banks. I decided that must be the end of the trail, so I dropped back down into the stream bed, and worked my way up another 100 yards or so, to a point where a couple of large boulders seemed to block the way. There was a small, 8-foot or so drop here, and water trickled down.

I walked to the barricade and peeked over. The boulders were on top of a sandstone base, which was weak, and made slick by the rushing water over the years. I tried a few footholds and hand holds. After a moment, I concluded that I could likely climb up this barrier safely, but I was also pretty sure that any attempt to climb back down would lead to a slip and a splash into the pool of water at the base.

I thought this was the actual waterfall. Seeing no obvious way around this barrier than going right over, and not seeing any evidence of a larger waterfall just beyond, I concluded (incorrectly) that this must be the waterfall.

I snapped a number of pictures, while a group of college-aged kids came up (they had earlier tried a route around this barrier, and turned around).

The taller of the two boys tried a few foot holds, then slipped into the pool. Uninjured, but wet.

He eventually did make it up to over the barrier, but I became even more convinced that going beyond this barrier would probably not end well.

While the kids were still poking around the barrier and deciding what to do, I returned back to the trail junction, then studied my map.

I saw that if I continued down this trail (rather than turning back up the Santa Ynez trail I had taken to get here), I would soon pop out on a street. About 1/2 mile northeast of where this trail popped out, another trail (the Trailer Canyon trail) entered Topanga Park. Since I hate backtracking, I decided on this alternate (much longer) return route.

Coming out to the street, the exit of this trail was a set of stairs that passed between a wrought iron fence. In front of me and to my right as I reached the sidewalk, gates blocked access to the street.

I pulled out my map again, oriented to north, and figured out where my trail access would be. Determined it was to my left, and headed that way. I soon passed a street sign that confirmed that this was Vereda de Montura. Reached Michael Lane and made a left.

Recently-painted condominiums lined this street: bright white paint and red tile roofs. The road climbed and north, then east. Eventually, the condos gave way to single-family homes. There were wide sidewalks on either side of the road, so the walk was an easy one.

Finally, seemingly further than the map would suggest, I passed a sign for Trailer Canyon fire road/trail. The sign was pretty much obscured by tree growth, and if I were driving, I doubt I would have seen it. But I was walking, so it was easy.

Just east of that sign was what might seem to be a private driveway. Whether private or public, I don't know. But the trail right of way clearly went up this road. 75 yards from the street, at the end of the concrete, was a gate. Beyond the gate was a sign announcing this was Trailer Canyon.

Just pass the gate was a trailhead sign, with numerous mileage given. It claimed it was 6.6 miles from here to Trippet Ranch. However, if you add up the distance of the various segments between here and there, it would be about 1/5 of a mile longer than that. Either way, it was starting to feel like a long way back.

At this point, I would have traveled about four miles, already (2.2 from Trippet Ranch to the end of the Santa Ynez Trail, about 1/2 mile from that trail end to the start of the Trailer Canyon Trail, and the 1.5 miles or so roundtrip from the Santa Ynez Trail to the "waterfall" and back.

Still didn't want to backtrack, though, so I pushed on.

About 3/4 of a mile later, I passed an open gate that was the boundary to Topanga State Park. Also there was a sign advising "No Fires" and "No Dogs."

Almost immediately after that sign, a jogger came down the trail, with his unleashed pit bull not far behind.

After 2.2 miles total, the Trailer Canyon Fire Road intersects with the Temescal Ridge Trail (another fire road).

1.4 miles later, the Temescal Ridge trail is met by what is labeled the Rogers Road Trail on my Topanga State Park map, and as the Backbone Trail on my Tom Harrison map. I don't recall what the signage on the ground called it, but I do recall it gave a distance to Will Rogers State Historic Park, so I knew which trail junction I was at.

A false trail continues on the opposite side of the Temescal Ridge trail from where the Rogers Trail comes in. The actual Temescal Ridge trail is the narrower of the paths leaving this junction, heading somewhat to the north-northeast from there.

Shortly after this junction, there are the first of several expansive views to the north and east (more such views are possible shortly after Hub Junction, too). Nearby, the towers of Century City were the closest cluster of skyscrapers. Farther in the haze and further to the north was downtown Los Angeles. Beyond and just south of Century City, near the horizon, the Santa Ana mountains peeked above the haze.

When the views opened to the northeast, I could easily see the San Gabriel Mountains. The white domes of the big telescopes on Mount Wilson stood out as tiny specks. To its left were the radio and television transmission towers. Further left was San Gabriel Peak.

