The last couple of times on Bommer Ridge, I’ve been giving a particular trail the evil eye as I pass:
![8500434189_2defdb9d35_o 8500434189_2defdb9d35_o](//lh3.ggpht.com/-KKwDtBrEEc0/USk9NVdgbxI/AAAAAAAAQYE/pr8RGzvCA6A/8500434189_2defdb9d35_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
From what I remember the last time I was down there almost two years ago, there was a ton of beauty. I also recall many curse words coming back out, even when I was in shape. But I guess, time heals all wounds (or at least deadens the pain), and yesterday I ventured back into Emerald Canyon.
The trail starts off dropping gently as it hugs a ridge off of Bommer:
![8501489582_47f495c6ac_o 8501489582_47f495c6ac_o](//lh6.ggpht.com/-vMQ-X9IeM7g/USk9Plj6GPI/AAAAAAAAQYU/xLhtjT_ZsQI/8501489582_47f495c6ac_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Then, all of a sudden, there is a steep drop into the bowels of the canyon. At the bottom of the canyon is a wonderful grove of oaks and sycamore trees. This would be a great place for a picnic if it wasn’t three miles from the closest parking!
![8501487010_67be61a0e7_o 8501487010_67be61a0e7_o](//lh4.ggpht.com/-igBJYP99khU/USk9SCI6-nI/AAAAAAAAQYg/bTF21SDvI6s/8501487010_67be61a0e7_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Right smack in the middle of this grove is the spur trail to climb back out:
![8500367743_03dd455c5c_o 8500367743_03dd455c5c_o](//lh4.ggpht.com/-e13crsP2Ig0/USk9UsucL6I/AAAAAAAAQY0/59H1lv5G-DU/8500367743_03dd455c5c_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
It used to be that you could continue down the canyon to a dead end where Emerald Canyon enters a private community (Emerald Bay) in Laguna Beach. But, that trail was obliterated by the heavy rains during winter 2010/2011. There doesn’t appear to be any plans to rebuild access to the lower canyon.
Less than a quarter mile from the beginning of the spur, the trail pops out into something that we really don’t have a lot of here in Southern California – a meadow:
![8501475192_8d2ff55ae0_o 8501475192_8d2ff55ae0_o](//lh4.ggpht.com/-7yY0S3pO1TE/USk9XYMpVXI/AAAAAAAAQZE/S0t3vLFOQBc/8501475192_8d2ff55ae0_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Just past the meadow, you reach the trail’s namesake – Emerald Falls. The falls themselves are a little anticlimactic. Hopefully people don’t take this trail for the view of the falls themselves (my handheld water bottle is thrown in for perspective):
![8500360377_8614202972_o 8500360377_8614202972_o](//lh5.ggpht.com/-QCzRBCWotAw/USk9ZANfQxI/AAAAAAAAQZU/C-jMuf0q2DM/8500360377_8614202972_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
In another half mile or so is where the fun really begins - a steep, rocky, technical trail that climbs relentlessly out of the canyon. I don’t think this photo gives the feel for just how steep the ascent is:
![8501466062_7e93739378_o 8501466062_7e93739378_o](//lh5.ggpht.com/-MSAtAhrOo5o/USk9bZCCq-I/AAAAAAAAQZk/fhn-GXGUIoY/8501466062_7e93739378_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Maybe this one does. We were in that meadow down there a quarter mile ago:
![8501460718_19fbed1b08_o 8501460718_19fbed1b08_o](//lh3.ggpht.com/-_03g7XJGiNE/USk9eKdpm4I/AAAAAAAAQZ0/cO-_U-WoCMI/8501460718_19fbed1b08_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Finally, two miles many gasping breaks and a few choice curse words after taking off from Bommer Ridge, we find ourselves back on El Moro Ridge:
![8500351271_2bd6e78d50_o 8500351271_2bd6e78d50_o](//lh5.ggpht.com/-1rrPyQUpq7I/USk9gtUphCI/AAAAAAAAQaE/mbcO94kewy8/8500351271_2bd6e78d50_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
And shortly after that, back on Bommer:
![8500304735_637f32aa0e_o 8500304735_637f32aa0e_o](//lh3.ggpht.com/-04YaaMRZIBU/USk9iswXpSI/AAAAAAAAQaQ/GyVlADNEfI4/8500304735_637f32aa0e_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Total mileage from Pacific Ridge to Emerald to El Moro Ridge to Bommer Ridge and back to Pacific Ridge: 6 miles.
![Running Bommer Ridge-El Moro 2-22-2013 Running Bommer Ridge-El Moro 2-22-2013](//lh3.ggpht.com/-Ah3bMlerljc/USk9l3-OjDI/AAAAAAAAQak/nveOKt3A0LQ/Running%252520Bommer%252520Ridge-El%252520Moro%2525202-22-2013_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800)
![Running Bommer Ridge-El Moro 2-22-2013, Elevation Running Bommer Ridge-El Moro 2-22-2013, Elevation](//lh4.ggpht.com/-wm1KFlUSdNw/USk9np5QNkI/AAAAAAAAQa0/BcxVkZTVmKs/Running%252520Bommer%252520Ridge-El%252520Moro%2525202-22-2013%25252C%252520Elevation_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The good news is I was able to pig out at Mi Casa for dinner!
- Calories budgeted: 1530
- Calories consumed: 2408
- Exercise adjustment: 6 miles, 878 calories
- Too few/(too many): (181 – but those chile rellenos were worth every calorie!)