Gary V.

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Exploring Joshua Tree: The Galapagos

Gary V. posted an article on - Nov 22, 2009, 11:20 am
Part of the appeal of climbing at Joshua Tree National Park is its vastness. There are many excellent, and often busy, roadside climbs, but there are also remote areas such as The ...
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The Hill Climbing Helper

Gary V. posted an article on - Nov 15, 2009, 9:29 am
Trail runners, do you suffer the embarrassment of continually being passed on hills? Legs aren't what they used to be? You need the new Hill Climbing Helper®. The Hill Climbin...
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Sunset Shower

Gary V. posted an article on - Nov 12, 2009, 10:40 am
Some outstanding evening runs this week. Did a FiveFingers run out at Ahmanson on Tuesday, and as sometimes happens this time of year, didn't make it back before dark. Was up on Lasky Mesa in ...
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Twists and Turns

Gary V. posted an article on - Nov 11, 2009, 9:52 am
A high contrast study of the twists and turns of the disintegrating bole of a lodgepole pine on the slopes of Charlton Peak. From the 26 mile San Gorgonio High Line trail run a co...
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Contrail Clutter

Gary V. posted an article on - Nov 9, 2009, 4:48 pm
Like flies on the sky, contrails are visually annoying, but do they also affect climate? For a discussion of the possible effects of these artificial clouds, see NOVA's Dimming the Sun: The Co...
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California Mountain Kingsnake

Gary V. posted an article on - Nov 4, 2009, 9:55 am
A California mountain kingsnake on the South Fork Trail, in the San Gabriel Mountains, near Los Angeles. From our trail run on Sunday. Photographyonth...
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Mountain Solitude

Gary V. posted an article on - Nov 1, 2009, 11:23 am
It was a little eerie. There wasn't so much as an animal track or old bootprint on the trail ahead. The path was perfectly smooth, and I felt a bit guilty as my running shoes left their patter...
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Indirect Effects

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 31, 2009, 8:31 pm
From a run at Ahmanson Ranch earlier this week. PhotographyontheRun.com Copyright 2006-2009 Gary Valle. All Rights Reserved.
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San Gorgonio High Line 2009

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 24, 2009, 12:07 pm
San Bernardino Mountain Divide from near Charlton Peak As I approached the spur trail to High Meadow Springs, I tried to convince myself I had enough water to continue. The ...
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Turning Green

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 19, 2009, 9:53 am
Less than a week after the rain in Southern California, grasses and other annuals are sprouting, and open space areas are starting to turn green. From a run at Ahmanson Ranch this a...
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Autumn Trail Running on Mt. San Jacinto

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 17, 2009, 4:39 pm
Spectacular Autumn trail running in the ferns along Wellman Cienega in the San Jacinto Wilderness. From today's trail run to San Jacinto Peak (10,834') and Tahquitz Peak (88...
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Smilo and Sun

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 15, 2009, 3:56 pm
The first day of sun following rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Ahmanson Ranch was not nearly as wet and muddy as I expected, and although water was pooled in Las Virgenes Creek, the stream was not ...
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Chasing Towhees and Other Rainy Day Activities

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 14, 2009, 10:46 am
Did an enjoyable run at Sage Ranch today that started and ended in showers, but also included a few moments of subdued sun. The shrub with the yellow-orange leaves is rain soaked po...
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Rocky Peak Rainstorm

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 13, 2009, 8:57 pm
Clouds swirled around me as I worked up the steep trail toward an overlook near Rocky Peak. I stopped and listened to the patter of the rain against the rocks, its intensity rising and falling wit...
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Southern California Rain and the 2009-2010 El Niño

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 13, 2009, 12:22 pm
Who would think a western Pacific typhoon could so directly affect California's weather? But that's what is happening. The moisture from typhoon Melor, which was over Japan just a few days...
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Manzanita Limbs

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 12, 2009, 9:37 am
Also from Sunday's run on the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains. PhotographyontheRun.com Copyright 2006-2009 Gary Valle. All Rights Reserved.
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Scrub Oak Apple Gall

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 11, 2009, 4:40 pm
Almost incandescent in the soft light of an overcast sky, the remarkable color of this scrub oak apple gall contrasts sharply with the muted greens, grays and browns of the surrounding chaparral. ...
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Tri-Peaks, Sandstone Peak and the Backbone Trail

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 4, 2009, 11:14 am
We had been scrambling up the rocky north ridge of Boney Mountain for almost an hour. During that time the clouds along the crest seemed unable to make up their mind -- thickening, then thinning, ...
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Climate Change and the Southern Foxtail Pine

Gary V. posted an article on - Oct 3, 2009, 4:03 pm
The windward side of this foxtail pine snag has been blasted by the icy winds of a multitude of Winter storms. The wind has sculpted the mineral-like wood, exposing and accentuating its inner laye...
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Of Mountains, Marmots and Mountain Bluebirds

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 26, 2009, 5:24 pm
The flash of turquoise is so intense it is startling. The Mountain Bluebird flitters past, landing on a knobby plate of peppered Sierra granite. Its color is remarkable, without question a product...
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Plastic Bottle Blight

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 22, 2009, 9:52 am
It is everywhere. From today's run in the Simi Hills, exactly as I found it, but not how I left it. PhotographyontheRun.com Copyright 2006-2009 Gary V...
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Afternoon Run