Far right of all of this was Mt. Baldy (Mt. San Antonio). The exposed dirt of the peak looked almost like snow in the distance.

Later, views back to the south and southwest were also looking somewhat wilderness-like. The flora was thick and the hills rolled far into the distance.

At Hub Junction (.7 miles past the junction with the Rogers Trail), a back hoe and an informational kiosk appeared to be in the midst of a project. There was also a portapotty and several trash cans here. I don't know if that's a normal feature of this location, or if the portapotty is only there until the construction project is done.

Four trails meet here, and the trees near this junction provided a bit of shade (which had been pretty rare since leaving the Santa Ynez Trail).

In addition to the trail I just arrived on, there were two heading towards Eagle Junction. The lower one would go pass Eagle Springs. The upper one would go by Eagle Rock. Both were 1.3 miles to the junction.

Given the indifference of distance, I elected to take the high road because I thought it might have a better breeze. I was pretty hot by now.

The fourth trail headed to the north, and is listed on the both of my maps as "Fire Road 30." That would take me to the unpaved Mulholland Road, as well as several Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy holdings. Since I was trying to get back to my car, this road did not interest me that day.

The high trail to Eagle Junction begins with a winding climb that deposits you near a bench, just a hundred yards or so from the junction. From there, you spend the next 8/10ths of a mile near the ridgeline, with many impressive views but little shade.

Eventually, Eagle Rock appears below you.

It's a large rock, but looks nothing like an eagle to me. Also, because it's lower than the path I was walking on my approach, I didn't have any real interest in taking even the short detour it would take to summit the rock. I was satisfied with taking many photos of the rock.

This whole approach reminded me some of either Half Dome versus Cloud's Rest (Yosemite National Park), or Angel's Landing versus Observation Point (Zion National Park)--Everyone wants to summit the iconic point, but if you're on the iconic point, you can't *see* the iconic point. This could just be me being contrary, however.

From Eagle Rock, the trail still descended somewhat steeply in points, and I still had about 1 1/4 miles to get back to my car. However, by now, the temperature had dropped a bit, and patches of shade became more common.

Still, when I got back to the developed area of the park, I couldn't wait to get to the restrooms, where I could splash cool water all over my face. That felt good!

I also washed my left elbow several times. It was feeling annoyed, and I was convinced I must have brushed on some poison oak (there was LOTS of poison oak, especially on the section from the Santa Ynez trail to the "waterfall"). It had the same feeling as when my outbreak of poison ivy I got while in Kentucky. Then, I washed it off when I got home, but it was several hours after my apparent exposure.

This time, I either got it off me quick enough or it was an entirely psycho-somatic reaction. At least as of today, it looks like there's no outbreak.

It was a long hike. Since I apparently didn't get to the actual waterfall, I am not sure about my mileage. 9.5 miles is at the lower end. 11.5 miles would be at the upper end. I'll call it 10.5 miles, though it might have been a bit more. The middle 2/3 was mostly unshaded, and I would not recommend the entire trip unless you're in relatively good shape and have sufficient liquids to stay hydrated. The Santa Ynez portion, by contrast, was well-shaded and very pretty. There, the only concern was the abundant poison oak.

Unfortunately, the waterfall appears unobtainable without either serious off-the-beaten-path hiking (through the aforementioned poison oak), or some rock scrambling that almost assures a splashdown at some point. Other trail descriptions claim there's a climbing rope on the final approach. I didn't see it, so I must not have even got to the final approach. I *could* have gone further, but it would have been unpleasant. Most folks will need to settle for just enjoying the canyon bottom, I think. That, or they know the trail better than I did.

If you attack the waterfall from the Vereda de Montura side, it's obviously a much shorter, much less climb-y hike. There appears to be ample street parking, but no facilities on that side.

Another shorter hike would be from Trippet Ranch to Eagle Rock, which would be a four mile roundtrip, with a fairly rewarding end point. If you actually get on Eagle Rock, there are some sheer and significant drop-offs, so you should obviously take care there, and do not go out there if you're scared of heights or prone to dizzy spells.

Hike 2012.040 and 2012.041 -- Griffith Park and Altadena Crest

Hiked Griffith Park on Tuesday, June 26; hiked Altadena Crest Trail on Saturday, June 30.

Hiked these before my last little hike to Sturtevant Falls, but didn't get around to posting them.

