![]() Ah, civilization! When you reach the kiosk in the four-way intersection stay right and follow the Inspiration Loop Trail for the last mile. Will pondering the last 200 million years while wrapping up your journey across the Santa Monicas have a metamorphic effect on you? Glimpses of urban encroachment lead to full-blown cityscapes, from Santa Monica Bay to the San Gabriel Mountains. And has allowed us to glimpse into the very heart of the Santa Monica Mountains. Erosion has removed all the younger rocks, and they measured several thousands of feet in thickness. You might wonder where are all the other younger rocks? Where did they go? Yes, that's right. Being the oldest rock it is at the center of this folded range. This slate was previously a sedimentary rock. ![]() It is a metamorphic rock, which means it changed its shape or form due to heat and or pressure. While not much to look at it does represent the oldest rock in the Santa Monica Mountains and dates to about 200 million years ago. This exposure is of the Santa Monica Slate Formation. Do the hills on this end of the Backbone look older or younger than the hills on the other end?Īs you make your long descent down towards Will Rogers State Historic Park notice the dark brown shattered rock by the side of the trail. This trail to Will Rogers’ Home is called Rogers Road, but it's largely single track for the next 5.5 miles. Continue on the road headed towards the ocean for about 0.5 mile, and begin the single track on your left. Can you spot the eagle? Views to the interior aren't too shabby either. Enjoy this enormous sedimentary sandstone outcrop. Turn left and soar up to Eagle Rock or as they say, “take the high road”. The Mush Trail will ‘T’ intersect with a dirt road at 3.5 miles. Since then this site continues to be an important resource for residents and tourists alike. Riding the wave of the American Environmental Movement locals like Sue Nelson, Jill Swift and Margot Feuer worked tirelessly to protect and save the Santa Monica Mountains. And going into the 1960s and 70s the pursuit of growth began to meet resistance. Fortunately, with all the ranch holdings that didn't allow construction or development there was plenty of land that stayed open and protected. Numerous roads were paved and communities were built, changing the look and feel of the land. New technology and developments were pushed into these mountains at unprecedented levels. And after World War II soldiers were returning home and were seeking to break away from patterns of pre-war life. The only thing constant in the Santa Monica Mountains is change. What is up with all these ranch names: Mush, Trippit, Will Rogers? In a wonderfully diverse 1.25 mile you arrive at Mush Ranch. ![]() To reach the end you must start, so shall we? From the kiosk walk the paved road for 0.25 mile and take the single track Mush Trail on your right. Leave extra cars and any end-of-hike rewards here, and carpool up to Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park to begin your grand finale. Will Rogers State Historic Park is where you'll conclude your Backbone journey. And remember to have a good breakfast, hydrate early, triple check weather and your pack essentials, no valuables visible in your car no keys in the wheel well and your three trail threats: rattlesnakes, ticks and poison oak. Can it be Segment #8 already? How do you feel about your journey coming to an end? This is mostly exposed single track and a pretty healthy walk at about 11 miles with 3,500 feet of cumulative elevation gain and loss. ![]()
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