Car Wreck/Rock-It Loop

March 19 (Thursday) Social Distancing was the talk of the town, but there was still no official shelter-in-place order. I had been converting all my classes to online and learning the software that I would be recording my lectures (Zoom). And so when we had another break in the rain, I was eager to take a break from work and headed on off to Aliso Canyon where the fields were green, but the skies were gray. The parking lot at the ranger station was closed but there was plenty of room to park on the street and in the church parking lot across the street. There were other cars parked about with hikers and mountain bikers -- I'd say 20 to 30. But this wilderness park is about 4500 acres. So if each of those cars had 2 people each, that'd be 60 people in a 4500 acre area, which of course means you stand a good chance of not seeing a single other person there.

The park itself was open, I confirmed by talking with a ranger. And then minutes later, as I was headed out toward Aliso Creek Trail, the rain began to fall. I hurried beneath the structure that houses a piece of historic farm equipment, hoping to wait it out. It was cold windy wind, so I took a gamble and headed off into the native plant garden to a couple of benches that I recalled beneath some trees that overlooked Aliso Creek. What I didn't remember was that those trees were deciduous, which means the benches were completely exposed this time of year (no leaves!). By the time I made it back to my truck in the church parking lot, I was pretty drenched. Fortunately, I was wearing a pair of quick-dry hiking shorts, and I had a dry beanie waiting to replace the drenched one upon my head.

I checked my weather app to see that this storm would be passing and leaving a wide area open for slight rain, or no rain at all. And I just sat there for a while in my truck, taking in the few people here and there scurrying into their cars. Twenty to thirty cars may seem like a lot for this pre-shelter-in-place "Social Distancing" phase we were in. But it's really not for this park on a spring day (and spring break for many), you could easily see 5 times as many people. I finally felt dry enough to venture out of the truck. It was about 11:30 am. I was still on spring break, and the next week, more after that, I was working from home, so I had time to get in a hike, and so grateful I was for that. The dark rain clouds at last parted and Aliso Canyon looked like this:

Aliso Creek was roaring

In Wood Canyon, about to cross over Wood Creek

Because I set out so late on this hike/run (but mainly hike), I decided against the Big Loop or any version thereof. Instead, I decided to head up Wood Canyon, turn off on Mathis, then before the big climb up Mathis, turn off onto Oak Grove Trail. This lovely green and wooded trail leads to a land of fairies and magical spells, a wrecked car from long ago (now destroyed from vandals) and a magnificently steep trail that climbs back up to Mathis (near West Ridge). I don't often find myself on Car Wreck, as it is quite difficult going up. But on this particular day, that kind of uphill climbing was just what I needed.

Kickin' Back on this Bizarrely Placed Bench on Oak Grove Trail

 

Car Wreck Trail

A tiny bit of rain came down on Car Wreck Trail. And surprisingly, I met up with two separate groups of people, each consisting with about 4 people (I think the first group had 5). That's quite unusual. As empty as this park was, I would have figured that one of the most remote trails (like Car Wreck) would have had no people sightings. I did some live video going up Car Wreck (it really is that fun of a trail!). And then at Mathis and West Ridge, I found the trails desolate once again.

I elected to head back via Rock-It and Coyote Run Trails. I saw a couple of people off in the distance on RockIt Trail. I don't recall any others. The park was pretty desolate. 4,500 acres is a lot of land. What a beautiful day it was!

Rock-It

Empty Grocery Shelves & An Order To Social Distance

This past Tuesday, March 17, we got another break in rains. We were not in a statewide shelter-in-place order yet, but practically everything had closed down: schools, libraries, bars, dine-in restaurants, theaters, gyms, sports, concerts, etc. From what I see around me, no one is in a panic -- no one I talk to, none of my family members. But there is a lot of public discourse if you have any of the apps or belong to your community's social media pages. People are posting angrily and want everyone to stay inside of their homes. Hunker down! On Tuesday, "Social Distancing" was the order of the day -- that is don't meet in groups, publicly or privately, and stay at least 6 feet from one another outside of your family. I thought local mountains were the perfect place of course, to social distance myself. 

I decided to take drive up Santiago Canyon Road and turn off into Modjeska Canyon. That took about thirty minutes. I was aiming for a shortish hike, so I was in no rush and could enjoy the drive -- I found it calming. I parked off to the side of the road along Modjeska Grade, which was a short uphill distance (about 1/4 mi) away from Santiago Truck Trail. It's an asphalt hike to the trail head with this gorgeous view overlooking the homes off of Modjeska Grade and Santiago Canyon Rd:

Santiago Truck Trail (STT) is the perfect trail when I want short distance (as in about 7 miles). Of course, STT is good for long distances too, as there's Joplin Trail and Old Camp off Yonder! It's a beautiful trail and it never gets old. My heart sang on Tuesday the moment my feet hit the dirt. I  was very much in the mood to toughen it up and didn't hesitate to take the higher, more difficult single track that backbones up above Santiago Truck Trail.  What gorgeous views!