I finished the month of June with 41 hikes, which means 100 hikes for the year is still not out of the question, though I'd need to average ten hikes a month. However, the hot afternoons have been a real deterrent to afternoon hikes, even though it still hasn't gotten REALLY hot, yet.

Griffith Park was another return to the Observatory, doing some paperwork and still not actually working there. Sometimes, I'm convinced government makes its hiring process an endurance contest, to be sure you *really* want to work for them before they hire you. Since I was told I was hired, it's been two trips to Van Nuys, two to the Observatory, and one downtown. Still not gotten to the scheduling part. Hopefully, soon!

I headed up the Mt. Hollywood trail, from the north end of the Observatory parking lot (again). As a variation, when I reached the point where the trail splits with one path looping up the east side of Mt. Hollywood and the other looping around the west, for the first time, I took the east route. I'm pretty sure the right is a longer way to the top, but I had not interest in hitting the top, anyway.

The right path eventually turned around the side of the mountain and began heading south. That's also where Dante's View is. I thought it was on the other side of the mountain, but I was mistaken.

From Dante's View, there's about a 270 degree view, centered more or less due east, covering due north and due south, and stretching some to both southwest and northwest. It's always harder to make out locations than you'd think, but I could obviously see the Golden State Freeway (I-5) and probably the Ventura Freeway (CA-134, in this area). Probably also the Glendale Freeway (CA-2). I was pretty sure I could see the hills where Elysian Park (Dodger Stadium) should be. However it, sort of like the Rose Bowl, actually don't stand very high above the surroundings. They're not very visible, unless it's night and the stadium lights are on.

Right after Dante's View, a trail makes its way along a ridge line to the east. That trail would eventually descend toward's Griffith Park's golf courses, on its east side.

After enjoying the view for a few moments, I made my way to the north end of these Hollywood Hills, and covered a section of trail I took on my way to Cahuenga Peak, a few weeks ago. Made my way a bit to the west before dropping down, but did not find a good access to a public road. In fact, by this time, I was getting hungry. My eating habits discussed in the previous post got to me, and, by the time I approaching a level point (still 1/2 mile or so from a public road), I gave up and started looking for a path back to my car. Too hungry and too tired to keep exploring, I was already thinking of dinner.

Before I had begun my descent, I noticed the Autry Museum, in faux mission architecture. Just west of the Autry is a huge parking lot that's used by the L.A. zoo. It always seems empty.

The zoo itself is not very visible from this vantage point. I'm always surprised by how small an area it covers, since it seems huge when you're walking through the zoo.

During my meanders, I also passed the city compost location, where the green-oriented can drop off their green waste for composting.

Then I found myself heading up a ridiculously steep road that ran along what looked to be a habitat restoration hill. May not have been, but it was one big and steep hill to climb.

Eventually joined a busier trail that headed back to Mt. Hollywood.

Bypassed Mt. Hollywood and got back to my car not too long after sunset. Just thinking about food by this time. Probably 5 miles of hiking for the day. Maybe more, but I was too tired to care.

On the 30th, I took another short hike, just along the Altadena Crest Trail. Forgot my camera, though, so no shots. I started from the Pinecrest access point and headed west, to Zane Grey Terrance. Then I walked out of Zane Grey, then north on Loma Alta. Just north of the home at 1101 E. Loma Alta Drive, there's a new trailhead. I took that trail just a few hundred yards, then bushwacked along a use trail, eventually getting back to the Altadena Crest Trail. I definitely wouldn't recommend this as a regular course of action. This was another situation of me getting hungry and tired. At one point, I just sort of tossed myself down on to the ACT. It was one of those controlled falls, which I prefer to uncontrolled falls: Jump, tuck, and roll. Definitely not recommended.

About four miles roundtrip, I would estimate.

A trailmap of some recent Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy trails (including some I covered today and some I've covered in past months) is linked here.

Hike 2012.042 -- Sturtevant Falls

Hiked Tuesday, July 3. Yes, this is hike 42 for the year. Haven't gotten around to writing up the last two hikes, though both were pretty short, and I have no pictures of the last one. I hate forgetting my camera.

Got off from work early today, drove home, and contemplated where or if I was going to hike. Ended up taking another short hike.

But first, I headed up to the new Angeles National Forest HQ building, on Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia (just south of the Foothill Freeway (I-210). My Adventure Pass expired back in April, and I decided it was time to get a replacement. Went with the America the Beautiful Pass this time, so I'll have to hit Joshua Tree and at least one other national park by the end of July 2013 to "get my money's worth."

