Hiking: Los Angeles, CA: Deukmejian Wilderness Park - Rim of the Valley Trail

Back in October 2012, I took the OMG are you kidding me? Dunsmore Creek Trail.

This time I took the switchback and went up to the Rim of the Valley Trail. 
 
The switchback makes it easy,  but don't be fooled by the short back and forth lures. To get there you start off at the fantastic facilities at the parking lot and go up to the trail head. Follow dirt and take the first left. You'll see the humble beginnings of the switchback that gently slopes in a languid, passive taunt, hiding as just another trail to pass the time. Up and up you go, traversing back and forth. "You can do this!" the trail encourages! And yes, you don't notice that the incline is almost a 45 degree angle. The trail is gentle and charomed with creek bed rocks as all the trails in Deukmejian have. You see the beautiful view as you see at the top header of this page.

Then, when you think you're at the top and the view is as gorgeous as it gets, another "easy" switchback taunts you in the distance. Take a look at the picture below: 
Easy, right? Just a few steps and you'll be strolling up another easy switchback.

I thought so too. Until we started our way and I saw another option open to us marked-Difficult with a capital "D".

 So, I says to Emma, with her 1 inch tongue - "What do you say?" 

Emma was all too happy to spend a longer time exploring! 

Ha! I scoffed at the Difficult warning. How can another sloping switchback be difficult? Then, we started down. Went went down, down, down. 

We went down so far, we hit earth bottom. There was water and lots of it! My camelback was still filled and I brought extra water for the trek so we continued. The mountain claiming "difficult" was no where in sight. We descended onto forest floor and came to sights only angles knew about.      


The profound silence with only the flowing babble of water refreshed our resolve to find the top of the mountain. 

Crossing the rock bridge over the creek made the whole scene feel like we were in some sort of wild forgotten Japanese garden, but I believe the beauty of this trail was the careful architecture of this nature made oasis. 
 

People could not plot the trees or the river or the leaves the way nature could. Simply put, we'd descended to a place that felt like home. 

I didn't want to leave this canopy of tranquility until I saw the steps beckoning us to our goal - The Mountain that needed to be taught it was not so tough. 

So, a giant man-made stairway led us into the sun! This was where it got conversely claustrophobic and acrophobia. 

A one person trail with the right side a cliff and the left side a drop off to death was a bit perturbing with a dog that laughs in the face of vertigo.

Emma was running, running, running back and forth while I made sure my steps were firm and my ankles wouldn't break over. Tripping or falling because of weak joints wouldn't be the excuse I'd want to give my family for missing out on Thanksgiving dinner. Which, by the way, this hike was on Turkey day. 
So when I saw the peak after endless back and forth over a gorgeous view, I raised my fist and claimed, "I have you!"

To which the mountain exclaimed, Come and get me!

I totally did! Me and Emma did it together! When we got to the top, we realized, it wasn't the top. A fellow hiker walking down from the trail told me this particular path led up the towers another 4 miles. Wow! I'd just hiked up this behemoth for an hour and a half. I was ready for cranberry sauce. 

So, after snapping a picture of what was to come, we turned back and started our way to family dinner. I'd felt blessed for exploring the bottom of the earth when we got back to the terrace of the forgotten garden. The way down proved the incline formidable. But after the death defying drop of doom and death was averted, we had a easier go of the incline that led us down to paradise.   

Stats: 

Miles: 4.0

Speed: 1.8 mph

Climb: 1,125 feet

Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes

Dogs: on leash--one trash dispenser at trail head

Notes: Bring water and sunscreen. You will be out in the sun for the last stretch.

Theme: Grasshoppers that eagerly show you the path.

Emma: Gives it a 4 inch tongue difficulty. (Modestly difficult.)

Thank you all who helped put this trail back in order!

Hiking: Ventura County: Rocky Peak Park, CA

Rocky Peak screams "Look at my hills!  Look at the valley view!  Look at the freeway!  Look how beautiful I am!"

I have to agree!  



Chatworth may be my heart's home, but the view from up here is worth the climb.  Wow! Wow! Wow! 

Amazing rock formations really make this hike a must see.  A fantastic cavern is about a mile up the path.  There are dozens of dead end and not so dead end side trails that could have you walking around the place for hours.  

But the main road goes on forever!  

One trail leads you to Indian Springs Open Space--which is really a horse trail.  If you try it, be forewarned that the trail is narrow.  The cliff below is steep.  Give horses the right of way--this can led to back-tracking to a spot you can actually step aside.  

The main fire road will lead you past rock formations to climb and a choice of Hummingbird Lane or Rocky Peak Trail.  

Hummingbird Lane takes you down to Kuehner Drive.  If you have a buddy, drive separately park at Kuehner and start at Rocky Peak.  Hummingbird is a special favorite for mountain and downhill bikers.  I saw two guys walking their bikes up for the coast down.  

Rock Peak Trail seems to go on forever.  It's one of those trails you can keep going till the eye can't see and the legs don't go.      

Amazing how you're close to the freeway, but you don't hear it.  Not unless you swing right to Indian Springs.

Stats: 

Miles: 3.0

Speed: 1.8 mph

Climb: 325 yards

Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes

Dogs: on leash--one trash dispenser at trail head

Notes: Bring a camera!  It really is unique.

Theme: Birds above and wonderful views.

Emma: Gives it a 3 inch tongue difficulty. (Moderate)

Hiking: Los Angeles, CA: Chatsworth

Chatsworth Park is my favorite.  It feels like home.  You must seek out and find the tough trails, but they are there.  Otherwise, this beautiful rouged land will take you on a stroll where you overlook the Valley, hear the trains, count the oak trees and watch the Red Tail Hawks fly. 