Meeting back up with STT the views did not disappoint. I took it to the flags across from the vulture crags. It's mainly uphill on the way out, except for this one grand sweeping downhill that meets up with The Luge Trail. There were no more than a half dozen mountain bikers over those 7+ miles (but I really think the number was more like 4). Either way, STT was a tranquilizer, and a easy pill to swallow at that. What a contrast it was up there to what's going on down here. Up there (on Santiago Truck trail) there's beauty surrounding. There's majesty. There's history. There's respect. What a great escape to what's going on down here. Down here, need I say, there's a disruption, a major disruption. There's empty grocery shelves and an order to social distance.

STT never gets old. And I think it even gets better in the midst of a pandemic. 

7.12 miles, 1,409' elevation gain.

Social Distancing

Social Distancing

With my teaching assignments going online, and my children all off from school (2 youngest @ home and oldest still in college dorm), life has been altered (quite disrupted) to say the least. All events, rehearsals, lessons, everything has been cancelled. The state of California and much of the nation (as well as the world) is practicing "social distancing." No longer do I need to wake by 7:00 am to get my boys off to school. No longer do I drive 60 miles a day. Nowadays, I try to sleep in as late as I can possibly stand it (which is between 8:00 and 9:00 am). I feel like I need the rest. Most of the businesses in my town are closed and with the off and on rain, the streets most days are empty. The shelves in the groceries stores are empty as well. Every single store. It’s an odd thing. Surreal. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

We are not in a literal “shelter-in-place,” though there’s cities in San Francisco County that are, and probably even more areas in California by now too. In my county, there’s an order against gathering publicly or privately. Church services are cancelled. Bars and restaurants (except for take out) are closed. Gyms are closed. Theaters are closed. It’s a screeching grinding halt to the economy. We can’t find grocery essentials (like toilet paper, eggs and rice), but on the other hand, I just paid $2.85 a gallon to fill up my gas tank. I can’t remember when fuel has been that low. It's been years. 

On the 16th (Monday, the first day of my official “spring break”), we got a break in the rain. Much to to my surprise, I was living my spring break in a surreal world. I knew that I needed to get out and put some miles beneath my feet. (I believe my husband even pleaded with me to do so 😅) But I didn't feel like it; in fact, I dreaded it. I watched the weather reports, and they said rain, rain, rain for the next several days. And here I was on March 16 with a break in the rain. I felt I just couldn’t chance it. I feared that I may not see another break in the rain for a while. So, I took off locally, with pavement beneath my feet (and a new pair of road running shoes -- yay!). My left foot injury felt very faint, and it fared no worse, I am grateful to say, from this run. Even though I dreaded it, within 15 seconds of my feet hitting the ground, I was glad to be out pounding pavement. My spirit felt lighter. I don't think I enjoyed the running as much as I enjoyed the freedom. Running does that; it breaks the chains between you and everything that is. Running down Pacific Coast Highway toward the ocean gave me something else to focus on, something other than the coronavirus (COVID 19). All of that was kept at bay. And that was lovely!  

What started out as a 5 mile out-and-and back to where the sidewalk ends in Capistrano Beach, grew as I made my way back through Doheny Beach. The weather was perfect, the clouds were majestic and awesomely eerie at times.  I ran through the campgrounds which had just a few campers. There were a couple of other runners out. A few people strolled about on the sand. After making my way back through Doheny Beach where I would have normally made my way back to Pacific Coast Highway, I decided to head on off to the jetty to get a good look over at the marina, a spot that I always enjoy taking in. 

After running out to the jetty and back, I was already at about 6 miles in my run, and I thought, well, heck, push it to 7 and see how that feels. By the time I hit 7 miles, I was so close to 10, in my warped mind, that I thought heck, just do three more miles -- you can do that! 

And I did. And the land and skies out before me were beautiful. It was a tiresome journey for sure. And I didn't quite come in at 10 miles. My sports watch AmazFit read 9.61 miles, but uploaded to Strava, the data read 9.5 miles. Either way, I had no more energy to run around the block a couple times (like the old days) to make sure I hit the intended mileage. 😂 9.5 or 9.61 was good enough for me. Left foot is still a little sore, but I don't think that I re-injured it. I think I will try and stay off the pavement for a bit, just to be safe. 

"Baby Beach" in the Dana Point Harbor pictured left, during what is Spring Break 2020 for many. I know many local community apps and social media pages are showing pictures of groups of teens gathering publicly, and there's been quite a bit of discourse on these matters. This is what I saw. Barely a person around. A few runners here and there. A couple people on the sand, a couple eating a Jon's Fish Market (this was before the restaurant closures). A few people at the wharf. A few people in Turk's Bar. That was about it. We are "social distancing".

