It was only a week after Hong Kong 100, but Kent couldn’t sit still. While I was feeling zen about 5ks on the California coast, my husband looked to the Santa Ynez Mountains and saw possibility. And that’s what I love about him!
Possibility took the form of the Franklin Trail, a route rising steeply above the town of Carpenteria on the west coast of the US. It was a short drive away from the family home base, and a perfect morning outing!
However, at 25 kilometers and with over 1000 meters of gain, it was going to be a big morning outing – especially for a recovery run!
Too excited to sleep, we drove to the Franklin Trail and parked in darkness. It was early morning in late January 2020, and the sun rose late. Having neglected to bring our headlamps, we sat in our rental car waiting for signs of dawn.
When the sky finally began to brighten, we hopped out and hit the road. A wide dirt trail led around a local school and through several farms. Finally, we began to climb!
The first rays of sunlight were coloring the sky orange and gold as we began our switchback ascent. We were all alone on the trails, and it was a silent, still morning. We soon left the town far below!
After a few kilometers of relentless uphill running, we turned around to see how far we’d come. It was a striking scene: the buildings of Carp were toy-sized, and we had views out to the Channel Islands!
Facing the mountains again, we continued to climb alongside the rising sun. Soon, I was hot. I felt like the lizards we sometimes glimpsed skittering over the rocks. It was the perfect time for basking!
Birds of prey swooped into plunging valleys or circled wide overhead. Small butterflies darted here and there on their whimsical flight paths. A lone snake slithered quickly out of sight.
It was easy to imagine other animal lives on the Franklin Trail. Could those tracks belong to a mountain lion? A bobcat? Or were they simply dog prints? What other creatures were using our trail?
The Franklin Trail had narrowed into a thin single-track that led ever upwards. Eventually, my running slowed into a steady hike. It was tough going – especially right after a big race!
But it was also beautiful. To either side of the trail was undulating, untouched wilderness. Ahead, the sun-baked ridge seemed to shimmer like a mirage. Our trail was the only sign of humanity for miles.
Kent led us up, up, up into the chaparral. The twisting, turning route kept us on our toes. I kept halting our progress to point out a pop of color on a berry bush or pull off for an overlooked vista point.
After a little more than two hours of climbing, we reached the ridge top. It was less of a summit than a surprise intersection! Here, a sign pointed the way to destinations unknown, and trails stretched away in two unexpected directions.
Tempted, we gazed out across the vast horizon. The sun was high overhead, illuminating further ridges and sparkling on distant ocean waves. I sat on a rock to take it all in, leaning back to look up into the bright blue sky.
Alas, we couldn’t go on. Over the next hill, there’s always another hill. One adventure begets another so easily. But our run was already perfect, and we had family fun awaiting us below.
So we ran down, and this time I ran out ahead. The route was simple: straight back down the way we’d come up! So I ran full-tilt: creating a breeze that blew my hair back from my face and made me feel like I was about to take off!
We zipped over bumps and zoomed around corners, delighting in our little game of chase. When I looked up from my fast feet, the Santa Barbara County scenery was dazzling all over again.
Down we went until I pulled up short at a rope swing. After playing there awhile, we jogged the rest of the way down side-by-side. There were trail runners coming up now, and hikers. We greeted everyone, especially the dogs.
Muscles shaken out and wanderlust satiated, our adventure on the Franklin Trail came to an end. What a wonderful place to play!
Headed to Santa Barbara? Consider checking out the gorgeous Franklin Trail for a challenging trail run or hike! More information can be found here.
Explore more fun runs here, or enjoy the United States of Adventures with us!
