Southern California - Santa Monica Mountains pictures

Those of you who enjoy riding through the Santa Monica Mountains, now is the time to ride if you like everything green and fragrant. I went up Fernwood to Saddle Peak yesterday and was blown away by all the green. Here's a few pics.

Looking southward across the SM Bay.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/SPview3710.jpg

Looking over Topanga Canyon toward Mt Baldy in the distance.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/Spview3710c.jpg

North-west toward Santa Barbara.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/SPview3710b.jpg

Great shots. What were the numbers for your ride? Miles, elevation gain, time?

Pretty much a loop route beginning from the front door. 25 miles, 2500, hour and 50 minutes. Felt pokey.

We were there yesterday as well. Love that climb.

Pretty much a loop route beginning from the front door. 25 miles, 2500, hour and 50 minutes. Felt pokey.
Those are REAL CLOSE to the numbers for me on GMR. To the top, just past the CalTrans shed, from my house , is 22.2 miles,with 2550 feet of up , and takes me an average of just about 2 hours. I will have to get details from you on your ride and come down and do it. What is the best midweek day to do it on?

We went Saturday and it was spectacular and there was no rain. Up Stunt, down Piuma, up Rock Store, down Westlake to North Ranch and back to Calabasas. 57 miles with 5900 feet.

Those are REAL CLOSE to the numbers for me on GMR. To the top, just past the CalTrans shed, from my house , is 22.2 miles,with 2550 feet of up , and takes me an average of just about 2 hours. I will have to get details from you on your ride and come down and do it. What is the best midweek day to do it on?

There's no best day midweek for these roads, but any time besides morning and evening rush hours are best. As far as details go, any of these routes and climbs in the Santa Monicas are worthy. Climbing Fernwood is a bit more of a challenge than most because of it's steepness and all the switchbacking, but it's still not as steep as a few nearby (Las Flores, Tuna Canyon). Here (http://www.birthdaychallenge.com/links/notesonclimbs.html)'s a nice chart of SM routes.

There's also quite a few popular routes posted on Mapmyride.com.

We went Saturday and it was spectacular and there was no rain. Up Stunt, down Piuma, up Rock Store, down Westlake to North Ranch and back to Calabasas. 57 miles with 5900 feet.

That sounds perfect. How many of ya's?

7. One guy faster than everyone else and one woman who could almost keep up with him, and the rest of us, (2 men and 2 women), were fairly even with each other. Good size group of people who are friends, too.

These are some shots from the Santa Monicas: [you have to click these to enlarge]
1-Yerba Buena Road before the summit
2- Cotharin Road
3- Piuma Road
I start in Santa Monica, go up Topanga to Mulholland, Little Sycamore, Yerba Buena, Cotharin, Pacific View, Deer Creek then PCH back to Santa Monica. About 82 miles, and I think it was 6-7000 feets of climbing, or 8
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These are some shots from the Santa Monicas: [you have to click these to enlarge]
1-Yerba Buena Road before the summit
2- Cotharin Road
3- Piuma Road
I start in Santa Monica, go up Topanga to Mulholland, Little Sycamore, Yerba Buena, Cotharin, Pacific View, Deer Creek then PCH back to Santa Monica. About 82 miles, and I think it was 6-7000 feets of climbing, or 8
141991141990141989


No way is this route at 6k or more ft.

0-yeah it is!
Maybe you're not considering that the route back on PCH, that alone entails 1000 ft of climbing. Between Deer Creek and Malibu Cyn, it's really a hilly route.

Anyway, here's a screenshot of my Garmin Training Center record of the ride, showing over 8000 feet of ascent. The Garmin does exaggerate its ascent figures somewhat, but certainly not by thirty percent. [ya gotta click on this to enlarge:]

The peak is the Yeaba Buena summit. The The crazy descent is Deer Creek, and the little bumps that follow are the hills on PCH that add up to 1000 feet.
142206

Not exactly pics of the SM mountains on a ride, but pics taken within them before or after a ride. Spring is here, no doubt about it.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/topangaspring.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/topangaspring2.jpg

Some pics on my 54 mile loop cruise yesterday. Enjoy all the green and perfect temps while you can!

Here's partway up Latigo looking toward Pt Dume.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/latigo2-1.jpg

Here's a closeup of same.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/ptdume.jpg

At the top of Rock Store climb on Mulholland looking eastward.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/rockstoretop.jpg

Passing through the tricky section of the descent.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/rockstore.jpg

Looking up toward Saddle Peak along Mulholland.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/mulholland2.jpg

Sweet Mother of Merckx California is friggin beautiful. I've been there twice, drove all over the place. You don't forget it. No wonder so many people want to live there.

Nice pics, kidd.

Sweet Mother of Merckx California is friggin beautiful. I've been there twice, drove all over the place. You don't forget it. No wonder so many people want to live there.

No, no! It's horrible here. Those pics are heavily P-shopped. Really. Stay away.

