TALES FROM THE TRAIL (AND SOMETIMES THE ROAD TOO)

Friday, January 28, 2011

Where I Love to Run (A Pictorial–Mainly)

Today, “The Planner”, that’s me, had planned speed training.  The idea of speed training stressed me out so much that I said forget that.  Just run.  And that is what I did.  I went exploring.  Exploring with no time requirements, no route really planned, just a plan to run.  I wanted to check out some of my trails that I haven’t been to since Aliso Wood Canyons reopened.  A ranger told me that the trails had changed.  I wanted to see.

(My route:  I ran through Canyon Vistas park then took Wood Canyon Trail down and then ran every detour off of Wood Canyon:  Wood Cyn to Wood Creek to Wood Cyn to Coyote Run to Mathis Trail to Dripping Cave to Wood Cyn to Cave Rock Trail, ending with Wood Canyon.  Then I ran Wood Canyon Trail all the way back.)

Wood Creek Trail

Wood Creek has plenty of ups and downs, including two staircases.  I ran through several spider webs, and I didn’t care.  I used to let out a little scream when I ran through webs.  Oddly, I didn’t today.

Going up . . .

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Going down – look closely and you can see a flight of stairs (railroad ties, I think)

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Going back up on Wood Creek to the shadiest, thickest part.

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California Wood Fern

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California Maiden’s Hair Fern

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Coyote Run Trail

With the bridge wiped out from the rains, I can get close and personal with the creek as I cross over to Coyote Run Trail

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Self portrait on Coyote Run.  This part used to be dark and shady – still is somewhat, but a massive chunk of trees are gone in the background (left).

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If you are familiar with Coyote Run Trail, you’ll notice something terribly different below.  I have a complete view of Wood Canyon Trail (across the creek and field).  Never before did I have such a view, because a wall of trees on both sides of the creek blocked it.

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Mathis Trail

Trail washed out, as this once dry creek, flowed abundantly during the December rains.

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Dripping Cave Trail

Crossing over from Mathis to Dripping Cave Trail, the bridge gone and trail washed out by another previously (& again now) dry creek.

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My favorite part of Dripping Cave Trail – going up, but oh beautiful!

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Dripping Cave (A.K.A. Robbers Cave).  I had planned to dangle my legs off the edge during this photo.  But as soon as I sat, the edge started falling away.

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Bye-bye Dripping Cave.

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Cave Rock Trail

Running up to “The” Rock – a magical trail with rocks looking like they were laid out especially for the runner.

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Attempting to pose on Cave rock, but it’s too steep and I’m slipping down during photo.

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Leaving Cave Rock, headed back onto Wood Canyon Trail.

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Wood Canyon Trail

Running Wood Canyon Trail, close to noon, with the sun beating down.  Most of this trail is exposed.

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Finally!  Glorious shade on Wood Canyon Trail.

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The last of shade on Wood Canyon Trail, approaching Canyon Vistas Park for one last incline to the car.

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Elevation Profile:My Activities aliso wood cyns 1-28-2011, Elevation - Distance

Miles logged:  7.91

8 comments:

  1. Aw, I'm glad you allowed yourself to just run - sounds like it's exactly what you needed.

    I love that shot of you at the Dripping Cave!

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  2. I *guess* there were a few changes!

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  3. Thanks Green Girl. I really love that picture too. I'm thinking of putting it on my website when I finally get it up and running.

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  4. Thanks for reading Glenn. And now it's raining again. I suppose there will be more changes : ))

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  5. Nice to see so many colours other than white. White is all I see here...but at least there are no bugs...
    Glad you just ran!

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  6. So scenic! Nothing like that here in SC. Well you can find single-track in the woods but that's mostly hiking.

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  7. Thanks Windnsnow! Yes, we've got some bugs. If I just stay out of the grass, I can usually avoid the ticks. I suppose even a tick here and there is worth it though. I would like to run in the snow once.

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  8. Thanks for reading Lindsay. I feel very fortunate for having so many trails out my way to run. I mainly run the one in this blog though, because it's closest. It's a pretty small county park, but with lots of trails that if I wanted to I could eek out lots and lots of miles.

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