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 20, 2009, 10:42 am
Started the weekend with an exhilarating Morning Run in the Santa Monica Mountains near Saddle Peak, and wrapped it up with another enjoyable run, the Chumash - Hummingbird loop in the Santa Susan...
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Morning Run

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 19, 2009, 2:25 pm
From this morning's run on the Secret Trail, Calabasas Motorway, and the Stunt High Trail, in the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles. PhotographyontheRun.com Co...
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Interactive Google Earth View of the Area Burned by the Station Fire

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 18, 2009, 4:12 pm
Click for interactive view using Google Earth plug-in. Here's an interactive Google Earth browser view of the approximate areas burned by the Station (2009)...
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Tarantula Time

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 15, 2009, 11:03 am
The second and third weeks of September is the time I'm most likely to encounter tarantulas in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (formerly Ahmanson Ranch). Autumn is when maturing ...
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How Many Tree Rings?

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 12, 2009, 5:31 pm
I've run past this fallen Jeffrey Pine a number of times. It's in an area of downed trees located on the western end of the Vincent Tumamait Trail, near Cerro Noroeste road. The trees prob...
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The Run Down After the Run to the Top

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 8, 2009, 10:06 am
Runners Descending the Devil's Backbone on Mt. Baldy It's a lot more fun working with gravity, than against it! For many runners, the run down from the summit of Mt....
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Mt. Baldy Run to the Top 2009

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 7, 2009, 2:36 pm
The weather for the 44th edition of the Mt. Baldy Run to the Top was nearly identical to last year, with clear blue skies and temps in the 50's. ...
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Vibram FiveFingers KSO

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 5, 2009, 3:24 pm
At one time or another, most of us have run barefoot -- on a beach or in a park, or certainly somewhere as a child. As a result of the insight and enthusiasm of Barefoot Ted McDona...
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Sweat & Smoke on the Backbone Trail

Gary V. posted an article on - Sep 2, 2009, 9:37 pm
Was looking to do something different that my usual suite of weekday runs, and possibly escape the heat of the San Fernando Valley and the smoke of the Station Fire. ...
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Fresh Air Traverse

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 31, 2009, 4:07 pm
Tree, trail, and clouds on the Vincent Tumamait Trail, near Mt. Pinos. From today's out and back run from the Chula Vista parking lot on Mt. Pinos to Mt. Abel. ...
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Station Fire MODIS Fire Detections

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 31, 2009, 11:11 am
See links below for most recent image Updated 09/01/09 9:30 a.m. Added MODIS 1km fire detections as of September 1, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. PDT. ...
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Las Llajas Longhorns

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 26, 2009, 4:50 pm
Part of the appeal of trail running is that even on a short weekday run, close to home, on a familiar trail, stuff happens. The plan for today's trail run was a simple one -- r...
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Miracle Whitewater Slalom 2009

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 23, 2009, 12:10 pm
Good friends, good weather, and good paddling at the 2009 Miracle Whitewater Slalom at the Miracle Hot Springs Slalom Course on the Kern River! ...
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Nice Parking Lot

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 17, 2009, 1:00 pm
I about fell out of my chair when I went to renew my Mountain Recreation Conservation Authority (MRCA) annual weekday parking permit and found that the 5-day multi-park fee had increased from $60 ...
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Born to Run

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 15, 2009, 10:52 am
Deer seem to be plentiful in the Trippet Ranch area, and are frequently seen at this pond near the parking lot, or grazing among the oaks. Running the Trippet Ranch Loop...
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Sting of the Tarantula Hawk

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 14, 2009, 2:59 pm
Its menacing body glistening a deep iridescent blue, a tarantula hawk wasp feeds on the flowers of a narrow-leaf milkweed. I haven't found these huge wasps to be particularly ag...
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Smoky Skies at Ahmanson Ranch

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 13, 2009, 2:19 pm
The smoke is from the La Brea Fire near Santa Maria. From a run on Lasky Mesa at Ahmanson Ranch. PhotographyontheRun.com Copyright 2006-2009 Gary Valle. All Rights Reser...
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Mt. Disappointment 50K 2009 Notes

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 8, 2009, 7:09 pm
Strawberry Spring, about 1.25 mile from Lawlor Saddle Race day dawned clear, cool and breezy -- nearly perfect conditions for the start of the 2009 Mt. Disappointment 50K ...
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San Gabriel Mountains from Lasky Mesa

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 7, 2009, 2:39 pm
View from Lasky Mesa, across the San Fernando Valley, to the San Gabriel Mountains. From a run at Ahmanson Ranch on Wednesday. PhotographyontheRun.com Cop...
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Milkweed Bugs

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 4, 2009, 9:56 am
Large milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus) on narrow-leaf milkweed. There is a brood of immature bugs (nymphs) in the opening seed pod, between the two adults. The aposematic red-orange color te...
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Study in Beige

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 3, 2009, 5:23 pm
As found on Sunday's run at Sage Ranch Park. PhotographyontheRun.com Copyright 2006-2009 Gary Valle. All Rights Reserved.
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Ramping Down for Mt. Disappointment

Gary V. posted an article on - Aug 2, 2009, 5:05 pm
Or should that be ramping UP for Mt. Disappointment? Anyway, started tapering for the Mt. Disappointment run next Saturday. Did the 13 mile Cheeseboro Canyon keyhole loop from the Victory Trailh...
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