Days 861 - 864: Gardens of the World - Missing Hikers - Crowley House - Leapfrogging

Peek-a-Boo (Friday in Thousand Oaks)

Missing Hikers Found:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/04/us/california-missing-hikers/index.html

 

 

I can't count how many times I've seen young teenagers enter the wilderness with one bottle of water with the aspiration to tackle a hike that I won't even attempt in one day if I was fully prepared.  I recall a 100 degree day where I intersected two 17 year old boys and one girl.  They approached me and asked how far the Sespe Hot Springs were.  I advised they were 17 miles from here (at the Piedra Blanca Tailhead at Lion Camp in Rose Valley).  Their response, "cool".

 

Huh, are you kidding me?  That will take 8 hours one direction if you hike non-stop, and to do that with three people and one bottle of water, are you crazy?  I suggested to them, "The Willet Hot Springs are 10 miles in, but I would only consider going there if you planned an overnight."

 

Their response, "Nah, we're going to Sespe"...

 

Good Luck, ridiculous.  First off, even if you happen to get that far, drink from the springs in the mountain and what not, you could easily get confused.  The trail down that way is very rough at best, lost even.  Look, i don't need to say more about the practicalities of hiking.  I've been lost many of times in my 1000 Days.  That said, I consider my wandering off trail a controlled type mistake.  I guess you can't talk to a 20 year old.  Heck, I was there once and nobody could tell me.  As you see, I'm not that much better now but I have figured out my grip.  Here I am, still standing and hiking...

 

Day #861 * Hike #1074 * New Track #842
Lost in the streets - Port Hueneme, California
Tuesday March 26, 2013
My Tripometer: 1 Hour * 1.5 Miles * +25 Feet

 

Speaking of being lost, today marked the day that I nearly became lost in hikes and life.  You have no idea how much pressure I put on myself for hiking each day.  As you can imagine, this is very stressful for my family.  This hike from the Chill Out Frozen Yogurt Shop became the first of many leapfrogging adventures.  Lol, and I still manage to gain a new track from it because I hiked on new ground...

 

Day #862 * Hike #1075 * New Track #843
Drew Barrymore - Oxnard, California
Wednesday March 27, 2013
My Tripometer: 1 Hour * 1.75 Miles * +25 Feet

 

Continuing on with my mission from yesterday, I parked my bike today on Berrymore in Oxnard off Saviers and then walked back to Port Hueneme where I parked my car.  I can't explain why I was doing this, but maybe one day this leapfrogging adventure will be a chapter in a book.  Let me tell you, I was under duress, wearing jeans, chaffing, mentally worn, exhausted, sad, beat, and so on.  Lost, confused, no camera, but this will change...

 

Day #863 * Hike #1076 * New Track #844
Hiding Down Wilbur - Thousand Oaks, California
Thursday March 28, 2013
My Tripometer: 30 minutes * 1 Mile * +25 Feet

 

Very early in the morning, I parked my car somewhere about a mile from my job and walked to work.  Yes, this is considered a hike!  It's a strenuous outdoor activity along a new route...

 

**Hike #1077: Duplicate Track

Reversing my course for my 10:00 break at work could have been considered a New Track.  I ran back to my car, walking on the opposite sidewalk.  However, too close to being on the same grounds and its sorta gay to call this a hike anyway.  Good enough for a mile.  Good enough for a hike.  Good enough for a Duplicate Track only...

 

Day #863 * Hike #1078 * New Track #845
Scoping Out the Neighborhood - Thousand Oaks, California
Thursday March 28, 2013
My Tripometer: 1 Hour * 2 Miles * +75 Feet

 

It's now my lunch break.  Working was very difficult but it was month end so I had to.  Meanwhile, I used this hour to search.  New streets, new hills, I cut through streets, jumped a fence and created a New Track out of it for the record.  Like I said, I'm obsessed with just moving around.  I was losing my way and no time for the trails, but these episodes kept the dream alive...

 

Day #863 * Hike #1079 * New Track #846
Rent a Walk - Thousand Oaks, California
Thursday March 28, 2013
My Tripometer: 30 Minutes * 1.25 Miles * +25 Feet

 

After work I glanced down a few streets and inevitably reached my new destination, Avis Rent A Car.  It was a hike and now I have a car.  This leads me to my next hike.  I need to move my bike because I cannot leave it on the streets in a bad neighborhood.  I figured my bike would be safe in the same spot for 24 hours.  Much after that, the Thugles would be on to me...

