It was another grey day in the San Fernando Valley, and being solar powered, I needed to see that big beautiful ball of light in the clear blue skies before I crashed. So I packed our bags and we headed up...
Not north. Just up.
My recent experience at Crystal Lake led me to believe that if I could get to about 5000 feet in elevation, I may transcend the cloud cover. I didn’t see another hike up near Crystal Lake I was interested in, but there were two options via the Angels Crest Highway.
The San Gabriel Peak looked promising, but looking at photos and the map, I had a suspicion we had done it before. A quick check back on this blog (because let’s face it: this is the external hard drive for my memory), I saw we had done part of it on our way to Mt. Lowe. And much of that trail was rocky and uncomfortable for Tuck.
So I chose the second option which was jut up the road from that trailhead. Not so much a hike as just a place to enjoy the sunshine: Mt. Wilson Observatory.
I find it astonishing that people trekked up these mountains long ago without car or paved road and built these places. Cabins are hard enough; this is an entire scientific basecamp with multiple telescopes, buildings, roads, electricity, plumbing, and now even a cafe, all started over a century ago!
Not north. Just up.
My recent experience at Crystal Lake led me to believe that if I could get to about 5000 feet in elevation, I may transcend the cloud cover. I didn’t see another hike up near Crystal Lake I was interested in, but there were two options via the Angels Crest Highway.
The San Gabriel Peak looked promising, but looking at photos and the map, I had a suspicion we had done it before. A quick check back on this blog (because let’s face it: this is the external hard drive for my memory), I saw we had done part of it on our way to Mt. Lowe. And much of that trail was rocky and uncomfortable for Tuck.
So I chose the second option which was jut up the road from that trailhead. Not so much a hike as just a place to enjoy the sunshine: Mt. Wilson Observatory.
I find it astonishing that people trekked up these mountains long ago without car or paved road and built these places. Cabins are hard enough; this is an entire scientific basecamp with multiple telescopes, buildings, roads, electricity, plumbing, and now even a cafe, all started over a century ago!
It was surprisingly not busy, compared to the various picnic areas and trailheads we had seen along the way, with automobiles lining the side of the highway. But like I said, this isn’t really a hike; just a place to wander about. They even have music concerts under the dome with the 100 foot telescope. Tucker isn’t allowed into the telescope rooms (and really, I don’t think he’d enjoy it anyway), so this was more about being in the nature surrounding the science.
The ride up got brighter the higher we climbed, and I was almost convinced that maybe blue skies had returned back in Burbank. But then we arrived and looked out over the mountains, we found that the clouds still lingered.
The ride up got brighter the higher we climbed, and I was almost convinced that maybe blue skies had returned back in Burbank. But then we arrived and looked out over the mountains, we found that the clouds still lingered.
It was a stunning view: this ocean of clouds, covering the civilizations below.
And that was what we saw from just the edge of the parking lot.
In the terrace area with Cosmic Cafe, a docent was explaining to another guest how to get to Echo Rock, a short walk at the back of the property. I had seen it online and listened in for directions.
Tucker and I walked the paved pathways around the property, checking out the view along the way.
In the terrace area with Cosmic Cafe, a docent was explaining to another guest how to get to Echo Rock, a short walk at the back of the property. I had seen it online and listened in for directions.
Tucker and I walked the paved pathways around the property, checking out the view along the way.
This wasn’t our usual nature walk. We weren’t in civilization, but we were very near human constructs. So much so, I even had cell phone service... which shouldn't be surprising given the towers. Probably could have gotten wifi too.
We walked the short path to Echo Rock. Much like Bee Rock in Griffith Park, it’s the edge of a rock cliff with protections from falling down the mountainside.
It was nice enough to not be chainlink so Tucker had unobstructed views.
It was nice enough to not be chainlink so Tucker had unobstructed views.
And so did I.
So. Much. Nature. So. Much. Sky.
Tucker didn’t seem to want to hang out in the tiny area at the edge of the cliff so we turned around, and were reminded just how close we were to humanity.
Tucker just wanted to blend in with the earth. He was achieving his goal.
We walked back, and I was still struck by how and when people built this place, here, in the mountains. I’m not even fully at ease driving here. It’s only about 30 miles, but 20 of those are on steep, winding, twisting roads through the mountains.
I got a snack at the Cosmic Cafe, and Tucker and I sat on the deck, looking out over the parking lot where our trusty steed rested beneath the pines before our steep descent down those winding, twisting mountain roads.
The parking lot views were most impressive to me. I wondered if people skipped those and just went toward the buildings. Before heading back down the mountain, we took another spin around the edge of the lot where a few others had setup camping chairs and picnic blankets to take in the views.
It took us an hour to get there, and we only stayed about an hour and a half, treading a little over just one mile. But we had gotten out from beneath the grey. Sunshine, blue skies, and amazing views. I was recharged. The purpose of this outing wasn’t as much about the land as it was about the skies, and the beauty earth and sky make together. Even on the foothills of science.
If you want a sneak peek of what the view is like from Mt. Wilson right this second, check out their telescopes broadcasting 24 hours a day: Views From Mt. Wilson
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