Hike 2015.025 -- Eaton Canyon Nature Center to Henninger Flats

Hiked Friday, April 10. I continue to fall behind in my blogging. This was my latest hike, earlier today. Since I've done it many times before, I mostly just took (and am only posting) wildflower shots from along the way.

Got a slightly late start. But, being a weekday, I figure I'd be fine.

I was also somewhat limited in time by needing to get to an astronomy outreach event by 6pm. So, in combination with my late start, I eliminated a couple of possibilities I had been considering the previous day.

Decided on this hike, even though it's something I'll probably do another half-dozen times between now and the end of the year (especially if I actually manage my 100 hikes).

As I turned off of Altadena Drive and started down the hill, I saw a showy patch of Matilija Poppy. So I turned my car around once I got to the bottom of the hill and parked up on the street. Then I shot probalby 25 shots of the little patch. Just one of the shots are above.

In fact, the first five shots I posted were taken before I left the nature center. There of them were probably within 50 feet of each other, near the entrance to the nature center. But they were pretty!

It was a good day for hiking. Probably lower 70s for most of my hike. It had been a while since I'd done this hike, and I enjoyed getting another quick dose of climbing (the previous two hikes, neither of which I've yet blogged, were to First Water and Jones Saddle, both of which have some pretty good grades on the way up).

One thing I had never noticed before was that there was a "nature trail" up at Henninger Flat.

I tried following it, but there wasn't much point. There were concrete monu-ments, with numbers on them. But there was no description of what I saw. And I lost it after only covering about half the trail Still, adding that extra 1/4 mile or so up there at the top was a nice twist to a hike I've done dozens of times before.

The Nature Center gives the distance to Henninger as 3.7 miles. I don't know if that's via the Walnut Canyon trail, or going the long way, over to near the bridge.

Incidentally, it also gives the Mt. Wilson distance as 10.1 miles. Again, I'm not sure which route they take.

That would make the roundtrip distance to Mt. Wilson as 20.2 miles, which is about two miles further than I thought it was. That means I actually have done 20+ miles in a day, before. I didn't know that!

At any rate, adding the 1/4 or so at the top, plus the little extra bit from the nature center to the street (twice) gives my daily hiking distance traveled as about 7.75 miles.

Not a lot of flowers on the trail, or at least not very showy ones. Mostly wild mustard and Spanish broom, with a few lupine mixed in. A few other flowers, but not much.

Down near the nature center, the Matilija Poppy were blooming well. The sunflowers were past-peak, but still blooming. So not a lot of wildflower shots. But it was a great hike, nonetheless.

Hike 2015.017 -- Sturtevant Falls

Hiked Tuesday, March 17. One of my first after-a-normal-workday hikes of the season (didn't get off early or anything--just had plenty of time after work to make it up to Chantry Flat for a short hike. This was a while ago, but it was also one of four hiking days in a row. I got myself pretty close to where I wanted to be for the month. If April goes as planned, I should get ahead of where I want to be.

An odd thing about Chantry Flat is that, while it gets ridiculously crowded on weekends, on normal weekday afternoons (non-holiday), it can be surprisingly empty up here. This was one of those days.

When I got up there, around 5pm, not even half of the spaces in the lowest tier of parking was filled. I got to park in about the second closest space nearest the vault toilets, where I had to change out of my work clothes and into my hiking gear.

Snapped a shot of my car, just because I used to do that with my old Saturn. Then headed down the pavement. Even before made it to the end of the pavement, my eyes were caught by a couple of larkspur plants. Hadn't seen these flowers in months, so it was a welcome sight.

Then, again, at the bottom of the pavement, behind a chain link fence, was a rose bush, planted beside the first of many cabins that are scattered along the canyon bottom of Winter and Sturtevant Creeks. I shot one of those flowers, too. It was still not officially spring, but I felt spring fever!

I felt spring fever because I was out, hiking after work. Finally, the days were long enough to do that. Even though I was then on a schedule that let me off at 4pm, it was only after the shift to daylight savings time that there was enough after-work sunlight to let me take this hike.

The blooming flowers (both wild and domesti-cated) helped fuel that feeling of spring.

Adding to the feeling of spring was the verdant green of the vines and trees growing at the canyon bottom. The little bridge at the base of Winter Creek practically looked like it had been lifted out of the Pacific northwest.

From there, it was an easy 1 1/2 miles to Sturtevant Falls. Yes, I passed people going both ways, but it was really a rather quiet hike.

And when I got to Sturtevant Falls? Yes, the water was flowing. But, considering it was still mid-March, the volume of the flow was distressingly thin.

About 4 miles for the roundtrip.

