Big Tujunga Narrows Group Swim - San Gabriel Mts

As summer comes to a close (only on the calendar), there are several hikes that I did not want to slide by me again. The Big Tujunga Narrows is a summer only hike that absolutely blows 90% of all the others we have done out of the water (no pun intended).

The Big Tujunga Narrows is a wonderland of rock pools & high canyon walls, closing into 15 feet apart at some sections. It's also wonderful b/c it is a non-technical canyoning trip, there are some ropes in place to help assist travelers down steep rock slopes, but nothing terribly challenging.

After dropping almost straight down from an unmarked turn out on the highway, we met the first two rope sections, with large groups it allows for resting, hoots & hollers & anticipation to build. Fun stuff all around.

We all hopped a section of shoreline boulders & within the first 5 minutes we came to our jump in point. Everybody in the pool! The next half hour of travel, brings us to several open rock basins that we would have to swim across to continue down the canyon. Saw a Garter Snake swimming with us in one pool & a soaked bat at another.

It had grown to a warm day, being constantly soaked was a welcome respite from the large day time star. A bit before the halfway point we came to the best obstacle on the trip, a curving waterfall slide. There is only one way to get past this point.... slide! There is potential to rock jump off the sides, but the water levels are a bit on the medium side here, maybe 5ft at deepest, moving to 3 ft on the shallow side.

The hike continues through several more pools & spectacularly perplexing canyon sections. At times, the rock curving overhead like a massive wave. Much of the last forty minutes of hike was directly in the creek, while avoiding mossy areas & vegetation. 

The hardest part about this hike (in my opinion) is finding the exit route if you don't know where it is, we had no trouble, but others said they would have had no clue where to go. An ancient forest service road that is now a trail meets the canyon floor & winds up to the highway in a very exposed, slow & sunny 1.5 miles. The trail is no visible until one is basically standing right on top of it. Search Fall Creek Falls hike for more details on this exit trail, & if you're lucky, a seldom visited 5 tier waterfall in the winter & spring seasons.

Horse Flats - A Second Journey

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After only four days back in Los Angeles, after Georgette & I's frozen over night adventure... Here I was. Circling Horse Flats Campground again with Carlos Flores this time.



With such a close proximity to LA, any drive up Angeles Crest Highway is going to be a great time out of the city. With any number of hikes that will take you to peaks over 6,000ft or to hidden valley waterfalls.



Carlos & I took a similar route as previous & were thrown into a whole new experience.



Hollyer Peak - Angeles National Forest



Station Fire 2008 burned large portion of the Angeles Nation Forest. While crucial to a forest natural growth, it leaves an interesting trail in its path.



With another great hike behind us, grilled pineapple cheese hamburgers in our stomachs & the fire at our feet, we set in for the night.



All throughout the night Mother Nature tested us in a completely different way than just four days prior. Hours before bed the clouds blew into our campground at 5,600ft & proceeded to cover us with 'heavy moister to light rain' all night. Waking to a beautiful morning, but a chore ahead of us.

Big Sur Camping - California's Coastal Splendor

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For many years I have heard the rumors of a small region of the central California coast, that boasts beautiful countryside like no other. In fact, I came to learn there are only three places in the world you can see such wonders, two of which are in California & the other in China.


Old Coast Rd.
Alas, the region of Big Sur, perched along California's famous highway 1, is the only area were such unique forest landscape collides with the dramatic Pacific coast line. The natural landscape is split into several different state parks that make of the Big Sur region along the coast.



Like I had said before, after so much talk in the past, it was time to make the journey. With my faithful co-pilot Georgette by my side we made the five & half hour drive from LA, up HWY101, over the Naciemento-Ferguson detour (which was most spectacular, no qualms there), dropping us down on HWY 1 just south of Lucia.


HWY 1
For the first time camper in the group, we opted for a more substantial shelter & reserved a half tent/half wood cabin for our stay. Only a bed & a small table inside though, can't be too nice. To get back to the natural camping state we did make campfire meals & endure the general chill of the night.


Big Sur State Park
On the first day we managed to traverse what turned out to be one of the most unique adventures we have ever had together. I had researched some scenic roads that lead through the back country & found that the Old Coast Rd. is one not to miss, say the insiders. They were sure right!! This 12 mile stretch of dirt road was the most beautiful, scenic, secluded, romp we could have asked for.


