The best part of starting hiking blogs off with a doozy, makes the El Moro Canyon Ridge Loop “strenuous” hike feel like a floozy! Due to the continued excessive heat that is sucking Southern California dry, our day started again at 6:30 am. While I was disappointed in the lack of a visible SUNRISE due to a thick marine layer, I knew we would welcome the cooler temperatures in the canyon. I recruited 5.5 saps to join me on this floozy, the .5 because someone didn’t complete the loop: my regular trail bitches, Susan and Shana, a new one, Mary, and a couple of trail studs, Ryan (arguably my better half) and Steve (Shana’s definite better half). After a wrong turn into one of the many Crystal Cove State Park parking lots, we arrived at the right one around 7:10 am. Mary was there waiting for us and continued to wait, while we, serious hikers, switched into our hiking shoes, loaded up our packs and mentally prepared for our “strenuous” hike around the canyon. So to pass the time while she was waiting, she went to the parking meter and purchased two parking passes, $15 each, for each of our cars. Unfortunately, I didn’t need one, as we borrowed a state pass from a friend, currently $195 per year.
Sunrise over El Moro Ridge
So sweet Mary, gave away her other pass to a couple that pulled in about 15 minutes after us, which helps explain the good karma she exudes. I think it was her good karma that brought the sun to shine briefly for a great SUNRISE picture. All decked out with just her water bottle, sneakers and no backpack with snacks, first aid kit, head lamp etc., Mary continued to wait patiently with a “WTF is wrong with you people” look on her face.
We left the ranger station around 7:30 am, heading up the No Dogs trail, filtering into groups of two, Shana and Mary leading, myself and Sue bringing up the rear, no surprise there, and the two new trail studs sandwiched somewhere in the middle.
No Dogs
About .3 miles up, I realized I forgot to note our starting step count and to switch on my Walkmeter app. So Susan and I stopped to remedy this situation, and of course, to catch our breath. Whose idea was this? This trail just goes up until it changes into No Name Ridge trail at about .6 miles up, which continues along the ridge road with ups and downs. Definite nice change from Baden-Powell which was constantly up… My plan, remember this was my plan, was to cut off into the canyon via Rattlesnake trail, as this is a smaller trail, not so wide and “boring” as the dirt road we were currently on. But when Sue and I arrived at the cutoff, the rest of the group was nowhere to be seen. Luckily, since we are still in the city, cell service prevailed; I called Shana and asked where they were.
Maps at every junction, definitely will not get lost!
They had continued on the ridge road, so lucky for them, there is another canyon trail ahead of them, so I told them to go right at Ticketron trail when they come to it. Note to self: give hike details to all in party before proceeding. Learn as we go.
Road leading up to ridge
Sue and I arrived at Ticketron, still didn’t see anyone, but we did tell them where we were going, so we headed down the narrow path. About 100 yards into the descent of Ticketron, our group came up behind us. They had actually gone a little further up the ridge road, whether it was intentional or mistake, we will never know. Mary decided to head back at this point, as she had a plane to catch later that day. Until next time .5 Mary!!
Marine layer hovering, looks cool, but the humidity was HIGH!
Ticketron is a great hiking trail through wildflowers and a rock formed canyon.
Rock formations – looks like a frog…
Ticketron canyon trail
These are everywhere! Hoping Shana stays on the trail!
MIcroscope setting on the camera
At about .8 miles in, you arrive at one of three campgrounds that you can overnight in, Deer Canyon Campground, complete with tables, trash cans, and a smelly box toilet. Other than the lack of running water, the only problem we found with the campgrounds is that alcohol is prohibited. What?! Deal breaker, so much for that idea! After a munch break, we continued up Red Trail Ridge where we passed the Rattlesnake trail exit. We would have missed seeing the campground had we taken this route, so I am glad Shana missed the turnoff. However I would like to go back one day and explore this trail as well. After about .4 miles we came to our next trail, Fence Line.
Marine layer dissipated, opening up beautiful views
It was here that we ran into the dreaded trail bikers. Now I get we have to share the trail, but I can still bitch about it. When you encounter a downhill hiker, you know they will yield to you, provided they know hiking etiquette 101. Happening upon downhill bikers, causes me to freeze; it is like coming upon mountain lion, bear, or a person driving while texting. Are they going to come at me, do I scramble off the path or damn, should I have worn a helmet? Technically I think they should yield to me, as I am working hard for the momentum to move me up the hill. But the small amount of retained physics in my brain, tells me their momentum going down is a stronger force, so I freeze and let the biker and their posse go by as I suck in my stomach to make room for them to pass. I feel like a hiker flag protruding a couple of feet above my head, with the count of people in my party, would be a good safety feature for our next hike that shares a path with the $2 dollar kids. “Stepping off the soapbox”
Santiago Peak with San Gabriels way in the back.
We continued along the Fence Line, which parallels the Bommer Ridge Trail, after .4 miles we converged on to the Missing Link. This trail leads us to the top of Moro Ridge, which had a fantastic view of Santiago Peak, Mt. Baldy, Lake Forest and the 73 Corridor.
Our peak for this hike
I think Susan was expecting a fantastic peak like Baden-Powell, I was sorry to disappoint her, this was as good as today was going to get. We followed this road along the ridge about 3 miles, passing by Upper and Lower Moro Campgrounds. 
Sharing this wide dirt road with bikers was more peaceful than being run over on the small dirt trails. However a couple of times the devil on my shoulder wanted to “accidently” cross paths with the uphill bikers. Destroyed momentum sucks, huh? You guys are lucky I believe in Karma…
Coming off the ridge, provided excellent views of Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove and the beaches in the north; it also throws you into a steep descent, where I have decided that my new Keen hiking shoes are going to be returned. I think my trainers would have given my foot better stabilization going down.
Steep descent back into the parking lot
Lovely view of Laguna and Crystal Cove
Beautiful…blue skies
We emerged into the lower parking lot via the B.F.I. trail and had to continue up past the RV campground to arrive at our car. Round trip was about 9 miles total, about 3.5 hours including stop times. We drove back down to the lower parking lot where we snacked and restored our electrolytes with some semi frozen Simply Juices. Completely hits the perfect spot after our hikes.
Simply Refreshing
Snack time before we head home, someone forgot the beers!!
Finishing with Malbec
Finished the day at a friend’s mom’s 70th birthday party with a nice glass of Malbec!
Stats: 20,654 steps, 151 flights of stairs, 1.5 liters of water, no blisters, no injuries, great morning with great friends!