Sunday August 22, 2010
Malibu, California
Another Perfect Beach Day
I decided today that I've got to get out of this no exercise funk which I've had since I've been back from Japan. Since I got back in January and its now August, 8 months is a very long time to be in a funk. So starting today I'm going to do some form of cardio at least 5 times a week.
To kick off the new Janet, I decided to do a 4 mile scenic hike in Zuma Canyon.
I always use the trail head of Busch Drive. Busch Drive is off Pacific Coast Highway and is right across the street from Zuma Beach. I took the Zuma Ridge Trail down to the Canyon View Trail and took the Ocean View Trail back to the trail head. Before Japan, I did this trail in about 1.5 hours with weights but this time it took me 2 hours with no weights. Sigh, I've got to get back in shape. Skipper used to go with me on these hikes but given his age, no can do. Yuki can do the hike but she does not like walking so I went out by myself. Below are some photos from the hike.
The Trail Head of Busch Drive. I set out around 8am as the sun can be very strong.
View of Zuma Canyon. There was a lot more brush than expected because we had a wet winter and spring. Definitely a fire hazard so it's going to be an interesting dry winter.
The Trail Head for Canyon View Trail: I could have taken Ocean View trail up, but I knew parts of Canyon View trail are exposed so going downhill could be scary especially for someone like me who has fear of heights. So decided to take Canyon View Trail up, which was tiring.
It starts out as a gentle uphill but gets steeper. 1.2 miles of straight uphill.
View of the switchback that I took down to get to Canyon View Trail and will have to hike back up to get to the car. But believe me, it is not as steep as the Canyon View Trail!
Here's the scary part of the trail. Hard to see from the photo but it's a single track lined with solid rock and a steep drop. Going uphill is less scary for people like me who are afraid of heights because going downhill you see the drop.
And after 1.2 miles, I arrived at the end of the trail.
And found the trail head for the Ocean View trail.
Another reason to take the Ocean View Trail downhill …. The View. You get a view of the Pacific Ocean throughout the trail. Going uphill, your back is facing the ocean.
The last hike I took was about 2 months ago where wildflowers were in full bloom all over the Santa Monica Mountains. Now everything is "dried up"!
This trail is not open to mountain bikers but is very popular with horseback riders.
This is what the Santa Monica Mountains look like in the summer and fall. As you can see, it's dry, dry dry.
Zuma Canyon
And I leave you with an interesting footprint I found on the trail. Now, do people really do this trail barefeet! Crazy!