We rode the Backbone Trail and fire roads of Topanga State Park this morning. Despite starting well before dawn, there were too many hikers. Especially on the way back down the fire roads. Don't do this on a weekend day. I have no photos of the ascent. It was technical and steep but very doable. I really enjoyed it. There's a short section of hike-a-bike at 25% grade with steps. Then it levels off with a nice trail which you can take at fair speed. The way back down is fire road, mostly in great condition. Parts of it are a thin later of red sand over firm ground. I love riding on this stuff (see photo). It's the best. There were other colors too, depending on the local rock formations. Sometimes whiteish. Sometimes gray. Then there's the red that really seems to be the best surface. I took some photos of a mauve rock formation, and that was the color of the fire road around it too. If it wasn't for the hikers, one could get up some real speed down the fire roads. The views were not so great during the ascent as we were socked in.