Hiking in Altadena: Rubio Canyon, In Search of a Waterfall

Recently we checked out Rubio Canyon in search of a waterfall... and although it was a nice hike, and we found some water, we never did find the waterfall. But we did find nature (and an old, collapsing log cabin!)

 

 

 

Hiking in COVID Times: Traveling to San Dimas to Avoid the Crowds

With county trails open and people getting antsy and leaving their homes, some of the more popular spots are jam-packed: Witness what happened last weekend at Eaton Canyon, a popular spot that was shut down on Memorial Day due to the crush of people flooding the park to hike to its famed waterfall.

We drove a bit further to San Dimas, where the Michael D. Antonovich Trail offered a bit of a less-crowded hiking experience -- mostly shady, thanks to a creek that runs along the path way. Socially distant hiking isn't easy, and we kept our masks on -- as did many of the other hikers we came across.

Great L.A. Family Hikes: The Eaton Canyon Waterfall (One in a series)

Eaton Canyon is a wildly popular location for a hike, located just north of Pasadena in Altadena. But it's also a big draw because of the year-round waterfall (amazingly, still active even in this drought) and the relative ease for family members of all ages. It's about a 2-hour round trip, but the reward (the 44-foot waterfall and wading pool) is worth it. There's also plenty of parking and a Nature Center at the base. We took the Blogger Kids on a Sunday hike last month, and it was perfect for both the 10- and 5-year-old. Some pics:































Eaton Canyon Hike 1750 N Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA 91001

Like, Ohmigod! The GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 2014 Is Heading to the San Fernando Valley!

We're shaking things up for this year's 9th Annual Great Los Angeles Walk! After eight editions of our downtown-to-the-ocean urban hike, we thought it was about time we ventured into the San Fernando Valley... so this year, it's the Great Los Angeles Walk: Valley Edition!

I'm still hammering out the exact route, but we'll likely also mix things up by starting in the West and walking to the East. We'll spend most of the time on famous Ventura Boulevard, starting at Topanga Canyon, before making it to Universal City -- and then heading north to North Hollywood. We'll then celebrate in the NoHo Arts District.

The entire walk will be about the same length of our normal downtown-to-city hikes (under 18 miles). But here's another bonus: It will start and end near the Metro Orange Line, making transit a snap, no matter where you park.

Stay tuned for more details! Always check www.greatlawalk.com for updates, and feel free to drop us a line at greatlawalk@mail.com to let us know you're coming!

Most importantly: The date for the walk is SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2014 at 9 am. (It's always the Saturday before Thanksgiving -- just remember that!) More details to come! But in the meantime, to get our Great Los Angeles Walk: Valley Edition started, here are a few tunes destined for the soundtrack.





(Photo Credit: T.J. Boyle's Tortilla Curtain.)

Walking, Climbing, Hiking Los Angeles: Scenes from the Big Parade LA

Dan Koeppel credits The Great Los Angeles Walk as one of his inspirations for starting the Big Parade LA, now in its sixth year, and I was happy to finally be free this year to walk/climb/hike part of the two-day event.

My hat's off to Dan, he's put together a fun event and done a great job organizing it into a bunch of mini-bites -- so you can truly do as much or as little as you want. Some are more strenuous than others; most of them boast guest speakers giving a bit of a history tour along the way. I joined in last Saturday afternoon to experience the "signature" part of the Big Parade LA: The staircases of Echo Park. It was quite a workout. But also quite a blast. Here's how Dan describes it:

SUPER STAIRWAYS/MAIN LOOP OF THE DAY (aka Loop Four) ECHO PARK, 5 miles, 19 stairways.
The classic, Big Parade loop. Start/End: Chango Coffee Shop, 1559 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (at Morton.) Stairs, old neighborhoods, beautiful houses, and more stairs. Echo Park is the heart of stairway-rich Los Angeles, and the heart of the Big Parade.

Thanks to Dan for also letting me speak a bit about the Great LA Walk. (More to come on this year's route!) Here are more pics from Saturday:


Strenuous! But fun.


Although yes, by midday, the Big Parade LA participants do smell a bit ripe.


Staircase sayings.


Staircase art.


Quite a few beautiful homes and cottages tucked away on the staircases, which are technically considered "streets" by the city. Dan notes that these homes were once valued less, because they were harder to reach. But the popularity of events like the Big Parade LA and all of the stories and books written about L.A.'s staircases have actually helped increase these homes' value.


Heading down Dan's favorite staircase in L.A.


More of that staircase.


Some fascinating homes up here.


High views


A relic of the WPA era: "Park Boundary."


One of the more narrow staircases, plus art!


"Fear Google"


Yep, a lot of stairs.


Deadly street incline!


Skyline view


And still more steps!

"Randyland LA"


Heading back to the starting point for this leg, near Chango coffee shop in Echo Park


Spray painting in Echo Park


L.A.'s real official food: Bacon-wrapped hot dogs!


The House of Spirits


One of many murals along the walk.