So this past weekend I wanted to scratch the after-getting itch, but it was still going to be hot, and I'm still in summer non-hiking shape, so I kept it rugged but small in scale. I think I've expressed my love for the north side of the Santa Susanna mountains before - the convenience, (15 drive from where I live) the scenery, the rugged topography, the expressive geology - I continue to feel this pocket of wildlands hidden just outside Los Angeles is a little-known gem.
The Santa Susanas are fundamentally one spectacular anticline, and it leads to a series of upended near-shore sedimentary formations which are progressively younger further away from the summit. lesser Lyons ridge, as I call it, is the furthest north example and consists of the logically youthful Saugus and Pico formations, which are mostly a siltstone between 3.3 - 0.87 million years old. The topography here, a result of compression of near-shore sediments buckling as they get pushed north by the San Andreas fault system, has only taken shape in the last hundreds of thousands of years. Its a delightful playground of rugged but miniature topography to explore and practice your scrambling in.
I picked out some use trails to make it to Lyons canyon, which offers quintessential Californian Oak Savanna views. You can see our serated siltstone ridge beckoning me forth, begging for a good traverse. I was a gladiator approaching their obstacle course. .
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And the lovely starting line of the obstacle course at the eastern end of the ridge, shaded by majestic costal live oaks. .
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Ascending the beginning of the ridge was a quick few minutes, and I was off to the races, a balancing act along the serrated, crumbling arete. Ok, maybe more badlands then glacial arete, but you get what I mean! Here is a view maybe 30 minutes in, you can see how rugged the topography is and the necessary balancing act it could be to stay along the ridge edge. Miniature in scale, mighty in ruggedness! .
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There were intermittent game trails I could follow, but I was mostly weaving through brush. Drops on either side were steep, but they'd result in maybe a broken leg or rib if you fell wrong, nothing that could kill you. I'd say it was intermittent class II-III. The highpoint and western terminus of the ridge coming into view ahead of my slow and steady progress: .
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The brush was generally scattered, sometimes a chamise bush right in the exact right spot to block my progress along the ridge edge that I'd have to gingerly climb through, but I never felt compelled to take out the loppers I had with me.
Highpoint terminus of the ridge attained! Here it is stretched out in its entirety behind me. Perfect spot for a morning apple snack. .
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Nice view of Towsley Peak, bringing back fond memories of this year's epic birthday hike. .
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To the southwest, Sand Rock Peak. This one recently came on my radar, and I have some ideas percolating for a route up it. Looks wonderfully exciting! A glimpse of the future. .
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I picked a line down into the canyon I had been circling, and took it back the direction I had come. A gravel streambed / maybe an old road of sorts made for easy travel. .
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I closed the loop about noon, having been out for around 3 hours.
Let the season begin
2.9 miles, 741 feet of gain.