Made it there with 10 minutes to spare (they closed at 4:30pm), made my purchase, then continued up Santa Anita Avenue, to Chantry Flat. Had to follow an excessively slow-moving car the whole way. Probably only cost me a minute or two, but it's always a little frustrating to get stuck like that.

Parked, signed my card, and headed down the pavement towards Sturtevant Falls. I had several optional add-ons to this hike, but ended up just going to the falls. Got me thinking about my time in Kentucky as I walked.

When I was in Kentucky last fall, I'd get up at about 7am, eat a bowl of oatmeal, get myself ready for work, walk the one mile to my office, change clothes, prep maybe an hour or so, teach a class or two, get back to my office, eat my lunch during office hours (usually just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but sometimes leftover pizza), then often be heading out as early as 12:30pm on Fridays or maybe 2pm on certain other days. Changed clothes again, walk the mile back home, then drove the 30-45 minutes to somewhere in Land Between the Lakes, and took a hike. I lost some serious weight during my five months in Kentucky. It was a pretty comfortable routine.

Of course, it had the drawback of being 1500 miles from my wife and my home and my cats, which kinda sucked. But, all things considered, things worked out pretty well.

How does this relate to today's hike? Well, I've discovered something the past few weeks. But first, my new routine: I've recently shifted my work schedule to 7am - 3:30pm. This means getting up at about 5:30am, which gives me about 45 minutes to get myself ready and the cats fed, followed by a 40 minute drive to work. Then it's a Pop Tart or two for breakfast, with coffee, at the desk, as I'm working. Maybe something from Jack-in-the-Box if I'm running early. Then lunch at 11:30am, then work until 3:30pm. Then I either drive straight from work to a trailhead, or I drive home, then change, then head out again. Either way, I still have lots of daylight for hiking.

Unfortunately, the thing I discovered the past few weeks is that, on this schedule, I start getting hungry around 5pm. So if I go hiking, I barely get started before I'm already thinking, "Man, I'm hungry. What am I going to eat for dinner?" Quite often, that means I'm losing my hiking motivation and just thinking about getting home for dinner. I'm eating more, walking less, and definitely not losing weight. So what happened today, where I start with an ambitious plan, but end up cutting things short due to hunger, has become a regular pattern the past few months.

OK, end of that digression.

It's been a few months since my last visit to Sturtevant Falls. As I made my way to the falls today, the water was well below where it was during my last visit. Lower Winter Creek didn't even flow over the check dam, though it did reappear near the bridge that crosses the creek. Also, the check dams along Sturtevant Creek didn't flow over the face of the dam, either.

Crossing Sturtevant Creek at Fiddler's Crossing didn't take any level of dexterity, either.

Still, it was a scenic crossing. The guy in the cabin recently got himself a new American flag. He's almost always got one displayed out front, but sometimes it's more worn than others. Today, it looked new, and very dramatic with the backlighting. What a place to live!

The falls were very narrow. Not as narrow as Bailey Falls, but a fair impersonation.

Dan Simpson gives a distance of 3.7 miles for this hike, and a loss/gain of 700 feet. That's pretty short to me, but the end will be up a long paved road. If you don't have much aerobic capability, it'll be a slow slog back to your car. Lots of younger kids (meaning 8 and under) make the trip, while younger ones sometimes get much of the trail riding in a stroller.

I've written up this hike numerous other times, so use the search function at the bottom of this page if you want to see more descriptions and pictures.

Hike 2012.039 -- King Gillette Ranch and Paramount Ranch, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Hiked Saturday, June 23. Well, I was way out in Woodland Hills, again. So back I came to the area I've been visiting quite frequently recently. I actually planned to try for seeing Malibou Lake, but wound up doing something different.

First, I visited the new Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area visitor center. Didn't realize until about a week ago it was right there: U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway, 19 miles east of I-405 (San Diego Freeway), exit at Las Virgenes, head south, left at Mulholland. Once heading east on Mulholland, be on the lookout for the sign and the (long) driveway to King Gillette Ranch, on your right.

During my visit here, I learned that King Gillette (King being his given name) made his fortune selling razors (surprise!), and bought a bit of property here for his mansion. His mansion later passed though several religious groups before eventually winding up in the hands of the National Park Service. The visitor center opened earlier this year, set to replace the previous Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area visitor center. It was built as a "net zero" impact building. Solar panels shade a portion of the parking lot out front.

