July 19th 2008     -     Solstice Canyon

Twelve of us enjoyed the cool temperatures of Solstice Canyon this morning. The ever present fog brought us a welcome feeling of isolation and stillness, even with the bustling activity from nearby PCH. Usually, this hike affords commanding views of the ocean, but today it seemed miles away. Our hike began on the Rising Sun Trail. From there we took the Sostomo Trail to the Deer Loop Trail, and then returned on the Solstice Canyon Trail back to the trailhead. In total, we hiked about 7.5 miles.

July 10th - 13th 2008     -     Onion Valley Backpack Trip

I’m pleased to report that all seven of your fellow Trailblazers who embarked last Thursday on a backpacking journey into the John Muir Wilderness in the Inyo National Forest have returned safely – tired and grimy, but filled with the natural wonders of California’s high Sierras – truly a feast for the eyes and the spirit.

Betty Cameron, Mary Ann Campbell, Ursula Christie, Mike Kuhn, Effie Stantzos, Roger Steffen, and I arrived at the Onion Valley Campground (9,200’) on Thursday afternoon after a 225-mile trip from Simi Valley via Highway 395 and Independence, CA – including stops in Lone Pine, CA to pick up the overnight wilderness permit at the ranger station just south of town and at the Totem Restaurant for lunch. After setting up our tents in the three convenient campsites reserved by Mark Gilmore, we went on an acclimatization hike to Robinson Lake (10,500’). The 1,300’ elevation gain over 1.8 miles (according to my GPS unit) is equivalent to 726’ of gain per mile which is pretty steep. Fortunately we were helped by a fairly cool temperature and an occasional breeze. The view of Robinson Lake made it all worthwhile [Roger will be providing some photos of our trip for posting on the Trailblazers web site: http://simitrailblazers.com/].

Our dinner on Thursday evening was crashed by a horde of ravenous mosquitoes. We fought them off with a combination of insect repellents containing Deet and head nets which several of us had brought with us. After dinner and some conversation we crawled into our mummy sleeping bags and slept fitfully through the night [this seems to occur on the first night of any camping trip].

We arose early on Friday morning, had breakfast, struck camp (mostly involving jamming all of our gear back into our backpacks), and headed a couple of hundred yards over to the Kearsarge Pass trailhead [Flower Lake is along that trail]. We headed up the trail at 8:00 a.m. on what was a relatively cool morning, some of us wondering how soon we might “hit the wall.” As we trod the well-designed switchbacks heading ever-upward to the west, the view become increasingly enchanting. There was a riot of wildflowers [they bloom later at higher altitudes than they do around Simi Valley], the sound and sight of various watercourses including several very pretty cascades. We passed Pothole Lake and Gilbert Lake, arriving at Flower Lake between 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – several members of our group took the opportunity to sun themselves on a giant rock overlooking Gilbert Lake before continuing on to our campsite at Flower Lake (10,548’). As a backdrop, there were towering granite peaks in nearly every direction. The 1,348’ elevation gain from Onion Valley was similar to Thursday’s hike to Robinson Lake, but over a somewhat longer distance, so the hike to Flower Lake was easier – except for the 40-pound backpacks!

After setting up our base camp [on Friday] in a picturesque location amid towering trees perhaps 100’ from Flower Lake, having lunch, and resting a while, we headed uphill to the south and then downhill to the southwest to Matlock Lake, yet another gorgeous lake surrounded on two sides by towering granite mountains. We hiked leisurely all the way around the lake, some of us dipping our feet into the soothing water. We also saw two other lakes nearby. On the way back to camp, Mary Ann spotted a deer which viewed us skeptically and wandered off. After resting some more back at camp – and continuing to wage a defensive battle against the persistent mosquitoes (and I do mean persistent) – we prepared and consumed dinner, following which we talked, played cards (using a flat-topped rock as a table), and completed a few crossword puzzles [campfires are not allowed at the elevation of our base camp]. We then settled in for a much better (than Thursday’s) night’s sleep, accounted for in part, no doubt, to our physical exertions that day.

