Hiking

Well, we took our first day trip hike this morning. There are hills and mountains surrounding Simi Valley. We hiked a hill, through about 700 feet elevation change. Atop this hill is a giant cross that can be seen from anywhere in the city and has been standing since the early 1800's when it was a resting place between two missions.
Our first attempt at the climb was what seemed like the main trail, that went straight up the face, and got steeper, and steeper, and steeper again, until Molly didn't even want to climb. Just before Molly decided it was too steep, Lora also had a breakdown. So, we turned around, I squatted - still on my feet - and let our sled dog Molly pull me down the slope on the loose dirt. I was skiing down the hill with a sled dog pulling me!

Lower down we found a switchback, and from then on we just took the shallowest path, which eventually led us to the top, to the foot of the cross. Molly was stopping on her own under the shady spots, so near the top, I started carrying her. I was carrying her like a sacrificial lamb around my neck to the foot of the cross.

What was emphasized by this little excursion is that the climb to the foot of the cross is a hard mountain to climb, and you can't do it alone. So true, so true.
From the top of this hill, on a clear day, you can see the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands. This morning it was a bit hazy and we couldn't see the ocean, but the panoramic views of the city were awesome. Below is a quick attempt at a 180 degree panoramic view of Simi Valley from atop Mt. McCoy. It really is a valley! There are trails throughout the hills surrounding Simi Valley, so we'll have plenty of late afternoon outdoor activities available.