Happy New Year! (Welcome La Nina!)

Happy New Year (& what a freakin’ year it’s been)! Time is an amazing thing – the years now just fly by. And so the passing of one year to the next doesn’t mean much to me. Every day is a start over day, not just the first of the year. So grateful that I know that!

One of my best Christmas gifts this year was a hike this past Wednesday (12/28), out to Black Star Canyon with my husband. We got in just after the rains and before another good storm. After picking up a couple sandwiches late morning, we packed them into one of my favorite spots.  After a good long rest in the “village”, we trekked through thick mud to explore Hidden Ranch while on our way to scout out another trail I’d heard about, a single track that leads up to The Divide, about a quarter mile past the KSOX Doppler Radar Tower (so I hear). Trail was located (for another day).

Gorgeous day out! On the way back, my husband picked up a rock that caught his eye. To my amazement, it was the same rock I had picked up a couple weeks back. I had to pull out a picture from my phone as proof – otherwise he would have never believed me. I took the finding as a good sign.

The sky was black when we finally made it out of the canyon, a full hour after sunset. No hauntings on this night, though if I had been without my spouse I would have been spooked for sure in a pitch-dark Black Star Canyon.

Looking forward to more cold winter, rainy weather here in California. La Nina is coming! Looking forward, I hope to explore new places in 2023. We’ll see. I’ll do what I can. I’ll be wandering one way or another for sure, I know that because that’s what I do!

Baker’s CrossToyon BerriesRe-packing after lunch in the villageCreek crossing in Hidden Ranch areaHeading home

12.1 miles, elevation gain about 3,800’

The Awesomeness of Solitude

Last Saturday, December 17, I took my usual hike of late – 10 miles, 5 out and 5 back on Black Star Canyon Road. No permit required for parking, no off-roading or windy mountain driving. Perfect for what I need right now. I’m easing back into it.

The dirt truck trail up Black Star Canyon was surprisingly empty for a Saturday morning/afternoon. I came upon several cyclists and one hiker that I spoke with briefly, but for the most part, I found myself completely alone. The awesomeness of absolute solitude on a lonely mountain road never ceases to amaze me. It feels like the utmost freedom – freedom to feel and think and question. Freedom to not think at all and just be in the Now. The solitude of a long lonely road brings me immeasurable peace. Thank God for that.

Price Tag: One Favorite Hat

Last Friday, December 9, I set off into Black Star Canyon after running some morning errands. Even with the late start, the weather was still nice and cold -- low 50s F, just how I like it. Perfect hiking weather. Coming to an end of a much needed extended fast, I decided to hike up to my favorite secret spot of late, to break my fast. The hike was more strenuous than usual being in in this state. This is exactly what I intended -- I mean, what better way to end a fast then by really pushing myself to get to a serene spot. And then to take the first bite of a cracker, the most wonderful tasting cracker in the world, while looking over the canyon. I can’t beat that. How much would I pay for such an experience? Lots. But I have no money. That’s okay, it only cost me my favorite hat. ;)

At the base of the canyon, I realized that I dropped my favorite hat. I had an idea where it probably happened. There was no way I was willing to make the trek back. I was bummed for a bit until I asked myself this: If you were offered today’s experience in the mountains and were told that it would cost you that hat, would you do it? Yes. Yes, I would.

10 miles lovely miles.

Out of Hibernation

December 3rd, my youngest son’s 18th birthday, I took a nice ten mile hike up Black Star Canyon, to one of my favorite easy to get to, out in the open, secret places. What’s the occasion? Nice cold weather was the occasion. It was time for me to come out of hibernation. I am awake! What a great hike to celebrate awakening. After a day like that I wondered (out loud) why I’m not out there every single day! I get that much peace from the trip. I felt so full of joy at one point that I burst into a spontaneous run. I stopped myself from that silliness pretty quickly though since it’s been a while. I’m not practiced – last thing I need is a face plant. My arms only recently recovered from the last fall in December 2021. (Excuses, excuses).

I love Black Star Canyon. Yes, the base is well travelled and in places vandalized with spray paint. That’s sad. And yes, it’s mainly all truck trail (with a few single track turn offs available here and there). Once you make that turn 2.5 miles in and start the climb, there’s so much to see up there, even close to the road. Black Star Canyon is a beautiful place with a huge local history (which explains the legends of its haunting). On that note, I do find Black Star Canyon haunting, but not by ghosts. 

Another Race Against the Clock

November 11, I went for a long awaited hike in my local canyons (Aliso and Wood). This time I set out only a few hours before sunset. So, it was another race against the clock, which meant no dillydallying, no stopping, no exploring, just constant moving to avoid being caught out in the dark. I Marched right past The Rock that sheds tears without even noticing and arrived back at my truck after 9.5 miles about 20 minutes after sunset -- just as the sky turned black. Good times! When I arrived home, I did a control fall out of the truck and stumbled into the house so warn out and trashed I was.These are the days!

Santa Catalina Island ~ 42 miles across the seaLooking back at Old Saddleback

Meadows Trail

Toyon berriesCrossing Wood Creek

I turned suddenly around to find Wiley Coyote sneaking upLooking healthy

Happy Thanksgiving!