Santa Monica Mountains

Will-Do
June 2000:

Santa Monica Mountains

During this week, I took some time (after Sales training) to hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. I can't believe that a place this beautiful is so close to Los Angeles and it was virtually deserted. About 30 minutes from Malibu, this area is easily accessible from the LA basin, yet I didn't see anyone else on any trails while I was there. Amazing.

Also, don't miss checking out Day II on Mt. Allen.

When I arrived in LAX, the limo took me to Westlake Village, where our Sales training was to take place. The mountains to the north of the LA basin were spectacular. I had never really paid attention to them before. While at the hotel, I checked around on the Internet and discovered that most of the Santa Monica Mountains were a National Recreation Area. I called the nearby ranger's office and was directed to Mt. Allen as a good hiking destination.

This is a map of the entire Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Click the map for a full-size version. It is pretty big, so you will likely have to pan and scan.

On the way up. I am crossing the Ventura Freeway (101), going South into the Santa Monicas.

Here's the view North from a little ways up the trail. The Pacific is obscured by haze. The car in the middle of the shot.

The smell of the Sage was overwhelming. I have never experienced any single event involving scent that was as powerful as this. I think it was the perfect time of year and time of day. The next evening it wasn't nearly as strong.

I ran about 1/3 of the ascent, since I was trying to summit by sunset. I was dying. I didn't realize the vertical was over 1k feet until Patsy Price pointed it out the next day.

Here's the first view back towards Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village.

This is a view of the summit ridge from just below.

The Olympus D-450 camera just doesn't handle intense sunlight well. I wish I had had my Minolta!

Here's the map for the "Circle X Ranch" area. The yellow highlighting marks the trail I took.It is a pretty short distance to gain 1000 ft

This is a nice shot of the summit marker, and the view to the North.

Here's the view from the summit down to the parking lot, 1,000 feet below. (It's on the right, in the parking lot). You also can see the road leading to the trailhead, snaking its way around the peaks.

Here's another looking down at the car. I had been looking down from the summit for some time before I realized I was looking right at the parking lot!

Slightly different angle.

The foreground is the rest of the summit ridge. The mountain behind the resevoir in the background is actually also in the Santa Monica NRA. It is over 2,500 ft. I didn't have time to climb it also.

Different angle on the North view, a little darker also.

About this time, I realized I would have to hurry down to avoid hiking in the dark.

One of my favorites. Notice how the setting sun makes the rock really look red.

A little more "rock-focused"

I like these next two...

...even if the sun didn't come out great. The smoky valleys are cool.

This is my favorite shot of the entire group. I just love the mist and the ghostly flowers in the foreground.
This makes a great wallpaper!

Here's a look at the road as it continues on the other side of the trailhead. It eventually joins back up with Mulholland Drive.

Here's the last bit of light, skylining the summit ridge as seen from the parking lot at the trailhead. I didn't have a tripod, so the moon is a little blurry.

I really enjoyed this hike. The next day, Patsy Price saw my photos on my laptop and suggested my go hiking. I thought the same hike would be good, so she, Lisa Breland and I did it again! My legs were pretty tired, but it was really a lot of fun.See some shots from Day II on Mt. Allen.

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This page last modified 11/22/02

When I arrived in LAX, the limo took me to Westlake Village, where our Sales training was to take place. The mountains to the north of the LA basin were spectacular. I had never really paid attention to them before. While at the hotel, I checked around on the Internet and discovered that most of the Santa Monica Mountains were a National Recreation Area. I called the nearby ranger's office and was directed to Mt. Allen as a good hiking destination.
This is a map of the entire Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Click the map for a full-size version. It is pretty big, so you will likely have to pan and scan.
	On the way up. I am crossing the Ventura Freeway (101), going South into the Santa Monicas.
Here's the view North from a little ways up the trail. The Pacific is obscured by haze. The car in the middle of the shot.
	The smell of the Sage was overwhelming. I have never experienced any single event involving scent that was as powerful as this. I think it was the perfect time of year and time of day. The next evening it wasn't nearly as strong.
I ran about 1/3 of the ascent, since I was trying to summit by sunset. I was dying. I didn't realize the vertical was over 1k feet until Patsy Price pointed it out the next day.
	Here's the first view back towards Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village.
This is a view of the summit ridge from just below.
	The Olympus D-450 camera just doesn't handle intense sunlight well. I wish I had had my Minolta!
	Here's the map for the "Circle X Ranch" area. The yellow highlighting marks the trail I took.It is a pretty short distance to gain 1000 ft
This is a nice shot of the summit marker, and the view to the North.
	Here's the view from the summit down to the parking lot, 1,000 feet below. (It's on the right, in the parking lot). You also can see the road leading to the trailhead, snaking its way around the peaks.
Here's another looking down at the car. I had been looking down from the summit for some time before I realized I was looking right at the parking lot!
	Slightly different angle.
The foreground is the rest of the summit ridge. The mountain behind the resevoir in the background is actually also in the Santa Monica NRA. It is over 2,500 ft. I didn't have time to climb it also.
	Different angle on the North view, a little darker also.
About this time, I realized I would have to hurry down to avoid hiking in the dark.
	One of my favorites. Notice how the setting sun makes the rock really look red.
A little more "rock-focused"
	I like these next two...
...even if the sun didn't come out great. The smoky valleys are cool.
	This is my favorite shot of the entire group. I just love the mist and the ghostly flowers in the foreground. This makes a great wallpaper!
Here's a look at the road as it continues on the other side of the trailhead. It eventually joins back up with Mulholland Drive.
	Here's the last bit of light, skylining the summit ridge as seen from the parking lot at the trailhead. I didn't have a tripod, so the moon is a little blurry.
I really enjoyed this hike. The next day, Patsy Price saw my photos on my laptop and suggested my go hiking. I thought the same hike would be good, so she, Lisa Breland and I did it again! My legs were pretty tired, but it was really a lot of fun.See some shots from Day II on Mt. Allen.

Will-Do June 2000:

Santa Monica Mountains

Will-Do
June 2000: