Looking down upon Santa Paula Canyon (Last Chance Trail)
Back In May Mike and I took an exploratory first run on the Santa Paula West Ridge toward the Peak. Something we had been discussing for some time. With full permission we departed from the Thomas Aquinas school Parking lot. Our first mile or so before gaining the ridge was on private property. Should you attempt this run do not park on the school grounds or cross the private property zone without prior approval, security will bust you.
Initial ridge gain was a bit of brush buster. We really didn't choose the easiest path up as we were instructed to stay out of certain zones. At the expense of some extra pain we did indeed make sure to honor those commitments. About half way up I almost stepped on a Rattlesnake. Inches away from a direct hit, perhaps my saving grace was the little guy was still curled up in the shade enjoying the morning slumber.
Well Camouflaged
Hines Peak center stage
Damn Tourists
The run up the ridge was about as to be expected. Long, brushy, difficult in places, all uphill, slow going and snaky. That said we enjoyed it. I wouldn't want it any other way. Did we make it all the way to SP Peak? That would be a big negative. Around the 5 mile mark and just under a mile from the summit we turned it around. Knowing we just were not gonna have the daylight to get it done. That last section up to the peak is intense. A fast hiker with an earlier start could see it through.
Some Crawling required
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