Figueroa Mountain (Catway)

Topo map showing the Catway. We rode north from Figueroa Mountain Road to approximately the end of the blue marking.

Matt, looking extremely smug, in his riding gear, with the bikes.

Okay, so the key feature of this ride is that if you go far enough you get an amazing view of Zaca Lake! This is particularly amazing because you didn’t know Figueroa Mountain was anywhere near Zaca Lake. But it is actually quite close if you take the back way. The Catway is the back way.

Zaca Lake again. This photo was taken while eating lunch on the grass. Without even getting up. Rough life, eh?

John is showing off the lake for us. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop eating, even for a moment. Hey, motorcycling makes you hungry!

I think right about this point I discovered that John’s camera has digital zoom. He had no idea. That’s because he’s never read the manual. And judging from his attitude, he isn’t going to, either.

Same thing with less zoom. A view sort of off to the right from where we’re sitting eating lunch.

Extremely artsy-fartsy shot even further to the right.

Same artsy-fartsy shot with digital zoom. Wow.

The bikes, perched triumphantly on the ridge.

Matt’s bike, admiring the view.

John’s bike.

The Catway! Looking back at the road we’ve just come out on, along the ridge.

View off the ridge one way or the other. I can’t remember.

In closing, an amazing panorama-type shot created by putting together four pictures. Looking northeast, I think, off the ridge, towards the San Rafael Wilderness. Notice the barren, burned look of the hills. Hmmm, burned… fire… Zaca Lake… Zaca Fire of 2007… could there be a connection?