Archive for Trails

Creepy LA Hikes

While “creepy” isn’t an adjective you would normally want associated with a hike, this time it’s actually a good thing.

Creepy LA (the “Los Angeles Halloween Blog”) posted yesterday on “Haunted Hikes”, including info on after-dark trips in Griffith Park with the Sierra Club, seeing wolves near Forest Lawn, and more. Check it out if you’re looking for a little more heart-pounding action in your outdoor excursions this month.

Getting the crap scared out of you is a good aerobic activity, right? ;)

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Bike Ride: San Timoteo Canyon Road

I’m finally getting around to posting photos from the February 3rd cycling excursion that ended up rather badly. You can read about that in the February 2007 archive. If you’d like to know more about the beautiful San Timoteo Canyon and its history, check out Images of America: San Timoteo Canyon Road from Arcadia Publishing. The canyon runs mostly between Redlands and Moreno Valley in Southern California.


Part of the flood control section of the river, with a multi-use trail on the side, looking east.


The trail next to the river, with the Sunset Drive hills to the left/north.


Buffalo Meadows Ranch’s cool sign.


At the intersection of San Timoteo and Redlands Boulevard, which actually goes to Moreno Valley.


Also at that intersection, with the arrows pointing to my starting point and current target.


Just in case you need a domesticated pack animal of the camel family found in the Andes, valued for its soft woolly fleece. Of course, every time I see a llama, a voice in my head yells, “¡Cuidado! ¡Las Llamas!”


Typical view in the rural parts of the canyon — it was a gorgeous afternoon, with very little traffic once I got past the Redlands Blvd turnoff.


Some scouts created a display on a wall they built (IIRC), including some historical tidbits about the area. The one above describes the “Old Salt Road” that ran through the canyon in the 1800s.


The historical, one-room San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse, at 31985 San Timoteo Canyon Road.


Not just a portrait of the cyclist as a young man — also a harbinger, thanks to lengthening shadows.


You’re cycling along, minding your own business in a rural landscape, when all of a sudden a featureless wall and radio tower appear out of nowhere. Spooky. Never did figure out what was going on here. A religious cult was my first guess. ;D


They were working on widening the road near its eastern end, probably due to all the development, so I went off-road for a spell and enjoyed several trains for company.


Waving to the engineers always solicits a return wave. Sometimes I think trainspotting would be a fun diversion.


Ah yes, the wild golfer in its natural environment. I don’t think golfcartspotting would be nearly as interesting.


The road ends finally at the 10 Freeway. I’ll be taking a left on the frontage road to head back to Redlands. Note longer cyclist shadow.


This little guy and the darkening sky behind provided a last moment of beauty.


Finally! A convenience store meal. Heavy on the carbs and fluids. It was sunset by this time.


The setting sun and its dramatic exit as I hurried towards home.

The next photo on my camera was almost exactly 4 hours later, sitting in the emergency room with my arm in a sling.

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Trails at 10

Redlands, California, has been leading a local effort to repurpose and reclaim greenbelt areas, including the Orange Blossom Rail Trail Project. In yesterday’s Redlands Daily Facts, there was a story about some organized community outings called “Trails at 10.”

“Hikers, cyclists hit the trail Saturday morning”

Hikers, cyclists and public officials gathered Saturday morning to kick off a group of events intended to get the community excited about the city’s hiking trails.

“Trails at 10″ is a series of outings sponsored by the Redlands Conservancy and the Orange Blossom Rail Trail Project that gives residents a chance to experience the trails of Redlands firsthand. This year’s first “Trails at 10″ event took place Saturday, when hikers and cyclists enjoyed the Santa Ana River Trail.

The “Emerald Necklace” mentioned in the story refers to the idea of encircling the city in greenbelts. They are also talking about the possibility of hooking the trails up with the Metrolink system, which will be pushed out to Redlands someday. Hopefully sooner rather than later. ;)

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Sightseeing is painless: The M*A*S*H Hike

Thanks to Gadling for the story — “Hiking Hollywood: The M*A*S*H Trail” — on visiting locations where M*A*S*H was filmed (not to mention all kinds of other movies and folderol) in the Santa Monica Mountains:

The movie location is located in Malibu Creek State Park. The 4.5 mile hike follows Malibu Creek past Rock Pool (where Planet of the Apes was filmed), Century Lake and eventually onward to the M*A*S*H site itself where fans of the series can reminisce over a stripped-down jeep and ambulance. Not much else remains from the show.

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SART completion bids in San Bernardino

A story in the Press Enterprise has a tidbit on progress of the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) at the eastern end of the San Bernardino Valley: “San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Actions — 4-11-07″:

The board agreed to solicit bids to complete the last phase of the Santa Ana River Trail from California Street in Redlands to the Seven Oaks Dam near Highland.

The project, estimated at $600,000, will connect to a trail system that follows the river’s course through Riverside and Orange counties, eventually reaching Huntington Beach.

Previously on End Pavement:

Elsewhere:

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Two Trees Trail plus Box Springs Mountain (photos)

Here are some photos from yesterday’s hike.

in a dirt parking lot, looking up a mountain
In the Blaine St. parking lot at the bottom.

floss silk tree
This is a Floss Silk Tree, visible alongside the road as you walk up to the trailhead. I love this tree and always take pictures when we come through here.

floss silk tree
Close up of the Floss Silk Tree.

view of a valley from part way up the mountain
Part way up Two Trees Trail, looking back down on Riverside. That’s Sugar Loaf on the right.

view of a valley from part way up the mountain
Part way up Two Trees Trail. Photos up here seem always to come out like impressionist paintings. :)

hiker taking a rest
Otis digging food out of his pack while we take a breather in the parking lot halfway up.

compass and poodle
Pharaoh takes a break while I check out directions.

two pairs of hands holding a GPS unit, camera, and compass
Confirming the GPS is pointing things out properly. ;)


Alex spies an interesting bird and sneaks up for a picture.


From the midway parking lot, looking up the trail leading to the top.


On our way again.

hikers looking over maps
Alex and Otis work out the local geography.


That white shape is part of the giant letter “M” overlooking Moreno Valley, at the top of Box Springs.

tired poodle
Pharaoh is pooped. :)


Reche Peak to the left, with Reche Canyon and the area around Hulda Crooks Park just beyond.

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