On Saturday morning, after breakfast, we headed west on up the main trail to Kearsarge Pass (11,845’). Along the way we passed Heart Lake (it’s shaped like a valentine) and Big Pothole Lake; we also had a great downward view of Flower Lake to the southeast along the way. Looking to the west from Kearsarge Pass the view was truly stunning. The landscape was dotted with lakes and surrounded by the trademark jagged granite peaks of the Sierra Nevada. After some photo-taking and talking with some other hikers, we descended to the west and visited three of the Kearsarge Lakes. After a lakeside lunch, we began heading eastward back up to Kearsarge Pass. We began hearing distant thunder. Since we didn’t want to be caught near Kearsarge Pass during a possible lightning storm, we hurriedly climbed back up the mountain and then uneventfully descended back to our campsite. A couple of hours later a light rain began falling; a bit later the rain turned to hail (fortunately small hail); the light rain continued intermittently for a while and then it came down pretty hard. There was lots of loud thunder, but the lightning was of the cloud-to-cloud variety (none appeared to hit the ground). It rained pretty steadily until about 1:00 a.m. The good news was that the rain discouraged the mosquitoes (temporarily).

On Sunday morning [this morning], we broke camp, again jamming our now-wet gear into our backpacks and heading back down the trail to Onion Valley. As you might expect, the trip downhill was MUCH easier than the trip up the mountain on Friday. Once everyone was down from the mountain, we headed toward home. We stopped in Lone Pine for a hearty brunch (we discovered that we were all as ravenous as the mosquitoes we’d left behind) and then drove back to Simi Valley – where a shower was a top priority!

We owe Mark Gilmore, Mike Kuhn, and the other Rancho Simi Trailblazers leaders a debt of gratitude for this and the many other wonderful opportunities they provide. Our thoughts were with Carol Tucker and Mark and we extend our sincere condolences on the recent passing of Carol’s father.

I encourage each of you to take advantage of as many Trailblazers opportunities as you can in the future. I know I will.

I’ll see you “on the trail” in the future.

Les Wilson

P.S. Footnote to our trip --- As we drove down toward Independence, CA from Onion Valley on our way home, we noticed that there was a sign stating that the road was closed to incoming traffic due to rock-and-mudslides (that partially blocked the road) which were caused by the heavy rain Saturday night. The hillsides had been denuded a year earlier by wildfires. Coincidentally, the Trailblazers had attempted this same backpacking trip one year ago but we were evacuated from Onion Valley last year (due to those same wildfires) just as we had started up the trail with our backpacks. The road was closed to incoming traffic last year too.

June 28th 2008     -     San Buenaventura State Beach to the Ventura River Estuary

It wasn't easy to pin down today's hike. We were on the beach, the pier, bicycle paths, railroad tracks, city streets, and a campground. We were even lost for a moment and got carried away on the bike path up to Carpenteria. Our actual mileage was probably between 8 and nine miles. It was one of those perfect days when the ocean kept us nice a cool, in contrast to the uncomfortable temperatures inland. Trails over water? They call 'em piers!

June 14th 2008     -     Sheep Camp

What is it about high elevation hikes? Although the temperature never rose above 76 degrees, if felt at least ten degrees warmer. Perhaps it was only because we were closer to the sun. Clear and sunny was the rule for the day. All eleven of us finished the ten plus mile round trip. Wildflowers were still quite evident, especially if you were willing to get down close to the ground and take a close look.

May 10th 2008     -     Sulphur Mountain

It was on of those perfect hiking days. The morning overcast shielded us from the sun, just long enough to keep thirteen us cool during our nine mile hike. Although the wildflower season is beginning to wane, there was still a good showing of Fiesta Flowers, Blue Larkspur, Mayweed, Pitcher Sage and Common Vervain.

May 3rd 2008     -     Wildwood Park - Santa Rosa Trail Loop

Thrirteen of us enjoyed perfect hiking weather today. Summer is rapidly aproaching as evidenced by the yellowing grasses. It was an exceptional flower day with an abundance of Indian Pink, Golden stars and Peninsular Onion. Never saw the Wildwood Flower, let alone the sacks of seeds.

April 26th 2008     -     Marr Ranch / Chumash Trail to Northridge Trail Loop

It was a hot and windy Santa Ana condition day. Seventeen of us started up the trail and eleven of us made the whole 9.5 mike loop. It was quite a workout! Four snakes were seen: two rattle snakes, one gopher and a king snake too. There were many srping flowers sighted, like the Prince's Plume, Sticky Monkey Flower, Fern-leaf Phacilia, Rock Rose, White Snapdragon, Cob-Web Thistle, and Beach Evening Primrose.

