Windy, Chilly, Morning Hike

Hiker and I headed up to Vasquez Rocks this morning. We were supposed to meet up with my friend Robyn, but she texted and said that the wind was creating havoc on her sinuses and she didn't feel like going out for a hike.

I had promised Hiker that I'd be taking her up to Vasquez Rocks for a hike. She was stuck to me like glue all morning because she wanted to make sure I didn't leave without her, so I decided that she and I would go ahead and go to the rocks for our hike.

It was windy and a little chilly when we got there, but we headed out anyway.

We had the entire park to ourselves. We only saw two other people climbing around on the main rock. We headed out and I let Hiker lead me by her leash. Sometimes I do that, I let her "walk" me so we end up meandering all over the place.

As we walked I noticed the moon over the rocks to the west.

As the morning went on, the weather warmed up a little, but it remained windy.

After about 35 or 40 minutes, Hiker decided she had hiked enough and she led me back to the car so we could head home.

I think she is out of shape like I am. I noticed I was running out of breath because we have not done much hiking this year. But all in all, we had a nice morning.

First Fall Hike of 2016

When Hiker and I got up this morning, I noticed what a beautiful morning it was here in the Santa Clarita Valley. I decided to put Hiker in the car and driver over to Towsley Canyon for a short walk.

I am so out of shape for a hike. I have not been out on the mountain trails since last spring because it is too hot here in the summer time to go out. I was going to hike the Elder Trail, but it looked a little steeper that what I was ready for so instead we started up the 1.5 mile trail.

There were a lot of people out on the trail. I often wonder why there are always so many people out hiking instead of working.

I have taken Hiker hiking in Towsley Canyon many times, mostly up into The Narrows, but I had never taken her along this specific trail. She seemed to be enjoying herself.

Took a shot of the two of us at the bottom of the trail just before we left to head home.

Springtime Morning Hike At Vasquez Rocks

This morning, I put my dog Hiker into the car and she and I headed up to Vasquez County Park for a great morning hike.

It was a beautiful morning and we saw some wildflowers. Hiker was checking out this prickly pear cactus that was in bloom. I stopped her just before she stuck her nose into the cactus needles. She wanted to smell the blooms.

The photo below shows some Blue Dick flowers.

Prickly Pear

Wild Mustard

Below are some landscapes I shot around the park.

We hiked almost 2 miles before heading back to the car. What a great morning.

Hiking Around Quigley Open Space - Santa Clarita, CA

Yesterday afternoon was beautiful. I was around 70 degrees with blue skies and sunshine. There was some wind, but it wasn't so bad as to ruin a nice hike.

Took my dog Hiker over to Quigley Open Space in Newhall, CA, in the Santa Clarita Valley of SoCal.

As I mentioned, it was a beautiful afternoon.

Quigley Open Space is tucked back in Placerita Canyon and is a nice place to Hike if you want something that is not strenuous.

We didn't hike up into the hills this time, but stayed on the loop trails that encircle the meadow. Everything is very green right now because we did have some rain, but in a few weeks, it will all start to burn off and turn brown as it always does here in SoCal.

There were a few wildflowers blooming. Mostly Blue Dick, and there were some California Poppies growing on the hillsides.

Hiker really seemed to be enjoying the hike. She was sniffing everything.

Friday Hike At Towsley Canyon

Today was a beautiful day in SoCal. We've been in the middle of a winter heatwave so I thought I'd take advantage of it and take my dog Hiker on a hike to Towsley Canyon here in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Towsley is across the valley from us and is one of my very favorite spots to hike and take photos. We had not been there for quite a while.

Approaching the burned oak tree just past Ed Davis Park

You can see that it was a gorgeous day

Approaching The Narrows

There was a little bit of water in the creek. We stopped to rest in The Narrows.

Heading back down the canyon

Short Afternoon Hike

Hiker and I did a short afternoon hike in "The Rocks" today. Thought I'd share the photos I took. The sky was beautiful.

Nice Morning Hike At Vasquez Rocks County Park

Decided to get up early this morning and take Hiker up to Vasquez Rocks County Park for a hike.

We left the house at 7 am and by 7:25, were were there, however, the entrance gate was closed. I thought the park was open from sunrise to sunset, but I was wrong. They didn't open until 8 am. So Hiker and I took a morning drive over to the little town of Acton and back to kill time.

By the time we got back, the gate was open and so into the park we went for our hike.

I didn't have any specific trail I wanted to take this morning, so we just headed anywhere Hiker decided we were going. I was looking to see if there were still any wild flowers, but most of them had wilted and died and all of the green grass that was there the last time we were there hiking had dried out and turned brown.

There were a lot of docents there cleaning up the area, so we tried to head out in areas where they were not working.

Found a few spots where there were a few wild flowers still growing, but not many.

Did find a few Yuccas that were bloom and they were pretty, but even most of those were drying out and dying.

Hiker seemed to be enjoying our hike. I think Vasquez Rocks is one of her favorite places.

We did almost 2 miles and I took lots of photographs. All in all, it was a nice morning and a great hike.