Highway 33 leads north from Ojai over the San Rafael Mountains to the Cuyama and Lockwood Valleys. The road was constructed in the 1930s ... and is still lightly trafficked today.
Some 20 miles north of Ojai the highway reaches its highest point ... Pine Mountain Summit at 5,160 feet (1,573 m).
This trail ... also known as 6N06 ... starts from the saddle and climbs along the slopes of Pine Mountain to reach Reyes Peak which rises to 7,514 feet (2,290 m).
At the start a couple of minibuses were ferrying a group of Korean Students from a San Diego church up to one of the camp grounds above.
It was quite chilly when I set off ... but the effort of climbing soon got my circulation going.
The track was originally constructed in the 1930s by Shell to allow the Hattie Russell Well to be sunk near Reyes Peak ... but economic quantities of oil were not found.
It is now used mainly by campers and walkers to gain access to a number of camping sites near the top of the ridge.
For a kilometre the trail climbs continuously up the scrub-covered mountain side ... before levelling out briefly and crossing a saddle.
From this point stunning views open up to the north.
Highway 33 can be seen winding its way down towards the Cuyama Valley.
After stopping I soon realised how keen the wind was ... and after snatching a few photographs I pressed on.
From the saddle onward the trail maintains an almost constant slope of 7.5% to the top ... although in the thin air it seemed considerably steeper.
I continued to climb ... and the San Diego minibuses overtook again with another load ... leaving clouds of dust behind.
The road surface alternates between tarmac, dirt and rock ... and as I climbed the mountainside became increasingly rocky.
On the far side of Lockwood Valley lies the San Emigdio Mountain Range which stretches along the border between Ventura and Kern Counties.
The range includes Mount Pinos .. which at 8,831 feet (2,692 m) is the highest peak in the southern Los Padres National Forest.
Mount Pinos ... or Iwihinmu in the native Chumash language ... was believed by the Chumash Indians to be the center of the world (Liyikshup) ... the point where everything is in balance.
Climbing further I entered the forest which covers much of Pine Mountain.
I was taken aback to find light snow blowing horizontally towards me ... the sky above was bright blue ... I eventually realised that it was being picked up from road-side drifts by the strong wind.
River Cuyama starts on the northern slopes of Pine Mountain below me and its near white river bed catches your eye as it flows away to the northwest.
For much of the year the river dries up but in winter storms it can readily flood.
Just over ten years ago it flooded and took away part of Highway 166 ... sadly two police officers were washed away in the swollen river and drowned.
The trail enters a valley .. but still manages to continue to climb.
Soon after I reach the first of the campgrounds ... Pine Mountain.
The minivans were parked nearby ... but all was quiet so the occupants must have hiked off someway.
The Boulder Canyon Trail heads north from here to descend into the Cuyama Valley.
At the campsite a notice posted in June 2006 warned of the dangers of open fires and smoking.
Sadly only a few months later the Day Fire destroyed 160,000 acres (650 sq km) of forest and scrub to the east of Pine Mountain.
The road then climbed steeply out of the valley and around a 180° bend.
I then passed the Reyes Peak Campground ... where individual pitches are surrounded by giant boulders.
I stopped to eat ... hiding behind a large rock to gain some shelter from the wind.
Chorro Grande Trail leaves to the right ... descending steeply 3,000 feet down Pine Mountain's southern face to emerge on Highway 33.
Beyond the campgrounds the trail peaks and starts to wind its way around a succession of peaks.
it was now possible to see further to the east ... in the distance I could make out the Pacific shore line and the Santa Monica Mountains both over 60 kilometres away.
Normally I cycle along in a rather a trance like state somewhat oblivious to my surroundings ... however I was quickly roused when I noticed a line of paw prints in the sandy surface stretching off into the distance.
The prints were about 3 inches across and larger than any I had seen before.
One of the possibilities suggested by my guide book was ... a mountain lion.
At the trailhead I met a walker from Ventura who was staying at the Reyes Peak Campground.
He had measured the temperature at 34°F ... so no wonder I was feeling distinctly chilly in the wind.
He too had seen the paw prints ... and thought that they were probably from a small black bear or a large dog ... well that was comforting (I think).
It is possible to continue for some 10 kilometres along the ridgeline to Haddock Mountain ... but in view of the perishing wind I decided to turn round and descend back to Highway 33. Haddock Mountain will have to wait for another day.
I put on all my spare clothing and rapidly descended back down the way I'd come up. In no time at all I was back in Ojai having a warming coffee.
After completing this ride I learnt that mining companies have applied for permits to mine sand and gravel in the Cuyama Valley ... which will more than treble the truck traffic on Highway 33 ... I hope they don't succeed.
Kirby James