 

 

Day #863 * Hike #1080 * New Track #847
Garden City Acres Park - Oxnard, California
Thursday March 28, 2013
My Tripometer: 1 Hour * 1.5 Miles * +25 Feet

 

 

Back into Oxnard, I wound up just beyond this park.  I continued the leapfrogging adventure to a rare neighborhood in town.  On the other side of this park is Squires Road.  I did not feel safe parking my bike there for the overnight, but I did.  Part of why I picked this area was because the street signs in the area said no parking on the street on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 8am - noon.  Well, tomorrow would be the 4th Friday.  Of course, it did say. "Except Holidays" and this Friday would be Good Friday.  Still, I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I safely parked the bike in an unsafe area.  Again, my mind is going bonkers right now, I cant explain why but it just was.  The only peace I had was the walk through this park, the green, the air, the new camera that I was using to take this very first and only picture of the hike...

 

Day #864 * Hike #1081 * New Track #848
Gardens of the World - Thousand Oaks, California

Crowly House - El Parque de la Paz (Pleasant Way Park)
Friday March 29, 2013
My Tripometer: 1.5 Hours * 3 Miles * +25 Feet

 

I believe this was off Hillcrest in T.O.

 From Avis to Heartz.  To make this work, I rented a new car at Heartz, parked it near a park and then drove the Avis car back, which forced me to hike back to the other car.  Crazy huh, but it saved me $50 in rental over the weekend so a no brainer, plus I got an unexpected and pretty cool hike out of it.  Just ask the squirrel at the top of this blogpost...

 It's like being in nature with cars all around you

 A random park off T.O. Blvd

 Riverwalk near Los Feliz

 Behind the liquor store

 Antiques - Hiking this way is sorta interesting, I still prefer legit trails

 Ah, look what I found...

 Gardens of the World - across from the Civic Arts Plaza

Dude, I just missed it.  The gates lock at 5:00 and it was literally 5:05!  Really!!!  Cool spot.  It looks like its free and I had no idea this was here?!  I may need to come back...

 Crowley House at El Parque de la Paz

 Same Park - Pleasant Way Park

 

This is where I parked my car.  Pretty cool hike.  Better neighborhoods, albeit not perfect, hence the cops.  Good weather, more distance.  But all was not rosy - peachy.  I still have a bike to move and issues to deal with.  More to come, stay tuned...



Day 860: Red Rock Canyon from Stunt Road - Calabasas Peak Motorway - Red Rock Canyon Trail

Dusk over Calabasas

Day #860 * Hike #1073 * New Track #841
Red Rock Canyon - Calabasas  California
Calabasas Peak Motorway - Red Rock Canyon Trail
Monday March 25, 2013
My Tripometer: 1.75 Hours * 5.5 Miles * +1100 Feet

 Calabasas Peak Motorway Trailhead (across the street)

Directions:
From the 101 Freeway in Calabasas, exit Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon and head south for three miles.  Turn left on Mulholland Highway and continue along this awesome road for 4 miles.  Turn right on Stunt Road and at exactly a mile, look for this turn out on your right.

I've explored this trailhead once before.  It was on a day that Jess and I went for a long motorcycle ride and I recently thought about this when I climbed Calabasas Peak a few weeks back.  There is a trail which leads down from the parking area but today you will cross the street and begin hiking up, and up and...

 Turn right at this junction to head to Red Rock

(going straight will lead you to Calabasas Peak)

 The fire road takes you much lower...

 It's way cool down here...

 Geology is sick with it!

 Perfect spot for a picnic...

Creepy...

 Red Rock Canyon Trail off to the left

I didn't know this at first so I passed it.  Good thing I did because further down the fire road were some other side trails.  Look off to the right, through the bushes, a trail leads here...

 stairway to coolness...

 Nice!

 Chill Out

 Sideways Hot Tub - Insane!!!

 Keep on exploring off trail

 Some easy bouldering coming up

 It's a legit trail

 take the stairs...

 The rock ledge...

To reach this point you will need some upper body strength.  It's not extremely difficult but it could be a bit of a challenge for some.  I used my best judgment and turned back down when it made sense.  I then continued up the fire road...

 Huh, I guess I could have parked right here, lol

(at least I save a few bucks)

 Continuing past the parking area

 Follow the road - I believe it leads to Old Topanga Rd.

 Yeah, I'll need to come back here from this way...

I turned back around with the intention of just heading back to the bike.  However, I decided to make more of an experience out of this trip so I began to hike up the Red Rock Trail.  I wasn't sure where it was going to go, so here goes...

 Nice Trail...

