Fryman Canyon

Five girly-men.....oops.....five manly men arrived at Fryman Canyon on this hot August Sunday for a ride in the eastern Santa Monicas. 4 medical professionals and a postal employee made up today's contingent that parked along the neighborhood streets rather than fork over the 3 bucks to park in the newly designated pay lot. We began the ride on the street, traversing to the singletrack that brought us up to the fireroad that brought us up to the Tree People.

Back out to Coldwater Canyon and the fire station, and then down to the network of trails below. Eventually we arrived at the base of the Hastain Trail, the fireroad that climbs up to a peak and then used to take us to a fence that we would go through to a new housing development off of Coldwater. Well, surprise surprise. The peak area is apparently private property and has now been fenced off, graded, and now reached by a new road cut out of the mountain from the Coldwater side. Well, fences rarely deter us and so we explored the area, debating about how many homes, etc. would be built here on this mountain top overlooking the city to the south. Although we spied a security guard at the bottom of the hill, we decided to head down the newly constucted dirt road to see if we could exit without getting shot. We sent Jamshyd down first figuring he would make the smallest target (I should talk).

Heading down the new road cut with heavy equipment resting until the Monday morning work week begins

At the bottom of the road, Jamshyd used his inimitable charm to avoid being shot. We also learned from the guard that the land (the mountain) belongs to the man who owns Guess Jeans. He is apparently building a single house (albeit with 4 swimming pools) atop the mountain with the estimated price tag of $100 million. About 1/2 that amount is apparently just the cost of the land, building the road, and landscaping. But whatever the truth, it appears to be a massive project for a single residence, and also portends the day when we will no longer be able to pass thru and must do the Hastain Trail as an out and back.

We now pedaled up Coldwater Canyon Boulevard back to the Tree People. Joe and Brian had to take off a little early and so just took the fireroad back to the cars, while the remaining 3 decided to ride the maze of singletrack trails that crisscross above the Tree People area.

The ride was a short one, less than 11 miles. But nonetheless, Rod, Jamshyd, and Rob went for a round of drinking, eating, people watching and lively talk at The Daily Grill on Ventura Boulevard before bidding adieu and heading for home.