Southern California winters are a bit wet. Unlike Vancouver, where if Tucker and I didn't hike in the rain, we'd simply never hike, we could wait out the storms here in Los Angeles. After a year of fires, mudslides were imminent, and being in a canyon during a possible flash flood wasn't advisable. So, sadly, we had to take a couple weeks off from our quests for Mother Nature until she'd be more welcoming to our presence.
Pete and his mom Nicole have joined Tucker and me on our mission to find Mother Nature here in the city. Once the sun shown again, our first venture was only fifteen miles from home at Ernest E Debs Park. There, we were treated to a lake atop a mountain.
Pete and his mom Nicole have joined Tucker and me on our mission to find Mother Nature here in the city. Once the sun shown again, our first venture was only fifteen miles from home at Ernest E Debs Park. There, we were treated to a lake atop a mountain.
On occasion the hills secluded us from the surrounding urban environs,
But we were still reminded that in the distance, towering skyscrapers pierced the sky, and a city like Gotham was still within sight.
So, the next weekend we decided to go just ten miles further away. Still within Los Angeles County, and only a forty minute drive on a Sunday morning, we found a place where Mother Nature still ruled.
“Why doesn’t LA look like this where I live?” Nicole asked.
Even she, with her backyard retreat to Griffith Park, was envious of those who lived in the surrounding neighborhood to this:
Even she, with her backyard retreat to Griffith Park, was envious of those who lived in the surrounding neighborhood to this:
Technically we were no longer in Los Angeles City proper, but we were still in LA County. Monrovia Canyon Park is run by the city of Monrovia and is situated in the San Gabriel Mountains. We parked in a quaint neighborhood and walked the three quarters of a mile to the park entrance. There weren’t any spots available in the tiny lot in the park, but it saved us a $6 parking fee and gave the boys and us another mile and a half of walking in the wilderness.
Our main destination was the 30 foot waterfall, but when we climbed the Bill Cull Trail and came to a fork in the road, we took the road less travelled and not on my map: the overlook.
Our main destination was the 30 foot waterfall, but when we climbed the Bill Cull Trail and came to a fork in the road, we took the road less travelled and not on my map: the overlook.
Far, far into the distance, like Dorothy spying the Emerald City when she first begins her journey, the City of Angeles could be seen.
At least, we speculated it was Los Angeles. It might have been Pasadena. It didn’t matter. From where we stood, the urban jungle was worlds away.
Here, Tucker knighted Pete into the Order of Backyard Brindles, naming him Sir Peter of the San Gabriels.
After the ceremony concluded, we turned around and climbed back down the 500 feet of elevation to the crossroads. There we headed in the opposite direction toward the water and the wild.
There was even a proper stream to cross.
The boys took sips from the stream,
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But afterward Pete cleansed his palette with his own LA city water from home. You can take the boy out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the boy.
After venturing through forest lands, we came upon the waterfall that had been recently fed by the rains.
One thing for me to get used to is that there is very little privacy in the woods here. Vancouver’s forests were always busy, but the crowds of people always appeared to belong. With their backpacking gear, sturdy footwear, and layers of waterproof clothing, they seemed to have simply sprouted from the forest floor. While there are some naturally outdoorsy people in Los Angeles, many visitors are obviously just that: visitors to this strange land of nature. They come wearing fashion footwear, carry no water reserves, and talk loudly, blare music (have you not heard of headphones?), and harbor no respect for the sacredness and power of nature.
The first portion of our hike to the overlook had been quiet and peaceful. Few people ventured that way, so when we arrived at the waterfall even Pete and Tucker were a little thrown off by the crowds. We hadn’t seen many people on the trail, so they speculated that they had all magically appeared at this precise spot.
The first portion of our hike to the overlook had been quiet and peaceful. Few people ventured that way, so when we arrived at the waterfall even Pete and Tucker were a little thrown off by the crowds. We hadn’t seen many people on the trail, so they speculated that they had all magically appeared at this precise spot.
Due to the line of people and throngs of families, I didn’t foresee us being able to snag a photo where everyone else had, so this photo of Tucker would have to suffice.
After hanging out for a brief spell, enjoying the water and trying to block out all the people in this serene landscape, we headed back on the trail...
Passing along a stream...
Filling our view with visions of green and wild.
We walked back to our vehicles, happy to have found another oasis of Nature within the urban landscape. Hiking has always been a spiritual venture for me: my church. Now that I’m in the city, I have to get used to the fact that since there are fewer churches, the congregations will be bigger and visits from non-members will be more frequent. Instead of missing my solitude, I need to embrace my kindred spirits. Tucker and Pete always welcome new visitors to their pack. As always, dogs are leaps and bounds ahead of humans in emotional evolution. As a smart human, I'll follow close behind and never let go of the leash for they always lead me in the right direction.
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