 I love you Jess

 I'm in the heart of the awesome views

 reminds me of Vasquez Rocks, well, sorta...

 uh, don't forget that we are increasing elevation with every step...

 See, it's the Red Rock Canyon Trail...

Calabasas Peak dead ahead, and I do mean dead...

The Red Rock Trail went right, so I went off trail through here...

So, this was a big mistake.  It appeared that the Red Rock Canyon Trail loops back toward Old Topanga.  I was already well over an hour into this hike and the sun started to get tired.  I needed to get my butt up to Chill Out so I figured what the hay, maybe I could find a cut through to lead me back to the Calabasas Motorway or Peak.  Actually, I mostly doubted this idea because it was quite clear that this hill was running out of elevation and the only way to go higher was to go down into a canyon first.  Nevertheless, I pushed passed some wicked brush and then the unmarked trail opened up again.  A sign of hope until it quickly closed and got stupid.  The whole time, I was able to see the road that I needed to be on.  It was far off to the left.  I was willing to battle straight ahead to reach the peak and then come down the other fork but, at some point, I said forget about.  Way to crazy and overgrown, not worth it.  I essentially ran all the way back to the fire road and then pushed myself up another elevation gain, third one of the day.  I estimate this entire journey at +1100 feet, but, I think it may have been a bit more than that.

Days 858 - 859: She's Back - Coleman Comes Through!

Thank You COLEMAN!!!

Day #858 - 859 * Hike #1071 - 1072 * Duplicate Tracks
Pleasant Valley Fields - Camarillo & Ventura, California
A Walk through the Cape
Saturday & Sunday March 23 & 24, 2013

 Alyssa: She's Back...

Alot has been going on recently, OMG...  First, the Good News!  After over a year of dealing with a broken arm, Alyssa has come back out to play.  Ironically, the very first team that she faced was a new Ventura Club which included several of her old teammates.

Alyssa sat for all but 5 minutes of the first half and her role was identical in the 2nd half.  Her Camarillo Eagles won the match by a score of 2-1.

 Alyssa takes on Hailey, who was Alyssa's closest friend on the Vipers...

My hike today was waking up early and walking to and from the car to the field several times before finally plopping into my chair for the game.  I accumulated approximately 1.5 miles, which is good enough for this duplicate hike.  Truthfully, I was quite sick.  I just felt miserable and this was a carryover from the day off I took on Friday, which actually had me trekking nearly 10 miles to fight the cold.  Okay, so maybe I do too much hiking but unlike some of my other coworkers, this illness only lasted a few days and did not linger on...

More good news; my Blog reached over 100,000 views!!!  When did that happen?!  Thank You for stopping by, whoever you are.  I hope the hikes help inspire your own unique adventure.

Even Better News!  I entered the Mt. Whitney draft twice but I did not get picked.  Fortunately, a co worker of mine also entered the lotto for August 12th, my Day #1000, and he got picked!  YES!  Thank You!  For Reals!  Thus, it's official.  I will summit Whitney for Day #1000.  Oh Yeah!

**On Sunday, I was still feeling under.  Hmm, I was actually prepared to do a 15 mile trek but due to soccer games and Ayden's reluctant attitude, I ended up playing Tennis, took a duplicate 1.5 mile trek around the Cape in Ventura and then sat in the jacuzzi.  The day had me driving around, watching kids, which by the way is much more tiring than any 10 mile hike....

 Camarillo Eagles Win the Tournament!

Alyssa got more playing time in the remaining 3 games.  Her team won every contest.  Alyssa found her stride and her strike as she helped lift the Eagles to Victory scoring 2 Goals and aiding with 1 Assist.  Well done Sissy!  Glad You Are Back...

***Special thanks to Coleman for all of the great equipment.  I finally have hiking poles!  This could come in handy because there have been several times on long climbs where my legs have cramped up.  I'm not sure how I feel about holding anything, but I will need to plan a test run to see if these are a legit tool that I could use.

I got a head lamp, which could come in handy cause the plan is to begin from the Whitney trailhead while its still dark.  My kids have already used one of the tents and the sleeping bags as they have set up camp on the trampoline in the backyard.  Good Stuff, hope to find more sponsors as well to really help make this experience a rewarding, and less expensive one :)

Ah, and that brings me to the doldrums of reality.  If you have read through this post, you're prolly thinking that I am the happiest camper ever, pun intended.  Truth is, hmm, not on this post.  You'll see.  Will explain why its been over a week since my last post.  Stay tuned, for some details.  Read in between the lines as I will prolly exult these words like Alan Greenspan - gibberish with a purpose...