The Calm Before the Storm @ Beek's Place

Just before my family's (and much of my entire country's, and others') routines and plans for the next month or so came to a screeching halt, and just before this week or so of rains, I made it out to Black Star Canyon up to Beek's Place for a little over 16 miles (2,339' elevation gain). That was Sunday, March 8.  It was a cold day, but not freezing; it was perfect. I kept bundled the entire trip (aside from taking off the beanie). And the skies, they were spectacular -- blue with giant puffy clouds. There were dozens of us out there on the trails that day: mountain bikers, hikers, runners. I was out there getting in some hiking and running on these lovely trails before the rains set in. I was oblivious to how the next week would turn out with the coronavirus (COVID-19) beginning to make its way through various cities in the U.S. Since then, all three of my sons various events, music and such, have been cancelled. Two of my sons will be home for the next month because their public high school has closed. My oldest son's university has gone online, and my teaching has gone online too. Much to my surprise, the shelves are practically empty at the grocery stores. Business establishments have very few people in them. There's fewer people driving the roads. Right now people are getting ready to shelter in place. And its eerie and surreal. 

I am grateful for those hours up Black Star Canyon on March 12. I love Black Star Canyon still! The fields were green and blooming with purple lupin. The breeze was reinvigorating. As usual, I spent far too much time up at Beek's Place. Instead of coming in at 5 hours, it was more like 5 and 1/2 hours. All well worth it. Black Star Canyon was a great way to spend the calm before the storm -- the literal and the figurative storm. As soon as the rain breaks, I'll be back out on the trails. I figure that I'll be safe from viruses there, perhaps the only place for now. 

Making my way alongside the creek, before the climb begins:

Looking back at the dreamy plateau I just passed through:

On The Main Divide @ Beek's Place

Heading Back:

My New Hydration Pack: Nathan TrailMix

I am kind of a baby when it comes to replacing my hydration pack. I have been very happy with my Ultimate Direction Wink (except for its bladder) and have purchased it more than once, perhaps 3 times (not sure). So, when I went to order another Wink, I was dismayed to learn that the company had discontinued the model. No problem, I thought . . . I'll just purchase another Ultimate Direction, just a different model. Turned out, I do not like the new Ultimate Direction designs, and they are over-priced to boot. I am not going to pay $165 for a vest I don't really like (especially since I am poor). And so, for months, I stopped in at every running and sporting goods store I could find. I searched the web and clicked on every single hydration pack that Amazon has to offer. I still had hopes that I was going to stumble upon an Ultimate Direction Wink -- maybe, just maybe, there's a store out there that still had one in storage. No such luck. That meant one thing: It's time to move on.

I finally decided on a hydration pack (for my birthday): Nathan TrailMix. And on this past Friday (March 6), I took it out for a test "run" (but mainly hike) on The Big Loop @ Aliso/Woods (12 miles). I won't bore you with the route (since I have written about this loop again and again, too many times!). I'll just cut to the chase and give you the review of my new vest.

Let me begin with, I did have kind of a lousy attitude because I really don't like change, especially when I was very satisfied with my Wink. My attitude is changing however. I'm 55 years old now. I'm a grown up now, and I can handle change.

I'll start with the pros of the Nathan Trail Mix:

1. The bladder is superb! Fits very nicely in the pack, seals and opens easily.
2. The bladder holds 2 liters -- yay!
3. I have front pocket storage. (Extremely important, and this is difficult to find).
4. The material has a slight stretch to it.
5. It is comfortable (aside from the front strap and how high it rides, see below)
6. I have room to store other things in the back.
7. The stitching is pretty and I like the color.
8. It does not bounce.
9. The price is reasonable (I paid $99 on Amazon).

The cons:

1. I should not have purchased the large size; I have much more strapping than I need.
2. The front pockets are too deep and I cannot close them (no zipper, etc.).
3. The front straps run directly across the boobs (with my Wink, I only attached the bottom strap, which ran beneath the boobs). I find this slightly uncomfortable and I don't like the way it looks.
4. I must attach both front straps of the Nathan when I run, otherwise the pack slips off my shoulders (I don't need to attach both when just hiking).
5. It rides way too high!
6. It does not have as many pockets and compartments as my Wink (& and I really like compartments in my vests!)
7. It says "Nathan" across the back in big letters (I do not want to advertise for the company. I think it's rude to plaster the name of your product in such big letters -- so that annoys me, just a tad, but not enough not to wear the pack, especially a good pack like this).

Overall, this pack gets a thumbs up. I am happy that I purchased the Nathan TrailMix. I believe I will get used to some of the cons. I also plan on purchasing a bigger pack with more storage later when I have money (hopefully, I won't have to wait until my 56th birthday). 😂

On another note -- spring is in the air. It's beautiful out there, and I plan to hit the trails as much as I can manage over the next couple of months. I so am grateful to have this new pack!

Prickly Pears are getting ready to burst into blooms

On Cholla Trail in Wood Canyon wearing the Nathan TrailMix

Lupin is blooming (@ Top of the World, Laguna Beach)

Snakey!

Meadows Trail in all its glory!

Cute little yellow birdie

The video review: