This morning I hiked the 1.9 mile Canyon View Loop Trail in Towsley Canyon neat Santa Clarita, CA. My total hike from the parking lot, to the trailhead, over the trail and back was 2.6 miles. I don't know what the elevation increase was on this trail, but I know it got pretty high up. I could also tell that I had not been out on a "strenuous" hike for awhile because my heart was pounding, I was gasping for breath and I had to stop and rest several times on the climb up, but once I hit the summit and started back down, I had no problem.

know what the elevation increase was on this trail, but I know it got pretty high up. I could also tell that I had not been out on a "strenuous" hike for awhile because my heart was pounding, I was gasping for breath and I had to stop and rest several times on the climb up, but once I hit the summit and started back down, I had no problem.

My brother Keith spent the weekend, so this morning, before it got too hot, we took a 3 mile hike up to the Towsley Canyon Narrows and back.

Beautiful day today. Perfect day for another hike in my favorite canyon. The steam is dry near the nature center, but as I hiked up the trail, there was the familiar trickling sound.

Today I hiked a mile up and a mile back, then I went over and walked around on the Botany Trail, the Ecology Trail and the Heritage Trail. They are 3 short trails near the nature center.

Along the Heritage Trail, I took some photos of the murals that are painted on the inside of the road overpass near the Oak Of The Golden Dream. Also took some photos of that oak tree. This is the TRUE location of the first gold find in California, 6 years before John Marshall shouted "Eureka, I've Found It" up at Sutter's Mill.

Here is an interesting link that tells about the first gold find:

http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/signal/coins/worden-coinage1005.htm

a mile up and a mile back, then I went over and walked around on the Botany Trail, the Ecology Trail and the Heritage Trail. They are 3 short trails near the nature center.

Along the Heritage Trail, I took some photos of the murals that are painted on the inside of the road overpass near the Oak Of The Golden Dream. Also took some photos of that oak tree. This is the TRUE location of the first gold find in California, 6 years before John Marshall shouted "Eureka, I've Found It" up at Sutter's Mill.

Here is an interesting link that tells about the first gold find:

http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/signal/coins/worden-coinage1005.htm

This morning I took still another hike along the Placerita Canyon Trail at the Placerita Nature Center. Did 2 miles today.

I decided this time to "play" with my photos on Windows Live Photo Gallery. I was able to make panoramic photos and also do "automatic enhancements" on the color, contrast and saturation of each photo with my Paint Shop Pro program.

Doing these enhancements make each photo look more "true to life" so that you see what I see when I'm hiking.

Gallery. I was able to make panoramic photos and also do "automatic enhancements" on the color, contrast and saturation of each photo with my Paint Shop Pro program.

Doing these enhancements make each photo look more "true to life" so that you see what I see when I'm hiking.

Last year I went up to Towsley Canyon on March 31st and the hillsides were totally covered with wildflowers....California poppies, blue lupin, mustard seed.....but this year, there are not very many flowers. Everything sure is green though.

I hiked a total of about 3 miles today....up and back. It got pretty windy while I was there. I had to keep an ear out for rattlesnakes as it is getting warmer and time for them to start making an appearance.

flowers. Everything sure is green though.

I hiked a total of about 3 miles today....up and back. It got pretty windy while I was there. I had to keep an ear out for rattlesnakes as it is getting warmer and time for them to start making an appearance.

As you can tell, I love hiking in Placerita Canyon. It is so close to home, so that makes it nice and it is so pretty. Each season and each day brings a different perspective. Everytime I'm there, I notice new things I had not seen before.

notice new things I had not seen before.

On Sunday, we hiked the Waterfall Trail. We hiked up there a few months back, but there was no water. We had some rain a few days back so thought we'd check it out again. A few days ago, I heard that there was a lot of water coming over the falls, but it's kind of gotten smaller since we have not had anymore rain.

there was a lot of water coming over the falls, but it's kind of gotten smaller since we have not had anymore rain.