BTW, that section called Rock Store is on the last stage of the ATOC, climbed four times.

No, no! It's horrible here. Those pics are heavily P-shopped. Really. Stay away.

BTW, that section called Rock Store is on the last stage of the ATOC, climbed four times.

An absolute wasteland, indeed.

While descending Rock Store, I was half paying attention to possible vantage points for watching and recording those 4 loops of AToC. I'll have to go back for my final decision. I first have to decide if I'm riding the bike to that point, or drive, park and walk. I can see parking along Kanan Dume somewhere south/west of where Mulholland meets K D, and walking the short distance to the top of Rock Store climb. Still camera, video camera, binoculars, food and water (and beach chair?) and I'll be good to go.

Professional photographer and road cycling buff Clint Davis recently shot some cycling photos on Tuna Canyon. Here's an example.

http://clintdavis.net/blog/blog_pictures/10/clintdavis_100308d.jpg

There's more here (http://www.clintdavis.net/blog/).

Sweet Mother of Merckx California is friggin beautiful. I've been there twice, drove all over the place. You don't forget it. No wonder so many people want to live there.

pcad must bike LA and drop everybody

Some pics on my 54 mile loop cruise yesterday. Enjoy all the green and perfect temps while you can!

Here's partway up Latigo looking toward Pt Dume.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/latigo2-1.jpg

Beautiful picture.
I labored ever so slowly up Latigo last Sunday.
I've lived and cycled on the westside for 20 years;
I can't believe that I just climbed that road for the first
time last September.

As an ex East Coaster for 30 years, the worst part is that -

These pictures don't even do justice to how beautiful those Santa Monica mountain climbs are. If you come from the land of winter snow, to see that type of sunshine and ocean beauty in the dead of winter Jan-Feb is staggeringly incredible. Plus, it's far enough out from urban civilization that there's very, very little car traffic. I usually get passed by 4-5 cars per hour when I'm up there. And even better - on the weekends, there are plenty of riders of all levels out riding as well, so it's not like you're a completely unexpected target on the road for vehicles. I've hooked up with many roadie crews for short stretches.

It's true that the CA budget is going to **** and at some point an earthquake will level part of the area, and the real estate prices are still insanely expensive, but one ride out there as a die-hard cyclist during the winter, and you'll never regret the decision to be out there.

Shots from Saturday, the 24th. The route was a loop beginning in Topanga, north along PCH, up Malibu Canyon Rd, up Piuma, down Fernwood.

Here's a view of the Malibu business and civic district from a few hundred feet up.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/malibubuscenter.jpg

The dam along Malibu creek, built by the Ringe family.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/malibudam410.jpg

Looking through the Malibu creek canyon.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/MCroad.jpg

Heading up Piuma looking back to the start.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/MCroadc.jpg

The dam from another vantage point.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/MCroadb.jpg

1K before the top of Piuma.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/piuma1k.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/Piuma1kb1.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/piuma410.jpg

Curious compound near the top.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/piumacompound.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/Piuma1kb.jpg

Spectacular view for a house.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/shuren410.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/shuren410b.jpg

A view at Saddle Peak.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/SP410view.jpg

Great shots...thanks for sharing.

Any trouble with negligent motorists?

Great shots...thanks for sharing.

Any trouble with negligent motorists?

You have to be careful is the only advice. Be sure you're able to hear oncoming cars and motorcycles in either direction, and stay to the right.

Yeah, I see your point. I just feel that those blind corners can be killers.

Getting there is the most dangerous part, IMO. The secret is go early, go on weekdays, and pick the roads in poor shape. Fortunately, the racer-boyz aren't into rally style driving, so rough roads weed out the kooks...

I ride the Santa Monicas frequently, and generally the motorists are cool, and accustomed to cyclists on the road. The residents thre, to my experience, are ok with cyclists using their faucets for filling bottles. One homeowner even installed a fountain by his driveway for the use of cyclists! Quite the opposite situtaion of Palos Verdes, where there are signs telling cyclists to stay away.

I agree, really nice photos. Thanks for posting.

The Santa Monicas are a tiny mountain range in comparison, 40 miles long, highest peak is just over 3000 feet. But there is great beauty and loads of great ride opportunities if you like a lot of climbing.

Professional photographer and road cycling buff Clint Davis recently shot some cycling photos on Tuna Canyon. Here's an example.

http://clintdavis.net/blog/blog_pictures/10/clintdavis_100308d.jpg

There's more here (http://www.clintdavis.net/blog/).

wow i bump into clintdavis via the internet everywhere.. started off on honda-tech into cars.. than accessphoto for photography.. now suddenly here for bikes..

From my ToC stage 8 scouting trip on 5/16/10.

