Remembering Napa Valley

Recovered some photos from a trip to Napa Valley, California from December of 2010. Tooled around with the looks a bit in Lightroom.



- Pride Mountain Vineyard -



Pride Mountain was a really unique vineyard sitting atop a windy mountain drive that is well worth the seclusion. With a great tasting tour & beautiful settings all around one couldn't go wrong for an afternoon in the mountains.


View Larger Map

Rainy Eagle Rock Stroll - Secret Stairs

Between the rain on Saturday afternoon, a few good friends managed to get a nice outdoor stroll in. Notice Carlos planning out next move at the top of this set. This is a beautiful view of the San Gabriel Mountains.



This particular secret stairs adventure brought us to the middle of Eagle Rock. Beginning close to the bustling Boulevard, we quickly ascended into the quiet terraced neighborhoods just east of Highway 2.


[Driveway to nowhere]

Only as we explored further did the neighborhoods really become secluded & refereed to at times as 'Italian villa' style through the narrow mountain lanes.



This portion of Los Angeles is a real treasure. When you look up into the hills & exploring throughout them, one can find a lush green wonder of dwellings tucked into the slopes of north east LA.

Secret Stairs - Valentines Day

Enjoying a nice afternoon with my girlfriend Georgette, we ventured off to find some more Secret Stairs this Valentines. This time heading to the hills of Eagle Rock & Pasadena.



What a magnificent neighborhood, tucked away behind numerous small hills & terraces, quieter the farther we ventured in. We snuck into a house that was under construction.



This was one of the most covered and shaded walks yet, with many chances to venture off through the close knit neighborhoods.

Secret Stairs - Alta Loma Terrace

This week the Secret Stairs book took us to a really great new neighborhood



This was an area that has homes w/ no cars allowed. The Hollywood hillside is dotted with homes that you can only access by walking through shady over hanging lanes



There is even an elevator built into the hillside for the 30 some odd homes that make up the Alta Loma Neighborhood.



You may even recognize part of the area from The Long Goodbye.

Secret Stairs - Hollywood

There is this great book out right now called Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles. It is an urban adventure all it's own.



The book is filled with over 30 step by step guided tours through scenic neighborhood, involving great architecture facts & history of the surrounding area. Along the way, lots of staircase hiking.



Taking three of us this particular evening, on a wonderful journey through one of the original planned neighborhoods for Hollywood... nicknamed here Hollywoodland. Exploring the neighborhood just north of N. Beachwood Dr.



Many of the planned routes will take the traveler on a winded journey up a flight of stairs, but is well thought out by the author, a walk through the narrow streets of the terraced homes before the adventurer has recouped for the next flight.


[this home is located in Silver Lake, CA]
Another adventure into a part of Los Angeles I've never experienced... till now. More to come soon.

Getty for a New Year

Spent a great afternoon at the Getty. Anyone who's been before can attest to it being wonderful for more than just the amazing culture the walls contain.

I recently discovered this while walking the halls this time, s a Joseph William Turner original painting. An artist that has been around quite some time, but I had only recently discovered some of his pieces. This was my first encounter in person.

Signatures of past artists. Click to enlarge

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.


View Larger Map

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