The trailhead is located at the far northern end of Santa Anita Drive. From the Foothill Freeway (I-210), exit at Santa Anita, and go north until you can go north no more. Be aware that the road between Sierra Madre proper and Chantry Flat is closed from 8pm until 6am every day. Regardless of the amount of daylight you may have on your hike, you still need to be off the mountain before 8pm.

Hike 2015.020 -- Antelope Valley California Poppy State Natural Reserve

Hiked Saturday, March 21. This hike capped what was a very successful hiking week for me. Four hikes that week (a short, non-hike before that), plus the two hikes I did the next week, has me back on track towards achieving 100 for the year. I'm at 22, now, and may get one more in before the week. And with the days getting longer, I'll be able to fit in some more mid-week hikes (only short, local hikes, of course), so being at 22 or 23 by the end of the first quarter of 2015 is about where I'd like to be.

Despite having heard about the very big hit the California Poppies took at the end of the previous week, I figured it would still be worth a drive out there. Worst-case scenario: I'll have an easy walk on a mostly-deserted set of trails. More likely scenario: The non-poppy wildflowers would still give me something to look at.

So I packed up my camera, packed an extra battery, and drove out there last Saturday--only to discover I did NOT pack my dslr! Fortunately I've got a new phone, with a not-completely-useless camera built-in. That's what documented this trip.

Goldfields blanketed much of the area, and filled the air with a pungent odor. Blue-colored phacelia were also here, as were some scattered poppies. I walked from the visitor center, along the .6 mile trail segment that goes past Tehachapi Vista Point, looped around on the north loop, then took the north segment past Kitanemuk Vista Point, then over to Antelope Butte Vista Point, then looped on that eastern trail, taking the middle return route. 5 miles for the day. Enough to feel good about the walk, and having taken in a lot of wildflowers, I was satisified with the trip.

Links to previous visits to the Reserve are here, and here, and here.

Hike 2015.021 -- Griffith Park; Observatory, around Mt. Hollywood, South of Mt. Bell, then return via Mt. Hollywood Drive

Hiked Friday, March 27. One of MANY hikes I've taken over the past week. It's been busy, and I haven't had time to blog them. This one will be brief. The path is described in the title. Probably half the distance was covered after sunset. The return on the temporarily-open Mt. Hollywood Drive was a little tricky, as there's no paved sidewalk. There's a dirt trail along most, but not all, of that path, so you've got to be careful when cars are coming up and down the road.

Visiting Griffith Park During Spring Break - Informational

If you happen to be visiting Griffith Park between now and April 12, 2015, there are a few things the City and the Department of Recreation and Parks have started to try to ease possible traffic congestion, particularly around he Observatory:

• Spring Break Traffic Initiatives Underway. To help deal with the surge of spring break visitors and cars, our Department is instituting a number of temporary initiatives to keep traffic moving during the spring break period (from March 21-April 12):
o Inbound (northbound) Western Canyon Road is being closed each day at 10:00 a.m. Cars are being turned around at the Section 9 parking lot.
o A portion of Mt. Hollywood Drive has been opened to provide additional parking.
o The Department and DOT are offering a dedicated DASH shuttle bus running between the Greek Theatre and the Observatory from 1:00-10:00 p.m. EVERY day (including Mondays) through Sunday, April 12. The fee to ride the bus will be the same as for the normal DASH Weekend Observatory Shuttle (which will run as usual on the weekends).

As a reminder, Griffith Observatory itself is always closed on Mondays, so if you're planning to visit the *inside* of the Observatory, don't go on a Monday! Otherwise, it's open weekdays, noon - 10pm, and weekends, 10am - 10pm.

The "portion of Mt. Hollywood Drive" that is open will take you to the big turn in that road, which gets you a little closer to the Hollywood sign than normal, if that's your goal.

Hike 2015.016A -- California Citrus Historic State Park

Hiked Sunday, March 16. Well, not really a "hike," so I'm not counting it as a full-fledged hike. I doubt I covered more than a mile. But it was a nice trip, since I was able to spend the afternoon with my wife, visiting a state park and learning about the state's citrus history.

I visited this park on my own last summer. Had fun, and figured it might be something my wife (who doesn't enjoy hiking like I do) might also be able to enjoy. So when we had a Sunday together and were already going to be driving down to Chino Hills for something else, well, why not continue on south on CA-71, and on to CA-91 and Riverside County?

To get to California Citrus State Historic Park, take the Riverside Freeway (CA-91) to Van Buren Blvd. Turn left at the end of the ramp, but turn from the right lane, because you'll have to make an almost-immediate right turn to get on to Van Buren. After a bit over a mile, a sign will direct you to turn left at Dufferin Avenue. The park entrance will be on your right.

