It's been over a year since I have been on the Doc Larsen Trail and a lot has happened since then. The reason it's been so long is because of the Station Fire that occured around this time last year and the subsequent closing of the entire area. Although the area has not been formally re-opened, people have been going up there anyway so I decided why not me? It also helps that a number of my trial-riding friends had alreay been there so I was able to get good intelligence before going.
I figured that this would also be a good time to really put my new/sed Tucker Trail saddle to use and so I got Max prepared. Since I haven't really used this saddle for a lot of extended trail riding, I also had to figure out a way to pack along the usual sorts of things like a first aid kit. Fortuantely, after some rummaging around the tack shed, I managed to rig up a set of pommel bags and a set of saddle bags so I didn't have to spend any money on new bags.
I started out about 9:30 am, heading north towards the Oaks and then turning right and heading up the start of the trail that leads to the Doc Larsen. I ride this area quite often so there weren't any surprises and best of all, nobody else out on the trail.
After about a mile, the trail ended at a fire road and then followed the road, heading north. After about 1/4 mile, the Doc Larsen Trail starts and I procceded to follow it, heading east (in a general sort of way). I noticed immediately that the canyon that the Doc follows had seen a lot of waterflow during last winter and a lot of rocks and sand had been washed down, obliterating what trail there had been. After following deep sand for awhile, the trail thebegain to climb, alternating between sandy creekbed and harder higher trails. There had been a number of wash-outs bout there had been a lot of trail repair work (no doubt by ETI Corral 20 among others) so, trails had been re-routed and marked with rocks. Also, it helped that the trail was graded so the transitions betwen old and few trail wasn't steep or abrupt.
After about 1/2 mile, the trail began to climb steeply and here it was pretty much unchanged from the last time I'd ridden though. However, after another 1/4 or so, you could then see where the fire had burned down and the trail then entered the burnt-out zone. Here, things were bit rough in terms of footing and not as much work had been done. At several points, there were small drop-offs in the trail where it would cross the canyon bottom and I had to spur Max pretty hard to get him up the grade.
At the final stretch leading into the bathtub, the trail was fairly steep and eroded and the best thing to do here was to trot/canter- the horse definitely needs to keep momentum because parts are pretty slippery. Sure, you can walk it but it's both hard on horse and rider. This is one area that's going to have problems when it rains again, unless further trail repair efforts are made.
We finally reached the bathtub and was it a contrast to the last time I'd been there. It used to be completely covered in shade from the brush but now it was almost completely open around it. This, of course, didn't deter Max fro drking his fill and we paused for about 10 minutes or so to rest up.
The rest of the trail leading up to Doc Larsen flats was a but anti-climactic but there were definately some steep grades here and once again, trotting/cantering is recommended to get up it (yes, this probably doesn't do the trail surface any favors but it's better than the horse laboring to scramble up it at a walk).
From Doc Larsen Flats, I followed the fire roads in a loop, heading in a generally westerly direction. Finally I reached the intersection where I can either go towards Foothill Blvd or back to the fire road where the Doc begins. I opted to go down the fire road towards Foothill Blvd. It's kind of a pain going down the fire road- it seems to take forever but eventually we made it down. From there, I crossed Foothill and made our way home around the Equestrian Center and then up the wash.
Overall, it was about a 3 hour ride at a somewhat leisurely pace and it was good to get out on a long trail ride on our home range. For too long, we've been away. :-)
I figured that this would also be a good time to really put my new/sed Tucker Trail saddle to use and so I got Max prepared. Since I haven't really used this saddle for a lot of extended trail riding, I also had to figure out a way to pack along the usual sorts of things like a first aid kit. Fortuantely, after some rummaging around the tack shed, I managed to rig up a set of pommel bags and a set of saddle bags so I didn't have to spend any money on new bags.
I started out about 9:30 am, heading north towards the Oaks and then turning right and heading up the start of the trail that leads to the Doc Larsen. I ride this area quite often so there weren't any surprises and best of all, nobody else out on the trail.
After about a mile, the trail ended at a fire road and then followed the road, heading north. After about 1/4 mile, the Doc Larsen Trail starts and I procceded to follow it, heading east (in a general sort of way). I noticed immediately that the canyon that the Doc follows had seen a lot of waterflow during last winter and a lot of rocks and sand had been washed down, obliterating what trail there had been. After following deep sand for awhile, the trail thebegain to climb, alternating between sandy creekbed and harder higher trails. There had been a number of wash-outs bout there had been a lot of trail repair work (no doubt by ETI Corral 20 among others) so, trails had been re-routed and marked with rocks. Also, it helped that the trail was graded so the transitions betwen old and few trail wasn't steep or abrupt.
After about 1/2 mile, the trail began to climb steeply and here it was pretty much unchanged from the last time I'd ridden though. However, after another 1/4 or so, you could then see where the fire had burned down and the trail then entered the burnt-out zone. Here, things were bit rough in terms of footing and not as much work had been done. At several points, there were small drop-offs in the trail where it would cross the canyon bottom and I had to spur Max pretty hard to get him up the grade.
At the final stretch leading into the bathtub, the trail was fairly steep and eroded and the best thing to do here was to trot/canter- the horse definitely needs to keep momentum because parts are pretty slippery. Sure, you can walk it but it's both hard on horse and rider. This is one area that's going to have problems when it rains again, unless further trail repair efforts are made.
We finally reached the bathtub and was it a contrast to the last time I'd been there. It used to be completely covered in shade from the brush but now it was almost completely open around it. This, of course, didn't deter Max fro drking his fill and we paused for about 10 minutes or so to rest up.
The rest of the trail leading up to Doc Larsen flats was a but anti-climactic but there were definately some steep grades here and once again, trotting/cantering is recommended to get up it (yes, this probably doesn't do the trail surface any favors but it's better than the horse laboring to scramble up it at a walk).
From Doc Larsen Flats, I followed the fire roads in a loop, heading in a generally westerly direction. Finally I reached the intersection where I can either go towards Foothill Blvd or back to the fire road where the Doc begins. I opted to go down the fire road towards Foothill Blvd. It's kind of a pain going down the fire road- it seems to take forever but eventually we made it down. From there, I crossed Foothill and made our way home around the Equestrian Center and then up the wash.
Overall, it was about a 3 hour ride at a somewhat leisurely pace and it was good to get out on a long trail ride on our home range. For too long, we've been away. :-)
Huh? Did anyone say "Alfalfa Smoothe?"
The pause that refreshes- Max takes a well-derserved water break.
The bathtub- it managed to survive the Station Fire intact.
Doc Larsen Flats- Looking Eastward.
Looking east towards the Fascination Springs Trail.
The tie rail- this whole area used to be full of brush to the point where you could not see beyond the rail.
Coming up on the Bathtub. This whole area used to be a forest of brush...
Upper Doc Larsen Trail heading east. The fire definitely got down here- the area is pretty bare, even with susequent new growth.
Middle Doc Larsen Trail heading east. The fire didn't make it this far.
Lower Doc Larsen Trail- the Winter rains eroded parts of the trail that cross the dry creekbed in the canyon.
Little Tujunga Canyon, heading north towards the Oaks.
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