April 19th 2008     -     Mt. McCoy and the Reagan Library

A great turn out of twenty one enjoyed the cool hiking temperatures from a thick marine layer this morning. It was nice to have a number of new people hiking with us. The plentiful wildflowers made up for the poor visibility. Some of the flowers we saw were Catalina Mariposa Lillies, Indian Paintbrush, Star Lillies, Red-Skinned Onion, Slender Tarweed, Blue Larkspur, Indian Pink and Golden Stars.

April 12th 2008     -     Simi Peak via China Flat

Seven of us had an early taste of Summer today. The Santa Ana condition drove the temperatures up into the high eighties, by the end of the hike. The mild winds kept us cool, as we climbed up the steep and exposed parts of the trail. Wildflowers were spectacular today, with a good showing of Checker Bloom, Bleeding Hearts, Sun-Cups, Yellow Monkey Flower, Star Lilies and Rock Rose.

April 5th 2008     -     Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve

Twelve of us drove out to the Preserve this morning. After a brief stop to take a few pictures on a frontage road near Gorman, we continued down Hiway 138 and then off-road into the north side of the Preserve. Although there was a good showing of flowers this year, the wind made it difficult to take good pictures.

March 29th 2008     -     Towsley Canyon Loop

Seventeen of us hiked the Towsley Canyon loop today. Saying there was an abundance of flowers was a serious understatement. I've never seen it this good. Last year we were treated to only two Chocolate Lilies. This year the numbers were so great that we couldn't begin to count them all. These are the special days when it's so important to carry extra memory cards and spare batteries for your camera.

March 1st 2008     -     Los Robles Trail System

Nine of us hiked the Los Padres - Los Robles Loop this morning. It was a cool and foggy day. Wildflower are coming back this year, due the recent rains, in sharp contrast to last spring. We were treated to dew covered Purple Nightshade, Bush Sunflower, Fiddleneck and Prickly Phlox.

February 23rd 2008     -     Placerita Canyon - Los Pinetos Trail

On a cool cloudy Saturday morning, eight eager Rancho Simi Trail Blazers assembled in the parking lot near the Placerita Canyon Nature Center (elevation 1,550'). The 7.5-mile loop hike began with a 2-mile jaunt east along the pleasant gurgling canyon stream to the Walker Ranch area. It then climbed steadily to the south along the heavily shaded Los Pinetos Trail until it met the Santa Clara Divide Road at Wilson Saddle (elevation 3,100') -- a pleasant spot for a lunch break. A short walk to the southeast led to an overlook with a now sunny panoramic view of the San Fernando Valley. The trail then headed west on the Whitney Canyon Road to a steeply undulating firebreak trail (with no switchbacks!) that provided magnificent views of the southern Santa Clarita Valley and distant snow-capped mountains as it led the group inexorably back to the Nature Center.

Maps and trail descriptions as well as other information about the Placerita Canyon Natural Area can be found here.

February 9th 2008     -     Sisar Canyon to White Ledge Camp

Fifteen of us hiked 11 miles up Sisar Canyon to White Ledge Camp this morning. Today was the warmest day of the year and it was hot on the exposed parts of the trail, but pleasant in the canyon shade. The water was swift at the trail crossings and many of us got our feet wet. The remaining snow on the mountain peaks above us added to the beauty of the trail.

February 2nd 2008     -     Mt. Hollywood Trail

From the Fern Dell trailhead, fourteen of us hiked a 5.4 mile lollypop shaped 5.4 mile loop to the top of Mt. Hollywood. Hiking in the Griffith Park area offers a unique experience because it's the largest municipal park and urban wilderness area in the United States. The 360 degree view from the top was a spectacular, even though long-range visibility was limited by the clouds and fog.

January 12th 2008     -     Devil Canyon to Brown's Canyon Road

Seventeen of us hiked a total of 9.8 miles today. What a group! A mild Santa Ana condition pushed emperatures into the mid-seventies by the time the hike was over. There were numerous stream crossings, or even stream followings, especially during the first few miles. None of the crossings were very deep or fast running. The canyon was already quite green from our recent rains. Devil Canyon is a place like no other and so very close to home too.