A thick marine layer pours over the ridge.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/SMhills51610.jpg

Kanan Dume tunnels, heading south.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/kanantunnels.jpg

Kanan Dume. Get ready!
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/8gradient.jpg

Not exactly the SM mountains, but they're nearby.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/morningmist.jpg

Sweet Mother of Merckx California is friggin beautiful. I've been there twice, drove all over the place. You don't forget it. No wonder so many people want to live there.

For sure.. During May the scent or oranges overtakes a cyclists sweat. Calif has gotten a decent share of rain this past winter. Such a green spring. Thanks for the photos. Like to have been there.. Looks like Catalina in the distance.?
anyone been out to the desert.. Photos of Calif. Poppies blooming are always welcome.
only 3 miles at an 8% grade.?

wow i bump into clintdavis via the internet everywhere.. started off on honda-tech into cars.. than accessphoto for photography.. now suddenly here for bikes..

You living in socal?
Ya i've taken up sports photography lately. A lot of fun!
...skin isn't nearly as reflective as cars :-P

For sure.. During May the scent or oranges overtakes a cyclists sweat. Calif has gotten a decent share of rain this past winter. Such a green spring. Thanks for the photos. Like to have been there.. Looks like Catalina in the distance.?
anyone been out to the desert.. Photos of Calif. Poppies blooming are always welcome.
only 3 miles at an 8% grade.?

You're welcome. I don't think I posted anything with Catalina in the distance, maybe you're looking at Palos Verdes. The Kanan descent is actually 4 miles in length, but I didn't take a pic of that sign. Kanan is the straightest, most consistent (in terms of gradient) descent you'll find throughout the SM's. And now that they repaved, it's the smoothest. It's also a double lane going south, so you have lots of room.

As an ex East Coaster for 30 years, the worst part is that -

These pictures don't even do justice to how beautiful those Santa Monica mountain climbs are. If you come from the land of winter snow, to see that type of sunshine and ocean beauty in the dead of winter Jan-Feb is staggeringly incredible. Plus, it's far enough out from urban civilization that there's very, very little car traffic. I usually get passed by 4-5 cars per hour when I'm up there. And even better - on the weekends, there are plenty of riders of all levels out riding as well, so it's not like you're a completely unexpected target on the road for vehicles. I've hooked up with many roadie crews for short stretches.

It's true that the CA budget is going to **** and at some point an earthquake will level part of the area, and the real estate prices are still insanely expensive, but one ride out there as a die-hard cyclist during the winter, and you'll never regret the decision to be out there.

No no, you have it all wrong. The weather here is crazy. In the winter in January there are 90* days with a relative humidity of 8-10 % and really bad static electricity to the point that you can get electrocuted just riding under the high voltage power lines. In early spring the Santa Ana winds blow so bad that we have sandstorms that will peel all the paint off your bike and the skin on one side of your face inside of 10 minutes. Then it monsoons in march and April. Nasty drizzly Fog from April through mid-July in most places along the coast. In summer the average temps are 100+ degrees for WEEKS on end. The winds blow again in the fall but this time they're full of smoke from the fires. In Nov-Dec the temps are below freezing and it snows (eww!).

Do not come here. It's like he ll with temperature fluctuations. Stay away. Far away.

Photos from yesterday:

Tuna Canyon:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydTw7qTRI/AAAAAAAAnVc/s-Z2NUy8lDM/s800/CIMG2186.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydWA4NEQI/AAAAAAAAnWE/KNmgalteZ_Q/s800/CIMG2191.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydXtakfyI/AAAAAAAAnWk/vWCnnUXkz3s/s800/CIMG2196%20Panorama_2.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydaU3BFMI/AAAAAAAAnXY/6lXzQqJdRR0/s800/CIMG2216.JPG

Fernwood - Grand View Climb (really, really steep):
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydgQkIZLI/AAAAAAAAnZU/18-ouxauUzg/s800/CIMG2231.JPG

Saddle Peak:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydjWskSXI/AAAAAAAAnaQ/bNT6hpvwxpc/s800/CIMG2238.JPG

Amazing houses:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydjwPJldI/AAAAAAAAnaY/iVyGWSnwygk/s800/CIMG2239.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydlbo6mbI/AAAAAAAAna8/VGEb5PwgeoM/s800/CIMG2243.JPG

Fog creeping over the mountains from Malibu Canyon Rd/Piuma Rd:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydnbvaSaI/AAAAAAAAnbs/oDF_GCjyo2w/s800/CIMG2248.JPG

Continued..

Corral Canyon:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydrAxX8NI/AAAAAAAAndM/M9AA3RUPq0U/s800/CIMG2260.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydsVfb3rI/AAAAAAAAnds/jgODgNv2sOs/s800/CIMG2263.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAyds9bq3aI/AAAAAAAAnd8/P4MbPVmt8B0/s800/CIMG2265.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/TAydtdN-ZmI/AAAAAAAAneM/cpTnP-SDsBc/s800/CIMG2267%20Panorama_2.jpg

Corral's not very fun to do at the end of a ride ;)