My younger brother Keith was visiting for the weekend. We went for the 4 mile hike over on the Canyon Trail at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center. There sure were a lot of people there. More than I've ever seen. Having picnics, watching the animal show, hiking the trail. Plus a troop of Boy Scouts were camped out when we got up to Walker Ranch.

I've also created an album with some shots Keith took along the way. He has given me his permission to post them here.

ever seen. Having picnics, watching the animal show, hiking the trail. Plus a troop of Boy Scouts were camped out when we got up to Walker Ranch.

I've also created an album with some shots Keith took along the way. He has given me his permission to post them here.

Hiked up to the waterfall in Whitney Canyon.

We had about 4 or 5 days of rain, but today was clear and sunny. I wanted to go up into Placerita Canyon because I heard the creek was flowing. I could not believe how green things had gotten since I was up there 2 1/2 weeks ago. There were several spots where the trail had washed away, so had to "ford" the creek.

Web Site: http://www.placerita.org

was up there 2 1/2 weeks ago. There were several spots where the trail had washed away, so had to "ford" the creek.

Web Site: http://www.placerita.org

Today I went for another hike on the Placerita Canyon Trail and this time my friend Sandi and her husband Jim came along with me. Jim is in training to be a docent at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center so he was really interested in the hike we took this morning. It was a beautiful day, clear and warm.

Web Site: http://www.placerita.org

Center so he was really interested in the hike we took this morning. It was a beautiful day, clear and warm.

Web Site: http://www.placerita.org

I've hiked Towsley Canyon a few times before, but today I decided to explore the Narrows on the Towsley Loop Trail a little more. The creek was running a little, which brought a nice "babbling" sound as I hiked up the trail. I met several other hikers along the way this morning. It seems that more and more, I see "senior" hikers out on the trails. People in their 60's and 70's out enjoying "Mother Nature".

Web Site: http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=10

as I hiked up the trail. I met several other hikers along the way this morning. It seems that more and more, I see "senior" hikers out on the trails. People in their 60's and 70's out enjoying "Mother Nature".

Web Site: http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=10

Beautiful morning when I looked out this morning so decided to go on another hike in Placerita Canyon. Again I hiked the Canyon Trail....2 miles in and 2 miles back.

Along the way a nice young man (maybe 40sh) passed me on the trail and spoke to me. Asked me how far it was to the waterfall. I was just below the bubble pot when he came along. I told him about how far it was and that there wasn't any water right now. He went on up the trail and when I got to Walker Ranch he was there looking at the fireplace hearth. He asked me if I knew anything about it so I told him that the cabin down at the center used to be there. He sat on the bench with me and told me that he doesn't work Wednesdays, so that he is trying to get out and hike once a week. He said he'd hiked up around Castaic lake and over on the Piru Creek Trail but had never hiked the Canyon Trail and he was really enjoying it. We talked for about 15 minutes while we rested and then I told him I had to start back down the trail. He seemed like a nice guy. Then coming down, I came across 4 senior citizens hiking....2 men and 2 women. I'd say they were in the late 60's early 70's. The stopped and talked for a few minutes too. You meet nice people out on the trails.

Web Site: http://www.placerita.org

(maybe 40sh) passed me on the trail and spoke to me. Asked me how far it was to the waterfall. I was just below the bubble pot when he came along. I told him about how far it was and that there wasn't any water right now. He went on up the trail and when I got to Walker Ranch he was there looking at the fireplace hearth. He asked me if I knew anything about it so I told him that the cabin down at the center used to be there. He sat on the bench with me and told me that he doesn't work Wednesdays, so that he is trying to get out and hike once a week. He said he'd hiked up around Castaic lake and over on the Piru Creek Trail but had never hiked the Canyon Trail and he was really enjoying it. We talked for about 15 minutes while we rested and then I told him I had to start back down the trail. He seemed like a nice guy. Then coming down, I came across 4 senior citizens hiking....2 men and 2 women. I'd say they were in the late 60's early 70's. The stopped and talked for a few minutes too. You meet nice people out on the trails.

Web Site: http://www.placerita.org