June 14th 2009

7.3  miles  1,350 ft elevation gain.

Time to enjoy Topanga State Park in case it is closed as part of the California State budget crisis! Last time we did this hike we had high winds, today it is cloudy and cool, if a little humid – June gloom. As usual, we park on the street and walk in to avoid the parking fee! The outward journey is along the Eagle Spring Fire-road and as befits this popular park we have plenty of company in the first mile or so.

Eagle Rock Preview

We see the famed Eagle Rock looming above us with people already on the top. However, that is for later and at the junction for the “rock”, we continue straight ahead on the less busy lower trail. We see many checker spot butterflies fluttering their last, before,  job done, they expire.

Checkerspot Butterfly

I take a short diversion to visit Eagle Spring, but it is dried up, and surrounded by poison oak. Back on the fire road we progress to the “Hub” – a meeting of four trails. We take a sharp left to return on the upper, Eagle Rock, trail in the direction from which we have come. There is a picnic table a few yards from the junction where we might have lunch. Horror of horrors, the table is occupied by a cyclist with blasting radio! Instead we continue a little way and climb a short hill to our right and enjoy lunch in peace. To the north we are looking down into Garapito Canyon, while behind us is Santa Ynez Canyon, and Rustic Canyon is to the east. In fact this is a better site than the rap infested picnic table.

Dee makes the ascent

We continue on our way to Eagle Rock. I branch off to the adjacent high point while Deirdre begins the short but steep climb to the top of the rock, fortunately only one family group is in residence.

Almost there!

Having photographed this epic ascent, I join her on the peak for an orange. We dally a while, somewhat bemused by the parents’ apparent lack of concern for two small girls who hover dangerously close to the precipitous edge.

It's windy up here.

We make our way back to the fireroad and shortly thereafter turn off on the Musch Trail. This is a real trail and a pleasure after the fire-road. We descend through chaparral, oak woodland and meadows to the main parking lot at Trippett Ranch. From here we rejoin the fire-road and climb back up towards our parking place.

Tasty

But wait, we are not finished. Here are two deer quietly browsing the bushes and just beyond two foals, complete with spotted coats. They are more nervous and quickly hop, skip and jump to a safer distance.  We leave them to their lunch.

Mom, where are you?