GeoTrek 3 June 9

GEOTREK 3
SANTA GABRIEL MOUNTAINS:
LITTLE TUJUNGA CANYON TO BIG TUJUNGA CANYON

Monday, June 9, 2008

Route: From intersection of Little Tujunga Rd. and Gold Creek Rd., go east, north, east, and south on Gold Creek Mtwy. to its intersection with Big Tujunga Cyn. Rd. at the Trail Canyon Trailhead.

Distance: 10.1 miles.

PICTURES OF PEOPLE AND NON-GEOLOGIC THINGS SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL
Click on the small picture to see an enlargement.

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

Sue Fritsche (left) and Gene Fritsche (taking the photo) were joined this morning by Judith Martinez for the hike on Gold Creek Road between Little Tujunga and Big Tujunga Canyons. Gold Creek Road is in the center of the photo.
The pavement soon ended and we spent most of the morning hiking uphill on the dirt fire road. A few of the houses in the Gold Creek community are in the center of the photo.
We took a shortcut between segments of Gold Creek Road on what was labeled as a horse trail. It was slightly cleared and passable, but horses had not used it for a long time.
The advantage of the horse trail, aside from being shorter, was that it followed along Gold Creek Canyon, and the trees provided some much appreciated shade.
We were surprised to find that Gold Creek had a little bit of water flowing in it.
Before too long we were back on Gold Creek Road and once again heading uphill in the sun. We were starting to get a little hot by this time.
This gate, just past Gold Canyon Summit, was full of bullet holes and proved to be very interesting (see next photo).
Bees were using the interior of the gate pipe as a hive and were flying in and out of the bullet holes as they went about their activities.
A rare, but welcome, oak tree was found along the road that provided some very needed shade. We took a short rest and drank some water to refresh ourselves.
A little farther on we spotted this colorful group of flowers, including purple Phlox and an unknown yellow flower.
When we finally made it to the top at Gold Creek Summit, we could look back and see the canyon of Gold Creek merging in the distance into Little Tujunga Canyon where we had started in the morning.
We were worried about finding a shady spot for lunch, but when we arrived at Gold Creek Summit we found a Forest Service water tank with a wide, water-collecting brim around the top. It was a perfect spot for lunch.
After we had gone down the other side of the mountain a mile or so, we could look back toward Gold Creek Summit (the slot on the skyline) where we had eaten lunch.
It was still hot, but going downhill made the afternoon hike much more bearable.
At the end of the day's hike we found numerous switchbacks on the road as it descended down into Big Tujunga Canyon. We thought they would never end.
When we arrived at Big Tujunga Canyon we were met by Maggie Banda-Compton and her son Ryan who brought us cold drinks and took us back to our cars at the beginning of the hike. We greatly appreciate Maggie's help.

Return to the CSUN Geological Sciences Department hike index.
Return to the Coast Geological Society hike index.
Return to the First United Methodist Church of Reseda hike index.
THIS PAGE LAST MODIFIED ON JUNE 11, 2008
If you have questions or comments, you may leave a message at:
a.eugene.fritsche@csun.edu

	Sue Fritsche (left) and Gene Fritsche (taking the photo) were joined this morning by Judith Martinez for the hike on Gold Creek Road between Little Tujunga and Big Tujunga Canyons. Gold Creek Road is in the center of the photo.
	The pavement soon ended and we spent most of the morning hiking uphill on the dirt fire road. A few of the houses in the Gold Creek community are in the center of the photo.
	We took a shortcut between segments of Gold Creek Road on what was labeled as a horse trail. It was slightly cleared and passable, but horses had not used it for a long time.
	The advantage of the horse trail, aside from being shorter, was that it followed along Gold Creek Canyon, and the trees provided some much appreciated shade.
	We were surprised to find that Gold Creek had a little bit of water flowing in it.
	Before too long we were back on Gold Creek Road and once again heading uphill in the sun. We were starting to get a little hot by this time.
	This gate, just past Gold Canyon Summit, was full of bullet holes and proved to be very interesting (see next photo).
	Bees were using the interior of the gate pipe as a hive and were flying in and out of the bullet holes as they went about their activities.
	A rare, but welcome, oak tree was found along the road that provided some very needed shade. We took a short rest and drank some water to refresh ourselves.
	A little farther on we spotted this colorful group of flowers, including purple Phlox and an unknown yellow flower.
	When we finally made it to the top at Gold Creek Summit, we could look back and see the canyon of Gold Creek merging in the distance into Little Tujunga Canyon where we had started in the morning.
	We were worried about finding a shady spot for lunch, but when we arrived at Gold Creek Summit we found a Forest Service water tank with a wide, water-collecting brim around the top. It was a perfect spot for lunch.
	After we had gone down the other side of the mountain a mile or so, we could look back toward Gold Creek Summit (the slot on the skyline) where we had eaten lunch.
	It was still hot, but going downhill made the afternoon hike much more bearable.
	At the end of the day's hike we found numerous switchbacks on the road as it descended down into Big Tujunga Canyon. We thought they would never end.
	When we arrived at Big Tujunga Canyon we were met by Maggie Banda-Compton and her son Ryan who brought us cold drinks and took us back to our cars at the beginning of the hike. We greatly appreciate Maggie's help.