Old Coast Rd.
Taking us through the valleys & tall redwood forest, then back up to mountain peaks looking over the Pacific Ocean to one side & lush green forest valley to the other.


HWY 1
After a chilly first night, we woke early with the intention of completing 3 different hikes... and it happened! The first was a mild trip out to McWay Falls. A beautiful cliff side waterfall right off the side of the highway.


McWay Falls
Helpful hints! You can buy a $10 day pass to one park & use it for any one of the many parks along the coast, we went to three. At McWay Falls we were some of the first visitors in the park at 8am & we had it all to ourselves. Later in the day you can see cars spilling out onto the HWY trying to park here. Photo lover beware, sunsets are better due to morning shadows.


Click to Enlarge: You can see McWay Falls on the left falling into the ocean
We then moved on the hike number two, Pfeiffer Falls. A little strenuous mile and half hike in to a great double waterfall. We saw quite a few people on this hike due to it's shorter length. The falls a were a nice sheet of falling water, sliding down a sloped rock face.


Andrew Molera State Park
After a lunch & pit stop, we moved on to our long hike of the day to the beach. This hike proved to be one of the most challenging. After a couple conversations with people about how beautiful the destination is, most fail to mention the 25 foot river crossing with no dry route.


Andrew Molera State Park
Once passed this, the hike will took us through huge grassy fields with more bird songs in the air than one could count. The view all around is of the rolling hills & the forest meeting the flat bluffed coast. At the shore we sat & enjoyed the view, plus the howling offshore wind for the surfers, but no one was out.


Andrew Molera State Park
We made our way from the sand up along the bluff above the ocean for more than forty five minutes. We stopped, picked a good scenic place to sit & enjoyed mother nature's splendor.


Andrew Molera State Park
On our last day we packed up our site, said good-bye to the two blue jays that hounded our campsite & headed out early. I stopped along the HWY for a couple last photos & a quick trip around another campground for ideas of another visit.


HWY 1
Georgette & I were up for one more hike before we had to site in the car all day so we planned to stop & do the Mill Creek Trail that was right at the head of the Naciemento-Ferguson road. This trail on the south end of the park proved to me a bit less maintained, to say the least. About a mile in it was decided we should enjoy the view around, but make our way slowly back to the car.


Mill Creek Trail

"You don't take a photograph, you make it."
-Ansel Adams

Outdoors in Montecito

This past weekend some great friends & I got to take a mini vacation to the Montecito area of California. This small, southern town is marvelously dotted with multi-million dollar estates sprawling across the foothills of Los Padres National Forrest.

The dudes & I swapped stories while enjoying our comfy settings with some drinks in hand. We also worked on a plan for the next days adventures.

This particular vacation was a bit of a whirlwind. I had spent the day of departure at work since 2am... and didn't hit the bed that night in Montecito till 2:30am the next day. Spent close to 27 hours awake.

Our eventual plan was to take a scenic drive through the foothills, winding us through the country. Collin & Pouya were taking us to a previous hike they had traversed in the past, but they had said there was much more water in the river this time around.

The five of us set out on our trek, following the Cold Springs Trail along the river, deep into the canyon foothills. Switch backs for some portions of the trip, while other sections allowed for long gradual inclines up a shaded hillside.

There are several route choices along the way that will result in different destination outcomes. We opted for a trial that would take us up to a lookout of Montecito & Santa Barbara.

The trails prove to be mostly covered with a small, slow elevation gain that kept the workout at a good level. Connecting with a fire road that ran along the rim of the foothills, our trail popped us out right on the edge of the hills looking down on small towns, huge estates & the Santa Barbara harbor.

Every time I am invited to spend some time in Montecito I am totally awe struck by the wealth & lifestyle that is pursued in this small area of California coast. It also reminds me of how thoroughly thankful I am to have such great friends to share amazing experiences with.

The Getty on a Sunday

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There is this small window of time each week. This time is greeted with serene spontaneity & brings a new adventure each week... this window is Sunday.



On Sunday the thirteen of September, my girlfriend embarked on her first visit to The Getty Museum in Los Angeles. It began with a stop at the bakery down the street for morning nourishment & then off.



There were many new things to see this time around. We spent a pleasant afternoon walking about & seeing most of the exhibits before time took it's toll. Alas, it was a great morning spent.

Above, portion of a french landscape drawn by Van Gogh. At the top is a small field in a Monet painting.
Below are Irving Penn photographs I appreciated.