Topatopa Bluffs 11/29/09

Today I shattered my best time truck-summit-truck on the "Suffer Machine". Not a lot of suffering today. The previous record on this 15 miler was 6:18 with the clock stopped at the summit. Today I reduced that to 5:02. I'm feeling pretty good about that.

Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger (->)
Tip of the Hat to the talented folks that rebuilt and upgraded the
Summit Sofa. You have provided a satisfying seating solution.
Wag of the Finger to Wind. Yes, Wind. You may provide an easy green energy option, but Cold should have a restraining order against you. Wind, you should never come within 500feet of Cold as it has become clear to this individual that you cannot get along. You're getting the picture.

The view from the summit was good despite some coastal haze. All the Channel Islands, excepting Catalina, were visible: Santa Barbara, Ana Capa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel. There was a slight dusting of snow on Reyes Peak and Pine Mountain but none on the bluffs, nor on Hines Peak.

I scribbled my 15th entry in the summit journal. After 15 times up it becomes hard to say, "I really hate that hike!". That wouldn't be true. What I can say is that is that it's a heartbreaker. Every time you come around a corner the view is the same...up.

These pictures are all taken from the upper-most stage of the trail. In the picture below you can see Ana Capa and Santa Cruz on the right-hand horizon, the Oxnard Plain and Pt. Mugu on the coast, and the Upper Ojai Valley in the middle-ground. In the foreground on the right one can see a portion of the trail that goes to the summit. Yeah, it's long and steep.