Mt. Lukens

Mt. Lukens

Hills and Highways

LeBird, here is a shot from Monday's hike at the summit looking West. Burbank is the city down below, and the Pacific Ocean is visible in the distance. Behind me is roughly where the picture you were asking about was taken. There you would see the San Gabriel's, the 210, and the towns of La Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge.

Hills and Highways

LeBird, here is one more photo from Monday's hike looking southeast. Clicking on the picture will make it larger. The 210 is on the left heading southeast parallel to the front range of the San Gabriel's. If you look at the upper left hand corner of the picture, and if you were to hook left around the base of the mountain, you would be in Pasadena.

Highway 2 is heading to the right (just in front of the foothills in the distance in the middle of the picture. Continue driving to the right (south) on highway 2, and Eagle Rock would be further to the right in the distance.

Verdugo Mts.

Canyon sweet pea (above)

Chaparral currant (above)

Prickly Cryptantha (above)

Woolly blue curls (above at the summit)

Black sage (above)

Spanish broom (above)

Manzanita (above)

I went for a hike in the Verdugo mountains along the Northeast side of the range. It's interesting how different the east side is compared to the west. Along the east, there are more trees and the vegetation seems thicker. It was also nice to hear water pouring through the canyons. Every other time I've hiked here, it's been dry as a bone. I saw some familiar wildflowers today, I think the highlight was finding some blue woolly curls at the top of the mountain. I've noticed I've started hiking differently as of late. My eyes are glued to the plants, trees and flowers along the side of the trail and it's taking me forever to get from point A to point B. In fact, I feel like I've got whiplash from turning my head from side to side. I'm not sure what to make of it, perhaps it's just a phase I'm in at the moment. Another storm is coming our way tomorrow. I heard on the radio that the snow line may drop as low as 2000 feet. That means snow in the Verdugos! We'll have to see about that...

After the Storm: Super Sunday

Some signs of mud and trail erosion in Griffith Park.

Super Sunday: Part 1

Canterbury Bells (above)

Common groundsel (above)

Lupine (above)

Gazania (above)

I wonder if someone poured a bunch of gazania seeds along the hillside here?

Eucalyptus tree (above) Thanks Lebird!

Red stem filaree (above)

Mediterranean mustard (above)

It was a spectacular clear and crisp day in LA today. If I had known it was going to be so perfect, I would have picked a new trail to hike. Nonetheless, it was a great morning in Griffith Park, and new wildflowers were making their presence known. The mustards and filarees were abundant, but every so often, something new was peeking out from the hillside. Again, I find it fantastic that some of the flowers I stumble upon by sheer luck, and I'm sure many keep their treasures hidden from human view altogether. Every one seems unique in their own way, greeting the sun and the passerby with a hearty "Hello!"

Super Sunday: Part 2

Sow Thistle (above)

Fuchsia-Flowered Gooseberry (above)

Bush sunflower? (above)

Bermuda buttercup? (above)

Blue dicks (above)

Golden currant (above)

South Coast Morning Glory (above)

Temperatures were not cold enough to produce snow in the front range of the San Gabriel's after Friday and Saturday's storm passed through.