Gaviota Trespass trail

I set out from Santa Barbara by car to drive 35 miles [west along the coast] to Gaviota State Park to run up Gaviota Peak via the Tunnel trail. I made good time and got on the main trail in the cool of the morning. I started easy and then after 200 feet went right onto the Trespass trail which seems to head straight up as it traverses the mountain.

Thinking that the trail route would be easy to follow I stopped paying attention, kept a decent pace and enjoyed the views. But after about 25 minutes I took a right when I should have taken a left. The peak that pretty much dominates the trail both to the right and straight ahead of the trail seemed the natural way to go. It wasn't.

Nonetheless, I still managed a good run - even as the trail slowly got thinner and thinner until it disappeared on top of the wrong mountain. But the views were still great.

 The first mile of the trail.

About 20 minutes of running you get here. The peak straight ahead [with no name I could find] was where I thought I was going. But that's not Gaviota Peak!

Here is where I basically took a wrong turn. If you continue straight you will find a switchback to the left that goes to Gaviota Peak. I went to the right. There are no signs. One hint if you want to go the correct way is to take the trail - pictured above - and make sure to pass a little water hole which will be to the right.

After taking a wrong turn here is how the trail looks. Yes, not much of one - but up top there is a switchback so it seemed okay.

 Here is the view once on top.  Even going the wrong way still has it's rewards.

Another cool view at the top looking back toward Santa Barbara.

Going back the way I came.

I conclude that even if you take a wrong turn on this trail you still get a great hike / run and wonderful views. One can also do both peaks and then head back on the loop down the fire road from Gaviota Peak.

I did this hike in February 2013. It was a cool, mildly windy day. I'm not sure what temperatures are like in spring or summer.

Distance: 5 1/2 miles

Total Time 60 minutes

Zion's Angels Landing

If you only have time for one hike in Zion National Park and you have a couple hours to hike then Angels Landing is the hike to do. It is nothing short of spectacular, beautiful and a little scary. Maybe a lot scary if you don't like crawling up steep rock formations that require a chain in order to prevent one from falling a thousand feet.

Yes, not for the feint of heart but not to be missed either.

After a few minutes of hiking on a mostly paved trail you see how the trail is carved into the rock.

Looking down from the trail one gets this view of the valley.

After about 20 minutes of hiking comes the multiple switchbacks called 'Walter's Wiggles'.

At a junction the trail goes off toward the West Rim Trail or up to Angels Landing, which is to the left.

Here is a better view of the 'hike'. At this point it is all but impossible to run the trail.

Climb climb climb.

Here is the a view of the top looking into the park. The entire 360 degree view is beautiful.

For a good trail guide for this hike and others check out Joe's Guide to Zion.

La Plata mountains

One of the trails I ran a lot when I was in college was a trail in the La Plata Mountains outside of Durango Colorado. It's a trail without a particular name mostly because it is on private property and not supposed to be hiked or run. But when you want a killer workout off the beaten [and beautiful] path [which we did] then this was it.
The trail doesn't have a name that I know of but it may be Eagle Pass according to my perusing through Google Earth.

I did this run in June 2010.

The start of the trail crosses a creek.

After about 30 minutes of running you look back and get this view.

Just cruising along.

Spectacular view. The area has an old mine. This building is a relic of its past.

Near the top.

At the top.

Distance: 9 miles [?]
Time: 3 hours

Mt Tam trails

Each spring I take a trip to the Bay Area to see relatives and I make it a point to take a run on the trails around Mt Tamalpais. The trail I frequent is the Matt Davis trail. This stretch of it starts near the Throckmorton Fire Station.

[I ran this trail in May 2011.]

Heading along the Matt Davis Trail in the first mile.

After the steep Nora trail the trail comes out at a place called The West Point Inn, which offers a nice view of the bay.

Then I head along another trail to the Mountain Theater, where they are often prepping for a Spring show.

Coming down from the Mountain Theater is a steep section with a lot of switchbacks. Toward the bottom are some steps.

Then I loop back onto the Matt Davis Trail.

