(Click on this line to see PICTURES OF GEOLOGY ALONG THE TRAIL
and the hike route traced on a Dibblee geologic map.)

	For this last day of GeoTrek III the participants included Syrus Parvizian, Sue Fritsche, Tony Reid, Pam Irvine, Evelyn Jones, and Gene Fritsche. Behind us is the road we had finished on when we hiked over the Simi Hills.
	We got an early start down Box Canyon Road. Our goal for the first couple of hours is Rocky Peak in the Santa Susana Mountains, which is just beyond the near skyline.
	As we made our way up the south slope of Rocky Peak, we eventually got a nice view toward the northwest at the northern part of the Simi Valley. Behind the Simi Valley are the western part of the Santa Susana Mountains and in the far distance are the Topatopa Mountains.
	This outcrop of sandstone provided a little shade for a rest and water break and also a chance to study the small cave and chimney that had been eroded out of the sandstone.
	As we got higher up on Rocky Peak we could look back and see where we had started in the morning, where Box Canyon Road disappears into the slot in the mountain.
	After we left the shady outcrop with the cave, the rest of the morning along Rocky Peak Road, although picturesque, was all in the sun.
	This ground-cover plant with the tiny purple flowers was common along the trail.
	These are the tiny purple flowers that grow on the ground-cover plant in the previous photo.
	Another common wildflower along this part of the trail was the Bush Sunflower.
	After about two hours of climbing in the sun, we made it to the top of Rocky Peak. The view behind us is shown in the next photo.
	This was our view toward the southwest from the top of Rocky Peak. In the middle ground is the 118 Freeway and Simi Valley. The mountains behind the Simi valley are the western Simi Hills. Beyond that on the skyline to the left are the western Santa Monica Mountains. The small bump on the skyline to the right of center is Santa Cruz Island.
	Looking northwest from Rocky Peak we could see the western Santa Susana Mountains in the middleground and the Piru Mountains on the skyline. Cobblestone Mountain is the high point on the right skyline.
	Descending on the north slope of Rocky Peak we reached the divide at the western end of Blind Canyon, then started up again.
	We were starting to get a little desperate for some shade as we passed a roadcut where we found several fossils (see the geology section).
	Finally, after walking in the sun most of the morning, we came to some oak trees right at noon. Obviously it was time to stop for lunch and cool off for a while.
	After lunch we passed this section of the road that was alive with flowers.
	This bush with the purple flowers and the fuzzy light green leaves is the White Sage.
	Here's a closeup of the White Sage flowers and seed clumps.
	As we neared the end of the day's hike, we could look back over this ancient mountain terrace and see Rocky Peak (the bump on the left skyline) where we had been four hours before.
	We saw several of these bushes with delicate pink flowers on them.
	Closeup of the pink flowers seen on the bush in the previous photo.
	After lunch oak groves became a bit more common and we could stop for shade breaks more often.
	This Red-Tailed Hawk circled overhead for awhile, undoubtedly looking for something to eat.
	We made it to the end of the twelfth day of GeoTrek III. We had walked a total of 135 miles and on this especially hot day we had drunk all of our water. The cold sparkling cider that we had waiting for us was a welcome toast to the end of a successful GeoTrek.
	Gene and Sue offer each other a toast to a job well done on GeoTrek III and to the participants and contributors that made the hike worthwhile. Your support was greatly appreciated.

If you have questions or comments, you may leave a message at:
a.eugene.fritsche@csun.edu