Wednesday, November 17

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.

Sunday, November 7

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.