And then I finish the last mile going through nicely shaded areas and narrow trees.

Distance: 6 to 7 miles
Total Time: 65 to 70 minutes

Jesusita trail

I went up to Santa Barbara for the day and ran the Jesusita trail up to Inspiration point.

It was a foggy day, which was perfect.

After running alongside a creek for the first mile there is a cool old sign.

It has been a good rainy winter and spring as was evident by all the green along the trail.

Here is the top. A good amount of fog blocked any view. But it was fine with me since it kept me cool.

Coming back down the foliage seems to overtake the trail.

Distance: 6 to 7 miles.
Total Time: 80 minutes

Kearsarge Pass

I went for a long day trail run / hike in July 2005 up in the John Muir Wilderness on a trail that leads up to Kearsarge Pass. Along the 4-and-a-half mile trail are five lakes on the way up and two lakes on the other side of the pass. Below are a few photos.

 Running along I pass a large lake.

 After an hour and 40 minutes of hiking and running I get to the pass.

Two hours of hiking yields this spectacular lake called Kearsarge Lake.

I headed back to the car and along the way encountered sleet, mosquitos and a lot of people. I also notice this fine old tree.

Total Time: Around 4 hours

Mt San Jacinto

A terrific hike / trail run is the main trail up to Mt San Jacinto, which is located just outside of Palm Springs.
You take a tram a few miles up the side of the mountain.
It took me from the 90 degree April heat to a cool 55 degrees and snow!

I went about a quarter mile and snow covered the trail. A couple coming down the trail told me the trail disappeared and that I had little chance of getting to the top. I nodded and continued on. I figured even if I didn't make it I was where I wanted to be and ready to keep going. Although, I then realizes that I had forgotten my long sleeve shirt, jacket and cap. Whoops! Was in too much of a hurry to catch the tram, which only runs every 20 minutes. Oh well, glad I had bought a long sleeve San Jacinto t-shirt at the gift shop before I hit the trail.

Oh yes, there is snow. Where is the trail?

Love it!
The snow pack was hard enough that I didn't fall in.
I met a guy along the way who told me the peak was to the left. I take his word for it. But, alas, the peak really was to the right.

After a long traverse I got into a small cul-de-sac valley and the trail completely disappears. I decide to head straight up a snow slope.
I get to a saddle and go left.

Beautiful. I'm made it. What a view. Wait. What is that peak over there? It's higher than the one I am on. I'm on the wrong peak!

I headed back down to saddle and through large boulders and snow. I finally reached the true summit of Mt San Jacinto.

I looked back at the first peak I climbed. Okay, I was definitely on the higher peak now.
Beautiful.

Way, way down in the valley below [back and to the right] it was 95 degrees and Coachella was going on.

I'm sure it was cool but I was hearing the music of the mountains.

Total Time: Around 4 hours

Ice Lake Basin July 08

The beginning of the Ice Lake trail a 3.5 mile trail [7 mile round trip] that is located just north of Silverton Colorado and off on an easily accesible dirt road toward South Mineral Campground. The starting altitude is about 9,200 feet.


Less than a mile from the start is a flowing waterfall and creek.


View from the lower valley. In the distance are the mountains that surround Ice Lake Basin.


Interesting foliage grows along the trail at high altitude - [above 10,000 feet].


Coming out of the valley the trail sort of disappears amid snow and rock.


At about 12,000 feet and almost there....


Here it is. After an hour-and-a-half of hike/running here is the main lake in Ice Lake Basin. Yes, there really is ice in the lake during July.


A few minutes more of snow hiking leads to this view above two lakes. The main one is the further lake.


Many creeks flow throughout this high altitude basin.


The third lake is called Fuller Lake and it has an old cabin [or hut] on its shore.


A closer look at the old hut. It had a note on the wall that read: "Those who are lost want to be found, those who wander are not lost."
[In the midground to the right is a marmot].


Heading back and looking into the valley right below Ice Lake Basin.

Distance: 7 to 8 miles.
Total Time: Around 4 hours. Hung around on top for an hour.