Backbone Trail Run-Topanga State Park

This morning, before the heat set in, my daughter and I set off to Topanga State Park to clock some running time in the Santa Monica Mountains. Using the gateway at Will Rogers State Historical Park, we were on the Backbone Trail in no time. Wednesday is not one of the popular days in this park and as expected, we ran into less than a dozen other people. This trail is always preferable to Griffith Park during the frequent summer heatwaves. It is at least 10 degrees cooler here than in Hollywood. The Backbone trail runs from Pacific Palisades to Point Mugu. While I have been to the park over one hundred times this year, I have never run the entire length of the Backbone Trail. It is on my short list. I saw a couple of people with dogs this morning, and while I understand that people love their dogs, and truly, for many people, their dogs are their children. I empathize with you, but it is pretty arrogant to think the rules don't apply to you. I am not the Ranger, and I loathe law enforcement, but seriously, fuck you people who go on this trail with dogs. The highlight of the trip today was a giant black raven sitting on top of a yucca plant. This guy must have tipped the scales at 3lbs. An awesome sight. The photo was taken with an I-Phone Camera at a distance of approximately 15 feet.