The shortest loop is half-an-hour but I have roamed the hills for hours and climbed the main attraction of this park, "Stagecoach Trail".  Even if you don't climb the huge boulders that make up the old Trail this place is worth a peak.

We use to go to the train tunnels and watch the trains barrel through.  The trails have lots of alcoves for a shady picnic and even some boulders you can practice your free hand rock climbing.  

Dogs on leash and be prepared to come across horses!  This is where the horse riders go and they do!  Make sure your dog is equine friendly and let riders have the right-of-way.  

 The paths lead to perfect rest stops under oak trees.  While there isn't much shade on the paths, the oaks will provide!  Bring water. 

Word of warning: If you get the hiby-geebies about a cemetary being "next door" to the park, you might be looking around for graves.  There aren't any, but you can hear the church bells ring every hour.  In some places, you can see dearly departed plots.

Stagecoach trail is a historic place of interest and a fantastic rock climbing experience.  If you get the chance, definitely go!

 

To the west, there are trails that will take you up--way up to the 118 and Simi Valley.  

Stagecoach is to the east of my regular entrance.  You should bring a guide or be prepared to wander if you want to find Stagecoach.  How do you know you're on it?  Half-way up you'll have figured it out, but there's a plaque claiming Indian land.  You'll see it!  Don't worry.

 

Here are the Stats:

Miles: 1.6

Speed: 1.9 mph

Climb: 110 yards

Time: 54 minutes

Dogs: on leash -- be prepared to give horses right-of-way

Notes: Great place for a half-hour walk under an oak tree of your choice for a picnic!  

Theme: Oak trees every 1/2 mile

Emma: Gives it a two inch tongue difficulty.  (Easy-peesy/Moderate)   

Enjoy the pics!

Wide open spaces!

You're not able to get away from the mountains.

My zombie back-up plan was to come here to this empty water tower and fight to my death!  

Remember to take refuge under an oak tree.  This one has a nest of Red Tail Hawks. 

Hiking: Los Angeles, CA: Deukmejian Wilderness Park

Your view at the top

I took the one hour trail and it kicked our arse in gear!  We parked, put the water pack on and climbed!  

There are two or three trails from the restored horse barn at home base.  This park has bathrooms, sitting areas and a stadium fit for 20.  So if you want to look out over Sunland Valley, you can relax in shade.  

Dunsmore Canyon Trail

Or you can take a butt-kicking trail.  It doesn't matter which butt-kicking trail you take--they start at You-Wanna-Piece-O-Me? to You're-Gonna-Die!   

However, so worth it!  Dunsmore Canyon Trail will not let you sit on your laurels.  Rocks and a constant upward climb will cure any disdain you feel for water.  Bring it.  

This climb only took me an hour but Emma slept the rest of the day afterward.  As you can see from the poll, dogs, horses, bikes allowed on this moderate trail.  

Now, you'll see a bench at the "woosie" fake end.  But you'll notice the trail keeps going.  If you need to rest, do.  But the trail end is only another 200 feet up and the climb isn't any different than what you've been doing to get there.  

People who don't woosie out view

The real top will lead you to shade and a creek that you really should go to because it's beyond the trail end and you shouldn't go where you're not suppose to.  But it's nice to er, listen to the creek I didn't go to.  Because going to the creek would lead you off the trail.  Even though there's a path leading down to it. 

If you see this post, you did it right

Summary: Feeling Onry?   Go for it!  It will test your balance due to rocks.  It has one level area and one bench before the top.  My suggestion--stop at both the woosie bench and the go to the top for the view!  

Emma made me do it!

Here's the stats: 

Miles: 2 miles

Speed: 2 mph

Climb: 3,040 Elevation

Time: 1 hour

Dogs: On leash--watch for horses

Notes: Reach the bench for the view, then go all the way to the top for shade and the peace of a creek. 

Hiking: Los Angeles, CA: La Tuna Canyon Park

Thank you Donald Weller for editing this panoramic!

This two hour walk felt like coming home from a long stint away from family.  You start your ascent by the 210 fwy that crosses over La Tuna Canyon.  After 1/2 a mile you have choices.  You can explore the back roads that follow the freeway.  Or you can take the right "Y" upward.  I stuck to the main fire road on the right. 

 

You can make this hike more difficult by taking left forks.  All in all you'll get to the same place.  Now I went to the top and turned back, but you can go down the other side of the mountain and wind up in Burbank .  The trails go everywhere in La Tuna Canyon so you can spend a whole day walking.  I didn't, but you can!

 

Bee warning!  There is a honey collection station.  I had three buzz-by's and a handful of curious bees circling me and Emma.  I'm not allergic or afraid and once up in elevation the ratio from bee to butterfly switches. 

 

Black butterflies with yellow and orange striped wings passed me so much I thought where's the convention?  

Yes, dogs on leashes are allowed.  Bring your own turd bags and be prepared to take them home.  There isn't a disposal at the trail head.  

Summary: This trail is perfect for someone wanting a long hike but not a challenging one.  It's up hill, yes, but I didn't find it extreme.  I watched a lady that must have been 94 on a trail bike peddling up the hill, so...after walking it myself and seeing that, I don't classify this trail extreme.  The view at the top is panoramic!  Highly recommend!  Bring extra water and your puppy for this one.  Best time to go is in the afternoon.  The hillside is such that it's mostly shade after 4pm.

 

Here's the stats:

 

Miles: 4.5

Speed: 2.4 mi/hr

Climb: 463 yrds

Time: 2 hours (to the top and back)

Dogs: On leash
Notes: Bring extra water, go during the afternoon