Inside the visitor center are scads of staff and exhibits. It's an interagency visitor center, with NPS, CA state parks, Santa Monica Mountains and Mountains and Recreation conservancies, and possibly one or two other groups represented. The bookstore offers maps and, uh, books, for sale. There were also some clothes, water bottles, sunscreen, and assorted other knick-knacks. I bought several maps and picked up the free handouts of several areas within Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Actually, I did all this a little later in the day, because it turns out that, as I was arriving, a ranger-led hike was scheduled to start. Yes, and a big crowd it was: All one of me. Well, there was the ranger leading the hike, the newer ranger who was shadowing the older ranger, and me. So I was outnumbered by rangers two to one. Can't argue with that.

I think I had pretty much every plant, every lizard, and every bird we passed interpreted for me, which is kind of cool. I also learned why woodpeckers, which are bug-eaters, "plant" acorns in tree trunks and telephone poles: They're basically leaving some "bait" for insects. Then they come back in a few months and eat the little buggers that are munching on the acorn they planted.

The walk took me around King Gillette's mansion, out of NPS land and across Conservancy land, then (I think) into state park land, all within the one mile from the visitor center to Inspiration Point. Apparently, they shoot "The Biggest Loser" down on the ranch, too.

There's a large coast live oak at the top of Inspiration Point (pictured at the top of this post). Malibu Creek State Park is just to the west, across Las Virgenes Road. Rolling hills and rocky crags are all around. There's also a loop you could turn this trail up into, adding about a mile and a half to the 3/4 mile or so you took to get here.

After I got back to the visitor center, I gathered the material mentioned above and decided to visit the Paramount Ranch. That's about three miles west of here. Huell Howser visited there when he came through, so I decided I ought to see it, too.

I drove west on Mulholland Highway, across Las Virgenes and maybe two additional miles, to Cornell Road. A sign there pointed right, to the Paramount Ranch. The entrance there was less than 1/2 mile from Mulholland, on the left.

Walked through Western Town, the entrance for which is across a bridge from the ranger station. I don't get the idea that the ranger station is a visitor center, but there are flush toilets and running water adjacent to the ranger station. Even better, there are drinking fountains attached to the restrooms. And they're *refrigerated* drinking fountains!

Western Town is a pretty small place, with signs advising that this is a stage, not a town, so don't lean too heavily on anything. Inside one of the buildings, a wedding party was having some pre-wedding pictures taken. Outside, a seating list was posted.

From the west end of town, I took the Ooyote Canyon Trail to its end, then turned back down canyon and visited a picnic bench area on the northern loop of this trail. Near the picnic area, I came across what I thought was a spider eating a bee. On closer inspection of my pictures back home, the "spider" turns out to be a winged beetle of some sort, with a pointy snout that looked to be sucking the brains out of the bee. Yuck.

Without even having seen one before, I concluded this must be an assassin bug. Nasty. And yuck, again.

After leaving the picnic area, I headed down to the Hacienda Trail, then the Medicine Woman Trail, then reached the dead end at the park boundary. Had to backtrack the way I came.

Worked my way across the Backdrop Trail, which weaved some more among the rolling grass-covered, oak-speckled hills. Then the trail dropped a bit, to a crossing of Medea Creek. A couple of 2x8 boards provided a bridge across the water. A tree canopy hung low over the water.

After crossing the creek, I had only a few hundred yards before I reached the north boundary of the federal lands. Then I turned around, re-crossed the creek, snapped a few more pictures, then headed south on the Bwana Trail. Near Marco Polo HIll, I worked my way down near the stream, then crossed back into Western Town.

By now, not only had the wedding guests arrived, but they had been seated, and the ceremony was well under way. Before I left, I heard the "I do" exchange. Then the newlyweds walked back the aisle as husband and wife, while the sound system played Ray LaMontagne's "You are the best thing". I only know the song because it appeared in an episode of "Eli Stone," one of a long series of television shows that I liked but apparently few others watched. Incidentally, when listening to more of Ray LaMontagne, I later learned he also sings the song, "Trouble," which plays in a tv ad for an insurance company that features a dog worried about keeping his bone secure.

I'm guessing 2 1/2 to 3 miles total on these trails here. Add to that the mile or mile and a half on the Inspiration Point Trail, and I'll say 3 to 4 miles total for the day. Not much, but I did get to combine it with a trip to a local telescope store, where I picked up a new mount.

All of these trails are short enough to be pretty easy, with multiple options for cutting the trip short if you get tired. Dogs are permitted on NPS trails, but not on Conservancy or state park trails.