Another Sunday on the Trails

What a beautiful day outdoors. A little brisk with a few light showers while out with some good friends. Can you see the rainbow below?



We took the offroad skateboard out for another ride. Atop a fine look out where Reseda Blvd deadends into an endless array of trails we strapped in.

Where Did Los Angeles Go?

This past weekend in November quite possibly could have been the best weekend all year... and that doesn't even include Friday.



My good friend Pouya & I spent a good portion of Saturday taking the extremely scenic route to Neptune's Nest on P.C.H. This involved one and half lane roads through the Los Angeles hills, gorgeous countryside & amazing times. This one photo below I feel sums up that day quite well.


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That evening I achieved, to date, my finest cooked New York steak. Followed with some good beers. Sunday morning found us parking along a narrow canyon road with our eyes set on a new adventure.



Carlos, Georgette & I were in search of Hermit Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains. We had only heard about this waterfall through the grapevine, but none has been hiking in the area before know as Chantry.



We found ourselves moving away from the crowded parking area towards the canyon floor on a pleasantly shaded narrow trail lined with beautiful views of the adventure that was before us.



Along that canyon floor the three of us slowly followed the river down the canyon. Past secluded & privately owned cabins that rest on the valley floor. Giving the whole region a very backwoods feel.



Hermit Falls can not be seen till you are almost on top of it... you'll see what I mean once you go. The trail leads down on to large areas of rock that have been slowly carved away by rushing water. At many points you can see how the water has shaped much of the falls.



With a small upper section, that can be used as a waterslide in warmer seasons, drops into a medium sized pool that is calm to wade in. The water then falls another twenty or so feet down to a much larger & deeper pool. Quite calm once down there... quickest way is to jump. Alas, with any rock jump there is necessary precautions of checking the area and the water before had. We only witnessed another hiker make the plunge (which is a decent 30 feet down from the only jump spot).



Close to three miles round trip, made for a nice half day hike with some sandwiches. Great times with good friends.

Eaglefeather on a Saturday

It's happened again... many great memories have piled up on my hard drive without being share with my digital friends. Alas, recent events have brought about a new post... involving Frank Lloyd Wright.



I had only recently discovered that there was a 1940's Frank Llyod Wright designed house hidden away in the north Los Angeles hills. Tucked away, just off Mulholland Drive, Eaglefeather sits on many acres across the top of a bluff.



Designed for Arch Oboler, an early Hollywood radio & film celebrity. The property, like all Wright designs, encompasses elements from the surrounding areas, as well as working in unison with the landscape. The house can also be seen in Oboler's film Five.



On this visit, it appeared that the house is being restored by an unknown person. Sneeking onto a small portion of the property allowed for a few good images. Plus a birds eye view from the driveway across the street.






Here in 2010, the land almost seems as untouched as in 1941 when first inhabited by the Oboler family. The property looks out to the Pacific Ocean & this day, looks east to vineyards & Mullholand's expansive & scenic drive.

Kings Canyon in Motion

Kings Canyon National Park 2010

HELLO LIVING!
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Spent four nights camping at Canyon View Campground in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. Couldn't have went at a better time, just a week after Memorial Day crowds & must have only seen ten other campers in the area around us.


Lookout Peak - 8,600 ft


HWY 180


Mist Falls Hike - 4,500 Feet
A decent 8.5 miles round trip beginning at what is quaintly named Roads End, where Hwy180 ends in the canyon. This being a moderate hike there is some climbing & flood tip-toing, but nothing too strenous. The travel will leave hikers with a breathtaking image of Kings Canyons hidden depths. Along this hike it is easy to see the years of glacier shaping & gives you a moment to marvel in mother natures wonder. Misty Falls will refresh the spirit & provides many excellent vantage points to rejuvenate before the journey back to Roads End.


Grizzly Falls - HWY 180 Turnout




Knapp's Cabin


Generals Highway 198 - Giant Sequoia amongst the clouds


Lookout Peak - 8,600 Feet
This was a great hike, with an excellent payoff for hikers efforts. However, it is a strenuous 8 mile up hill hike. Set a committed pace & you're hike will be rewarded with backwood meadows, a little scene wonderful waterfall & a shaded hiking path for you're journey to the summit.




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An Education in Brewing

This past week Georgette & I got to attend a rather interesting class on the art of home brewed beers.



There is a great shop down in Los Angeles called Culver City Home Brew. Two nights out of the month they offer a "How To" class on brewing your own beer at home.


[GROWING HOPS]

The store speciliazes in all the materials needed & multitudes of ingredents for all styles of brews. Both guys at the store were friendly & personable. Especially our teacher who stays around till ten at night to finish up the class for us all newbees.



The class was taught around the shop over the course of three hours or so... which learning that night, is about how long it takes a very experienced person to set up a brew to ferment.



Alas, the store offers various starting kits to get any home brewer going. Myself you ask? I had to pass only due to vacations coming up... but that will be in time.

CHEERS TO CULVER CITY HOME BREW! [info]


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ODDSac - Hollywood Premeire

ASTOUNDING.
Cinerama dome - Los Angeles, CA

Danny Perez directed, visual album teamed with Animal Collective



An all-encompassing experience that is not quite for everyone, but for those few... it's the bees kneees. Coming to DVD soon & select cities for one near you... maybe.

Activities

Been stocking up on things to write about b/c life has brought one great adventure after another lately. Shown below was the first adventure that arrived... my good friend Adam was in town with friends after an extensive road trip throughout California. They emerged from their wooded home in Trinity County & managed three major cities (can you tell?).

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Some great hiking in the Los Angeles hills led to some delicious BBQing at the home that night, with a rousing game of Monopoly. You know it.



Friday morning at 6:30am Adam & friends took leave to their next California destination while I pressed on to another day of work. Alas, this Friday night brought on adventure number two. Some friends & I found our way to a new destination in Los Angeles, the Roberts & Tilton Gallery.



As seen above, it was the opening night of skateboarding legend, Ed Templeton's photo exhibit, The Seconds Pass. Collaged in frames across the white walls were years of photos Ed has taken from the seat of a car looking out. Many told stories of fleeting moments, while others seemed to be poised ideas.



Sunday brought us to a Southern California tradition... beach party! My friend Max is moving back to upstate New York to live on a farm, so what better way to leave California for the opposite extreme than get outdoors & into the sand.



Good times were had all in all at Point Dume that day. Cheers to Max on his further adventures.

2010: A NEW DECADE

WE'VE MADE IT TO 2010. LET'S MAKE THE NEXT DECADE A LOT BETTER THAN THE LAST. THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN IMPORTANT PLACES NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.

WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS WORKING TO LIVE OUR LIVES TOGETHER ON THIS ONE PLANET WE HAVE.

ONE LOVE

2010: Bought a new Nikon D5000, so expect many more pictures. Also finally made it up to San Francisco again to spend some good time with good friends. It had been just over a year now.

CHEERS TO A NEW DECADE

Latest Creation

Worked together with Nik Ewing of LongStay to create a short visual work to accompany their tunes.

Homes & Houses from Longstay on Vimeo.

HomeMade IceCream

Photos from Christmas break down in San Diego. Making ice cream, old fashioned style.