Topanga Canyon State Park
|
Eagle Rock Loop Topanga Canyon State Park |
April 24, 2018
Yesterday, I drove over here to Woodland Hills from Kanab, Utah, to visit
hiking partner Gary who is convalescing from a recent surgery. Today,
we drive for just 20-25 minutes from Gary's home to a new trailhead,
without ever leaving a residential area. I certainly cannot do that back home.
Will we actually see any of these guys?
Getting started
The grasses are nice and green
Catalina Mariposa Lilies come in two colors
Sticky Bush Monkeyflower
Owl's Clover
Well, I'm getting some nice shots; but a lot of close-ups are inexplicably out of focus. I must resolve that issue with this new Canon if it is to be used on the trail.
Pitcher Sage
Presently I spot something out of the ordinary beside the path:
What a wonderful find! It's too bad that the fairies themselves are out hiking today.
Coast Morning Glory
Laurel Sumac
Picnic area
Cutting the grass
Cobwebby Thistle
The trail keeps going up
Right here, my camera battery dies, and inexplicably I don't have a spare handy, and that's a first. Is my brain still suffering dehydration from my desert outing three days ago in Escalante? Perhaps, but in any case it's time to break out the backup unit that never has been needed until today. This Sony last saw any real action a year ago on the Kepler Track in New Zealand.
Poison Oak
Right after shooting the dreaded plant, three non-English-speaking youngsters approach from behind. Just in case they might not be aware, Gary attempts to explain to them about the plant, because it is invading the trail right here. What those folks actually make of the entreaty is unknown, but they promptly turn back and are not seen again. Go figure.
The Showy Penstemon are showing us what can be done with color
The fragile fenced-off area is recovering nicely
On a mission
Starting up Eagle Rock Fire Road
First view of the destination
Somebody is up there already
The Pacific Ocean is over there under the fog
At the summit, a heartfelt message is inscribed on the bench
We must get over there
Claiming that "I have something to show you", Gary climbs the rock.
This is his surprise:
Eagle Rock Arch
Wow! This is great. I crawl inside with Gary to munch some gorp.
Snack time in the shade
Inscribed on the cave wall
Gary points down the steep side of this rock, suggesting that I might like to scramble down there to see something else; so I do it.
It's a double arch this time
Now I must climb back up
Time for more snacks before starting back
The route ahead
They will get there first
Looking northwest
From here, we will loop down another way, remaining on the fire road for a while.
Cathedral Rocks to the east
Presently, I startle a cute little horned toad; but it disappears before I can photograph it. I hadn't seen one of those in many years.
Tree Tobacco
Woolly Bluecuris
The long zoom on this backup camera is coming in handy at times:
Western Side-Blotched Lizard
Looking southwest
California Prickly Phlox
Blue-Eyed Grass
A federal worker doing — something
Just ahead is a woman guiding a dozen noisy grade-schoolers. She tells them to let us pass. While doing so, I promptly lose my balance on the slanted trail, nearly taking out three kids with me.
They probably got a good laugh at my expense
A woodpecker does its thing
Hello! We must be nearing the end.
Trippet Ranch has a pleasant little museum and a pleasant little docent
The message inside is two days old, but I like it
§: What a good outing! Nice flowers, unexpected arches,
and I touched only a little bit of poison oak. Gary experienced no pain
until the very end, and my backup camera worked just fine.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality | |
| Flowers |  |
On the drive back, I must stop for this roadside attraction:
According to legend, seeing the Flying Pink Pig in Topanga Canyon on New Year's Day will bring good luck for the coming year.
 |
May 2021: This entire area has burned. |