As noted on my previous write-up, they do free (for now) guided tours of the very large citrus grove, where you'll learn a lot about the fruits and the history. You'll also get to taste a number of different varieties of citrus, and usually get to take at least a few home, with you. Of course, you need to let the volunteer docent cut and pick the fruit for you--Plants, animals, and structures in state parks are all protected, so picking on your own could get you a huge fine.

You are free to wander on your own, however, so if you want to get in several miles of walking and you're willing to zig-zag somewhat, it can be done. Also, the last tour I went on was somewhat longer in distance. Still, a mile or two is typical. It's over uneven ground, and there's not a lot of shade in the groves, so be sure to come dressed for the uneven surface and the heat. Bring a hat, and some water. Other than that, do come to enjoy your visit to Riverside County!

Hike 2015.014 -- Griffith Park; Greek Theater to Observatory, then on up the Charlie Turner and Mt. Hollywood Drive Trails, to Ridge Overlooking Bronson Caves

Hiked Thursday, March 5. This may be the longest hike title I've ever written. ;D

This was also my first, "off at my regular time, but hiked after work" hike of the year. Sunset just prior to the shift to daylight savings time was not until almost 6pm. For hikes where I knew I'd be fine even in the hour after sunset, this is plenty of time for an after-work hike.

Now that we've shifted to daylight savings time, this'll be even more true.

One odd thing I have slowly come to realize is that, from my current work location (Monterey Park), Griffith Park is actually the hiking destination I can get to most quickly and easily. It always seemed "across town" for me, yet it's really just 30 minutes or so from my work parking lot to the base of the road up to the Observatory.

On this afternoon (March 5), this was also supposed to be the 'mini-moon" day. This was Griffith Observatory's answer to the silly "Super Moon" thing that's been going on the past few years, where somehow it has been determined that if a moon occurs near the moon's perigee (closest point to earth in the moon's elliptical (non-circular) path around the earth. When that happens, the moon is slightly closer and appears slightly larger than when it's further away at full moon. By "slightly closer," we mean about five percent closer.

These events also coincide with the also-recently invented "King Tide," when high tides are slightly higher than normal (because the moon is slightly closer to the earth than normal.

So, by contrast, a "mini-moon" would be when the moon is full as it nears apogee, when the moon is slightly further away than it is on average. Then, the moon appears slightly smaller than "normal."

I parked on Vermont Avenue, across the street from the Greek Theater. From there, I headed south a bit, then headed very briefly up the paved stub of a road that heads west from just south of the Greek Theater.

From there, there's a broad, bulldozed dirt road or dirt path that begins on the paved stub and heads north, towards Griffith Observatory.

It climbs steeply but briefly. After probably 1/4 mile, the dirt road intersects a paved road. Head up hill about 40 yards, then turn left, up the dirt road that continues on the "left" side of the paved road. (The aved road heads to a water tank).

After another 1/5 mile or so, this dirt path reaches a junction. Straight or left would send you down towards Ferndell. Right takes you up to just east of the Observatory.

After maybe 1/10th of a mile, there's another split. Stay to the right; the left path dead ends just ahead, and strands you at a place that you can not access the Observatory.

It's about 6/10ths of am mile total from the start of the trail until you've reached the Observatory area.

From there, I headed north, crossing the lawn, then crossing the parking lot and reaching the Charlie Turner Trailhead. A tree in George Harrison's memory once again graces this trailhead. Perhaps more about that on a future post.

I followed this trail about 1/2 mile, up to where it makes the hairpin turn from west to east. An informal trail (that you probably should not normally use, but was the easiest way for me to get to where I wanted to get to) connects the Charlie Turner with the Mount Hollywood Road paths. Somewhere around here, I passed a large paw print, which I have since determined to be canine rather than feline.

Once on Mount Hollywood Drive, I continued very briefly to the east, before going off the road and along a ridge that trended to the south.

As noted earlier, this was the night of the mini-moon, so I wanted to get a shot of the rising moon above the Observatory, which was to the east. Ideally, I'd have liked a spot where I was exactly due west of the Observatory. But my ridge route would drop altitude rapidly before it reached such a point.

I could just fit both Observatory and moon at 70mm, but the contrast in brightness made a decent picture impossible. In real-life, you'd want to try for this shot when the moon rises maybe 20-40 minutes before sunset, so the Observatory would still be somewhat bright as the moon rises above the domes. I may try to take such a shot in the future.

I waited on my lonely ridge for about 15 minutes, as I was now a little below the Observa-tory's elevation, and it took longer for the moon to rise above the domes. Stayed and took my shots even after it became obvious the moon wasn't going rise relative to the Observatory where I wanted it to rise (it was too far to the north), and that the contrast would make taking a good picture impossible. Then returned to the Observatory via Mount Hollywood Drive, then walked up the sidewalk along West Observatory Drive. Somewhere around 5 miles for the afternoon.